New Computer, Same Old Problems

[Bob Loblaw]

So we just bought a new computer because my wife decimated the other one searching for "free clip art." We didn't get anything extravagant...a Dell Studio Slim (around $500). Well, we get it out, set it up and I'm having a problem with the new one...one I used to have with the OLD one. That is, it won't download anything. Any type of internet video only loads halfway, and when I was trying to download iTunes, it only gets about halfway through then stops making progress on the download. Any ideas, OR Computer Nerds??? I have half a feeling that it could be McAfee. We didn't really have any problems on the old one until we got McAfee. This one came with it already installed, and apparently it's a bitch to remove. Could that be it?

[Cidp24]

I don't know how to help you but McaFee used to give me fits. I use AVG now and it's a lot easier.

[pgg]

Either shoot it or kick it. It makes me feel better

[Odd]

Are you connected through a wired connection or via wireless?

Is this a DSL, Cable Modem, or other type of connection?

Disabling McAfee's real time protection/scan downloads features could give you some insight if it's the problem. Hard to believe it'd be so bad as to break YouTube out of the box, but you should be able to disable those parts without uninstalling it.

[Bob Loblaw]

Dear Dell,

Fuck you. I just gave you $500 for a new computer, and the answer you give when I tell you I'm having problems with it is "well, you didn't purchase the software warranty, so we can't help you. If you'd like, you can buy the software warranty for $250 and we'll help you. Otherwise, go throw your fucking computer in the goddamn garbage can." I have officially sworn eternal vengance against Dell. Dell, along with Lowe's, can lick my nards. I don't care if Dell is giving away free handjobs with the purchase of a $4 laptop, I will never give those greedy douchebags another red cent. If I ever meet someone who works for Dell, I'm going to kick them in the taint as hard as I can.

Love,
me.

[thanantos]

As much as Dell should be lauded for making great hardware they should be beaten for adding terrible, terribly gross amounts of crap software to that hardware.

Dell machines are really the best you can buy out there (of the major manufacturers), but almost all of them need to be exorcised of the crap software included with them (including the worst of all, dreaded beast McAfee) before they can be used.

Use Revo uninstaller to remove all the software you will never use (including McAfee) and then install Avast free anti-virus and you will be much happier.

[Jenna]

If I ever meet someone who works for Dell, I'm going to kick them in the taint as hard as I can.

Fortunately for them, most of them work in faraway developing countries, so you're not likely to meet them anytime soon.

[MacLean]

Fortunately for them, most of them work in faraway developing countries, so you're not likely to meet them anytime soon.

If you buy your Dell on a government or employee purchase, you get to talk to Americans when it has an issue.

McAfee can be removed without resorting to aftermarket software. I'd first disable the scan on download feature and see if your problem resolves.

[TXCharlie]

Make sure Internet Explorer's Temporary Internet Files cache is set to at least 250 MB.

You might also want to run a speed test on your internet connection, on sites like CNET Bandwidth Meter: Online Speed Test - CNET Reviews - If it's a cable modem for example, the TV signal can interfeer with it and slow it down if the lines aren't matched. My Roadrunner also had a problem of corroded connectors which the techs failed to diagnose after about 6 trips out - By the time they fixed it, I had converted to Fiber Optic Verizon FIOS.

A more sophisticated speed test is available as a free trial at Cisco - Speed Meter Pro


The Temporary Files setting is located in the menu: Tools.. Internet Options.. General tab, and then click the Browsing History settings button on IE 7 and IE 8. You should see a setting for Disk Space to use.

When it downloads a video, it first goes into the Temporary Internet Files folder, so you might want to also check the location to make sure it's going to a disk that has at least a GB (1000 MB) of space left on it - The exact folder it's using shouldn't matter too much.

If you're using Firefox, it probably has a similar setting somewhere in its menu.

[Bob Loblaw]

Well, spent 2.5 hours on the phone with a pleasant Dell tech named Karl. Karl lives in Vancouver and is a big fan of the movie "Furngully." After messing with my system for a while, he believes it may be my ISP (AT&T). So we got on the phone with AT&T, and I gues they're sending a tech out sometime this week to take a look at the issue. I'm not exactly a computer scientist, but I don't think that would be the problem, since I have no problem with connections (I load pages fast) and a speed test said I'm downloading at about 1.3 mbps and uploading at 3.2 mbps. I just know that I had to spend an extra $250 to have the option of speaking with someone at Dell about the problem, and that pissess me smooth off.

[Jenna]

Well, spent 2.5 hours on the phone with a pleasant Dell tech named Karl. Karl lives in Vancouver and is a big fan of the movie "Furngully."

At least he's far enough from you for his taint to be safe!

[MacLean]

Make sure Internet Explorer's Temporary Internet Files cache is set to at least 250 MB.

That shouldn't matter, as once the temporary cache is written it should begin to save the file to the specified location.

All that does is act like a print spool for saving, and assuming his machine is reasonably stout should not present a problem.

