Sometimes I hate computers

[Thaumaturge]

This has been a frustrating week. I have two PC's and the internet browsers on them have randomly stopped working. It'll work for a while after a reboot, and then eventually it'll quit. Different browsers seem to behave differently. Chrome would stop working, you could "close" it, but it would never open again. Firefox would just freeze, and you couldn't close it, or end task. My guess is that it's some sort of virus or something. I've ran quite a few virus scans, and nothing showed up. (Norton, Kaspersky, FSecure, Kaspersky root kit, Mallwarebytes, GMER) Nothing... Finally, I've unplugged the main desktop so that the kids don't start it up, and reformatted/restored the laptop. One freeze/crash, but everything seems more stable. Haven't installed anything but Norton 360, and the latest version of Chrome. I'm not letting anyone turn on both computers at the same time. I don't want to re-infect if it was a virus and things are fixed... Sheesh, it's ugly... I did have a second wireless router installed within the last two weeks. Anyone know if that could cause these kind of problems?

My wife needs the desktop/laptop for work, and homeschool for the kids, so I need to get things fixed. There are some files that I would like to get off the desktop, but if it is a virus, I don't know if there is a safe way to get them off. Anyone have any suggestions?

 

[MixedMotives]

what AV you using?

 

[Thaumaturge]

Norton 360

 

[Thaumaturge]

So, it just happened again with the PC that's freshly reformatted. I've turned off the second wireless router, we'll see if that makes a difference.

 

[Andy]

Might it be worth downloading something like the AVG recovery CD and boot from it then scanning?

 

[Thaumaturge]

I can, but I don't know why this would happen on a freshly reformatted pc. If it's a virus... Any thoughts?

 

[Andy]

Did you copy any of your data back across once formatted?

It is possible that it could be a hardware issue, possibly a sign that memory or HDD are on the way south.

 

[Ender78]

www.bleepingcomputer.com they are a forum that can help you fix your computer they work with you through the forum to diagnose and fix your computers. I am very good with computers and I build/fix computers for people but sometimes I need help on something that is beyond my capabilities. The people at Bleepingcomputer know what they are about and will get your computer running right as fast as possible.

 

[MixedMotives]

is the freeze on flash or java rich websites?

 

[StillShaving]

Which OS are you running? "Windows Security essentials" is worth downloading and checking into if you are on windows XP/7. Or windows defender if on windows 8.

 

[rxonmymind]

I hear ya. I'm typing this from our old Compaq Presario which just for surfing the internet seems fine but have had issues on & off. Had to use a remote site once to have someone speed up the computer and get rid of some virus. That helped. But we've also installed CC cleaner and couple other cleaners to help wipe off uneccessary material on occasion after each session. Touchy these computers.

 

[Captain Pre-Capsize]

One word: Apple.

 

[DonN]

I'm not a computer guru but I've observed something from my own experience - I tended to download everything and anything onto our previous desktop - eventually ran into problems like you're experiencing.

now my wife & I have laptops and we keep them clean - we don't download or install games or a ton of crap - we haven't had any issues now in 4 years - running windows 7 , use IE only , & we use Norton IS plus Office & maybe a couple other things .

It's tough though when you have kids - we're empty nesters - maybe they have one computer and you have another - and maybe you said that in your original post ?

 

[Thaumaturge]

Did you copy any of your data back across once formatted?

It is possible that it could be a hardware issue, possibly a sign that memory or HDD are on the way south.

Nothing has been copied back across, and I've been pretty careful not to have both PC's turned back on at the same time on the network.

I would think hardware, but not on both PC's they're acting the same. It's not flash websites... For instance, I just went to google.com, and the thing froze up. I can use other non-internet applications, but no browser works, but I can see the network.

I'll try bleepingcomputer, and see if they can help me out. Thanks everyone.