Windows 7 - Long delay from downloads/uploads

Hi to all,
Regulars here will probably have seen this problem before, but I read through the first several pages and didn't see it addressed there.

I just got a Windows 7 computer (Toshiba portege r700-s1310) and when I try to download a file or upload anything, either, I get a 30 second (or so) delay. The little blue circle appears and everything locks up.

Is there anything obvious that I can do?

Totally unrelated issue:
I have a "ghost" bubble, the kind you would see if a comic strip character were speaking, that's continuously in my lower right hand corner. Here's an image.


Any suggestions to get rid of that?

Thanks very much in advance.

You can start by helping us with your system specs, and network setup. The more info we get the faster we can help


Ken

Please run this bandwidth test on CNET
CNET Bandwidth Meter: Online Speed Test - CNET Reviews

My apologies.
System is as follows:
Intel Core i3 processor, 2.27 GHz
4 GB RAM
64 Bit OS (Windows 7)
4.6 Windows Experience Index
500GB HD (5400rpm), 246 GB free

I'm afraid that I wasn't very clear in my first post. The problem isn't with the bandwidth. I'm on the road and have been working on some pretty slow and faint wireless connections-- the one I'm working on now is very faint-- but this afternoon I was at my brother-in-law's house and he has a pretty good wireless setup.

The problem is that when I right-click on a file to start the downloading process, even before it gets to the part where the file shows up as a Word document or a movie file or a sound file and I get an option of where to save it, there's a long delay. I get the blue circle (the Windows 7 version of the hourglass, I guess). Sometimes when I choose a location to save it there's another long delay. Once the download begins it's fine; it's before the download begins that I get the delay.

Also, sometimes the computer takes an unexpectedly long time simply to open Word files or sound files. Not 30 seconds, as with the downloading delay, but maybe 5 seconds. In that regard it's slower than my old HP DV1000 with Windows XP.

Any suggestions?

Bumping this just in case anyone has any suggestions as to why my new Windows 7 computer will freeze up sometimes, even if I'm just clicking on a folder in Windows Explorer.

What antivirus solution do you have installed?

Thanks for responding.

I have Avast (thus far the free version; have 15 days to decide whether to upgrade). It worked pretty well for me on my old XP computer...

It could possibly be a AV issue.

I havent used Avast since back in the XP days myself. As such, I'm unsure if it wants to scan everything when opened, even if its been scanned recently. Perhaps others will know more about it.



You will of course, get many opinions on which Av is best , but my thoughts for what its worth would be:

Have you tried MSE?

It is a highly recommended, light weight, free alternative with an excellent reputation around these forums.


If looking for a paid software with more features, I would recommend NIS2010.



Some downloads may have a slight pause before releasing it to the download folder. (Especially certain .exes) if the initial scan decides to look into it further. or at least my norton will on occasion.

But 30sec. seems a bit excessive.

Thanks very much for that suggestion. I'll try MSE. If anyone has any other thoughts, they'd be greatly appreciated.

Thank you, Wishmaster and others, for the AV suggestions. I uninstalled Avast and the Norton AV trial (unactivated) that Toshiba had loaded onto my computer, and I installed MSE. Now things are running much more quickly.

I don't know whether the issue is completely solved and, if it is, whether the problem was the conflicting Avast and Norton systems or whether it was Avast or Norton separately. I didn't think of Norton being involved b/c I hadn't activated it, but that seems possible now. At any rate, things are doing a lot better for now and I thank you for it.