Could this be spyware?

MoMo1299 · 09-19-2006, 07:46 PM

Hello everyone. Hopefully someone here can help me. My parents have at their house a relatively new laptop and a desktop. 9 times out of 10 when you try to go online on the laptop, it just stop running and says that the system is "Not Responding" but the desktop works just fine. Very frustrating. It is a Dell computer and I tried calling them, but they want to charge a ridiculous amout of money to help because it is "out of the scope of warranty". They did mention to me though (I have to say, they were very nice) that it sounds like there is spyware installed in the computer. Would spyware cause this type of a problem and if so, what can I do about it? I see that there are programs that I can purchase that will take care of spyware, but I want to make sure that this may be the problem. Any advice and/or suggestions would be very very appreciated. Thanks guys!!

chauffeur2 · 09-19-2006, 10:05 PM

Hello MoMo1299, and Welcome to TSF!

If you think that the advice from Dell™ is correct; then, I would recommend that you look at "The 5 Steps" link in my signature; post a HJT Log in the HJT Forum, and let one of the trained analysts guide you through the process to see if in fact you do have spyware/malware issues with the laptop.

MoMo1299 · 09-20-2006, 07:34 AM

Thank you chauffeur! I will try those 5 steps tonight.

chauffeur2 · 09-20-2006, 07:40 AM

Good Luck with it, and when they have finished with you in the HJT forum let us know how you fared.

09-19-2006, 07:46 PM	#1 (permalink)
MoMo1299 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 4 OS: WinXP	Could this be spyware? Hello everyone. Hopefully someone here can help me. My parents have at their house a relatively new laptop and a desktop. 9 times out of 10 when you try to go online on the laptop, it just stop running and says that the system is "Not Responding" but the desktop works just fine. Very frustrating. It is a Dell computer and I tried calling them, but they want to charge a ridiculous amout of money to help because it is "out of the scope of warranty". They did mention to me though (I have to say, they were very nice) that it sounds like there is spyware installed in the computer. Would spyware cause this type of a problem and if so, what can I do about it? I see that there are programs that I can purchase that will take care of spyware, but I want to make sure that this may be the problem. Any advice and/or suggestions would be very very appreciated. Thanks guys!!

09-19-2006, 10:05 PM	#2 (permalink)
chauffeur2 Manager Emeritus Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Adelaide, South Australia Posts: 10,180 OS: Xp Sp3 with all updates + Vista™ Ultimate SP1. My System	Hello MoMo1299, and Welcome to TSF! If you think that the advice from Dell™ is correct; then, I would recommend that you look at "The 5 Steps" link in my signature; post a HJT Log in the HJT Forum, and let one of the trained analysts guide you through the process to see if in fact you do have spyware/malware issues with the laptop. __________________ Dave T. Submit New Articles If it works, Don't fix it! Especially if Bill Gates had anything to do with it!!

09-20-2006, 07:40 AM	#4 (permalink)
chauffeur2 Manager Emeritus Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Adelaide, South Australia Posts: 10,180 OS: Xp Sp3 with all updates + Vista™ Ultimate SP1. My System	Good Luck with it, and when they have finished with you in the HJT forum let us know how you fared. __________________ Dave T. Submit New Articles If it works, Don't fix it! Especially if Bill Gates had anything to do with it!!

09-20-2006, 07:34 AM	#3 (permalink)
MoMo1299 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 4 OS: WinXP	Thank you chauffeur! I will try those 5 steps tonight.