[tapout]

Well, spent 2.5 hours on the phone with a pleasant Dell tech named Karl. Karl lives in Vancouver and is a big fan of the movie "Furngully."

i find it interesting that you went with the "k" for "karl", rather then go with the more traditional "c"...you truly are a mystery wrapped in a riddle inside an inigma

[Jenna]

i find it interesting that you went with the "k" for "karl", rather then go with the more traditional "c"...you truly are a mystery wrapped in a riddle inside an inigma

[tapout]

...or maybe youre a blood gang member and refuse to recognize the letter "c"

[Bob Loblaw]

i find it interesting that you went with the "k" for "karl", rather then go with the more traditional "c"...you truly are a mystery wrapped in a riddle inside an inigma

Well, since me and ol' Karl are bestest buddies, I actually asked him, and he said he spells it with a "K." And now my iPhone is messing up. I think The Unabomber was on to something. The anti-tech stuff, I mean. Not the mass murder bombing stuff.

[Jenna]

Well, since me and ol' Karl are nearest buddies, I actually asked him, and he said he spells it with a "K." And now my iPhone is messing up. I think The Unabomber was on to something. The anti-tech stuff, I mean. Not the mass murder bombing stuff.

[TXCharlie]

That shouldn't matter, as once the temporary cache is written it should begin to save the file to the specified location.

All that does is act like a print spool for saving, and assuming his machine is reasonably stout should not present a problem.

Yes, but I've found that if the cache size setting is too small, a large file might hit the cache size limit. If it does that, the download would time out on IE5 or IE6 when it hit the limit. Not sure what it does on recent versions.

I guess the ISP might be to blame if they have a high burst rate, but they have their bandwidth throttle set too low - That would allow web pages to display fast, but then on a sustained download like a video file after a few seconds or minutes of downloads, the throttle would cause the speed to taper off - Broadband shouldn't throttle down like that these days.

[thanantos]

If you buy your Dell on a government or employee purchase, you get to talk to Americans when it has an issue.

McAfee can be removed without resorting to aftermarket software. I'd first disable the scan on download feature and see if your problem resolves.

Sorry to drag up this old thread, but I wanted to set the record straight here:

You CAN uninstall Mcafee (or virtually any other windows software) "without resorting to aftermarket software" but you shouldn't. You can also hunt with a rock, but it's probably not as effective.

This situation is apropos to Christmas especially since many of you have fresh new computers that Best Buy probably tried desperately to get you buy $70 worth of Geek Squad to service to "optimize".

All the geek squad does for that $70 is remove all the crap software that software companies paid your manufacturer to include on your machine. You CAN uninstall this software (or Mcafee or anything else) using the windows "Install/Uninstall software wizard" in the control panel, but the problem with that is that all that wizard does is invoke the programs own uninstaller which might leave behind hundreds registry entries and unused files. This is to the advantage of the software maker because then if you ever re-install their software it is faster and your settings are saved.

If you use Revo Uninstaller (it's free), Revo will root out those left over items and delete them too.

AND all those registry entries and left over files are what slows Windows down over time. Remember how your computer was super fast when you bought it, and now it's slow as a dog? That is partly the reason.

I work on MANY different people's computers, typically using Revo to uninstall all the crapware, and have been told by many, many people that their computers run faster after I get done with them then they did when they were brand new.

[MacLean]

Sorry to drag up this old thread, but I wanted to set the record straight here:

You CAN uninstall Mcafee (or virtually any other windows software) "without resorting to aftermarket software" but you shouldn't. You can also hunt with a rock, but it's probably not as effective.

This situation is apropos to Christmas especially since many of you have fresh new computers that Best Buy probably tried desperately to get you buy $70 worth of Geek Squad to service to "optimize".

All the geek squad does for that $70 is remove all the crap software that software companies paid your manufacturer to include on your machine. You CAN uninstall this software (or Mcafee or anything else) using the windows "Install/Uninstall software wizard" in the control panel, but the problem with that is that all that wizard does is invoke the programs own uninstaller which might leave behind hundreds registry entries and unused files. This is to the advantage of the software maker because then if you ever re-install their software it is faster and your settings are saved.

If you use Revo Uninstaller (it's free), Revo will root out those left over items and delete them too.

AND all those registry entries and left over files are what slows Windows down over time. Remember how your computer was super fast when you bought it, and now it's slow as a dog? That is partly the reason.

I work on MANY different people's computers, typically using Revo to uninstall all the crapware, and have been told by many, many people that their computers run faster after I get done with them then they did when they were brand new.

I appreciate you setting the record straight for the average user.

Revo or CCleaner or any of the similar registry applications are useful, but not thorough. I liken them to traction control - handy, but a skilled driver can do better.

I sort of grew up hanging around Redwest and Building 44 in Redmond, so I like to manage my own registry.

I'm right there with you on the bloatware - anyone should be removing that shit right away. You should think about writing a column for our front page to help people figure out how to do that.