Ok, let start with the computer: Windows XP sp2, 1.1 ghz, 512 ram, many gigs free, basically a decently capable computer to browse the internet with. Our internet setup is DSL through a Netgear router (not really all that important to the question, but there non-the-less).

The problem:
When I type in an address into the address bar of internet explorer it just sits there for about a minute (55-65 seconds on average) then it loads the page up. It doesn't matter if the page is all text for loaded with graphics. The funny thing is that if I where to type the site into a search engine that is already loaded then click a link to the site it loads up right away. Previously I thought that it was our internet connection sharing (windows ICS) but we recently upgraded to DSL and a router so I have discarded that idea. Furthermore to troubleshoot more, I went ahead and downloaded the fabled Firefox. It seems to eliminated that problem, but I'm not that big of a fan of it. Furthermore, (I believe this is a related issue) when I go to open My Computer it takes quite a while before it actualy displayed my drives and whatnot (there are mapped network drivers there that I am assuming are causing the issue). If i had to guess at this point I would have to assume that it is some kind of network related problem, so I uninstalled and reinstalled my network card in order to return alll settings to their defaults and see if it fixed the problem, well that did not work. Furthermore this problem does not affect any other computer on our network (2 others) so it seems to be an isolated problem.

I hope I made some kinda of sense to somebody here. Thanks.

heh well dood sounds like you guys got a tiny problem , eh? well if they have a restore point on from the times that you installed the SP and IE6 then you should be able to restore it at the first install, might mean that you loose all ur other software in the process! just thought about that and figured that i would throw it out there as a possiblity to fix the issue at hand hope yah get everything fixed and such , hmm on second thought...even try a diff browser? like Mozilla for Opera, not firefox, its kinda got a few holes in it right now!

I'm thinking spyware is doing multiple program checks and sending information regarding your browsing habits back to a spyware server. I would download, install, and run Spybot Search & Destroy.

It would also be good if you listed processes currently running on your computer by taking a screenshot
of Windows Task Manager. Also, are you using any resident firewall or up-to-date antivirus program?

I suggest you cease usage of IE6 at once, and try a safe and stable browser such as Opera or MyIE.
What's not to like about Mozilla when IE6 is more susceptible to malicious material than a crack hoe?

Stereomod: I thought of that, but its been going on for a while and I just haven't got around to fixing it. So a restore is not an option.

TekXoID: Well, I checked out the process pretty decently the other day and didn't see anything amiss, but I'll run spybot and post a screener of the processes. For firewall and antivirus stuff, the windows firewall jobber is running (tried disabling it, no difference) and Norton 04, which is up to day.


I try it all tomorrow and let you know.

While you're at it, run AdAware too, I know Spybot is good, I use it too, but each of them seems to pick up on a couple little things that the other misses. Look for AdAware SE, it's the latest and greatest.

Solution: Get Firefox.

Not really a solution at this point, seems his machine might be infected already, getting firefox won't fix that. He's heard about alternative browsers already.

Not trying to be mean, but I get a little sick of "Get Firefox" I run it, and I love it, but telling someone who has an existing condition to get FF does nothing especially after he said he's tried it and didn't like it..

EDIT: I'm BA's Hoe now? Must be time for the pilgrimage up north carrying Boulevard Wheat

Quote: Originally Posted by Sportbilly Not really a solution at this point, seems his machine might be infected already, getting firefox won't fix that. He's heard about alternative browsers already. Not trying to be mean, but I get a little sick of "Get Firefox" I run it, and I love it, but telling someone who has an existing condition to get FF does nothing especially after he said he's tried it and didn't like it.. EDIT: I'm BA's Hoe now? Must be time for the pilgrimage up north carrying Boulevard Wheat

Couldn't agree with you more. As a tried to state in my first post, I just tried it to troubleshoot the problem to see if it was isolted to IE or more in the networking protocols and so forth.

I will take a look at the stuff tomorrow when I'm at work (its my work computer).
Thanks

Quote: Originally Posted by Sportbilly Not really a solution at this point, seems his machine might be infected already, getting firefox won't fix that. He's heard about alternative browsers already. Not trying to be mean, but I get a little sick of "Get Firefox" I run it, and I love it, but telling someone who has an existing condition to get FF does nothing especially after he said he's tried it and didn't like it.. EDIT: I'm BA's Hoe now? Must be time for the pilgrimage up north carrying Boulevard Wheat

Meh theres usually one person plugging firefox in these kinds of threads. Thought i might do iit this time. I didn't have much of a look at what posted. My computer is also bogged with spyware a bit (too lazy to reformat or restore) and IE runs slow on my computer but firefox is still plenty fast.