New Problem

[Milli]

  My computer seems to be taking on a life of it's own My problems continue with websites like Tripcentral and Air Canada.ca.  I cannot use them at all and Internet Explorer cannot even finish loading Air Canada.  Firefox can at least load that site.  Starting yesterday when I turn my computer on my resolution has switched to low and my desktop is filled with very large Icons and menus and fonts are huge!!  I can return things to normal by going into the  desktop properties but if I click on Norton or if for some reason it comes on (to update,etc) things revert back to the huge icons and fonts (almost like safe mode appearance) and of course if I have to restart it the same thing happens.  Does anyone know what might be going on regarding this new problem?

[JohnnyCastaway]

Hi Milli,
definitely sounds like theres some malware or spyware there,

go to this site http://www.eset.com/onlinescan/
and do the online scan, it will ask you to install a small file, go ahead, it's ok.  This scanner will scan for everything and offer to get rid of anything it finds.

[Milli]

  Thank you for your help Johnnycastaway and for getting back to me so quickly.  I did the scan and it deleted 36 threats!  I restarted the computer after this and once again it switched to low resolution as the programs started to load up.  I corrected that again in the preferences and then as I started to type this message the screen went black, switched back to low resolution with the huge fonts and this time huge smilies!!! and then went black again and switched back on it's own to the proper resolution.     ~ Milli

[JohnnyCastaway]

I'll have to dig a little deeper into this,
is there anything new that's been installed on the computer lately?

[SharonAnn]

About six months ago I was having terrible problems trying to access some web sites, but not all.  It turns out it was my router.  I replaced it and everything worked fine after that.

[Milli]

Johhnycastaway:  The only thing new that was added was Windows XP service pack a month ago.  Apart from that the only thing I "tampered"with lately was switching back to Windows firewall from the Rogers Norton one when I began to have problems accessing Windows Explorer.  After I found out the problem with the configuration  I switched back to Rogers Firewall.  That is about it.  One other thing I have noticed the past week is that on start up the computer also does not maintain the speaker volume controls and I have to reset them.

Sharonanne: I remember that problem.  Our old computer is still set up and is not experiencing any of these problems but that is a solution I will keep in mind. Thanks.

[Jammyisme]

sounds like video drivers johhny?

[JohnnyCastaway]

Milli:  service pack3 for XP?  there are documented compatibility issues with sp3 and symantec/norton AV, my suggestion for that is the same for everyone running norton, uninstall it, and get something different and not as heavy on the system.  (sorry norton fans, it's the root of many problems that I see day to day).  My official recommendation is ESET, (small foot print in memory and disc space, negligable impact on the system resources, fastest and most accurate scan, highest capture rate of new and unknown virus/malware). 

There's also some video driver compatibility issues (Intel video cards for one).  Can you let me know what video card you have in your system?  Easiest way to find out, right click on my computer, goto properties, then to the device manager tab, scroll down the list to video adapters (maybe called display adapters)  and the name and model should be there.

Jammy:  hit it on the head there bud, I think.

[Gambitt]

Milli:  service pack3 for XP?  there are documented compatibility issues with sp3 and symantec/norton AV, my suggestion for that is the same for everyone running norton, uninstall it, and get something different and not as heavy on the system.  (sorry norton fans, it's the root of many problems that I see day to day)

LOL!       I have been a Norton Anti-Fan for years now ...  It was one of the main reasons I gave up on anti-virus programs, until John pointed me to AVG.  And even that, I now only have on, when I request it.

[Milli]

  Believe me, I only put Norton on as Rogers provides it and the firewall free with their internet!  We had it on our very first computer and had a number of problems with it.

Thanks again for all your input.

Listed under my Display Adapters I have:   Radeon X600 256 MB HyperMemory
                                                          Radeon X600 256 MB HyperMemory Secondary

[Gambitt]

I'll leave it up to John to solve it, as he's the expert;( my solution takes 3 days, and 200 reboots) but I can tell you right now, I'm betting it was your video card.

I too run an ATI Radeon video card, and while it is one of the best graphics cards , there are some compatibility issues! 

PS... Hey John, as long as you are solving "technical problems"; Will you come over and chop down that big tree in my front yard?  It's interfering with my satelite reception!!!

[JohnnyCastaway]

ok, cool, one last question, sorry, my brain was elsewhere earlier...
what make of computer is it?  Sometimes companies like DELL or HP will modify those cards with their own chipsets so that you have to use their video drivers, as opposed to the video card manufacturers drivers.  (just another hurdle to trip over in this business...)

[Milli]

what make of computer is it? 

Never thought to tell you that!  It is a Dell  Dimension DM051

[flopnfly]

Did I mention that I've had 3 Dell's in 3 years (in the office)    .   

[Milli]

Did I mention that I've had 3 Dell's in 3 years (in the office)    .   

Noooooooooooo!! Actually, this computer has been great until lately and as I said in my first post --it now seems to be taking on a life of it's own.  Today my Smilie program (for email) has disappeared!

Milli:  service pack3 for XP?  there are documented compatibility issues with sp3 and symantec/norton AV,

JohnnyCastaway:  Interesting that you mention that as once I reset the resolution after start up my display is fine but if I open Norton it reverts and I get the huge fonts, icons, etc and when I close Norton the proper display returns. I have not noticed this when I open and close any other programs.