Solved A big mess!

[katrinamm]

Well I tried to download ff portable, but it wouldn't download fully.

In the end, I uninstalled AVG and installed Microsoft Security Essentials. I changed the start up programs, and uninstalled Firefox 3.6 and downloaded FF6. Things are running slow, but I'll leave it for now as I need a break from staring at a computer screen.

Thanks everyone for your help, I'm going to mark this solved. Cheers.

 

[SlasherIT]

But you still haven't fixed your problem right? Did you try Google Chrome?

 

[gregrocker]

Is it Firefox and IE which are running slow, or the entire System?

Work through these troubleshooting steps over time to master Win7 performance: troubleshooting steps

 

[bug67]

I'm going to mark this solved. Cheers.

But, it's not. :banghead:

 

[mach04]

The problem sounds like a malware or virus that have infected the system. I suggest using Superantispyware, sometimes this program does a nice job.

 

[katrinamm]

Ok, I guess I just meant solved as I finally was happy with my choice of Mozilla Firefox over the slower Google Chrome (which I did manage to download and used a little) and Microsoft Security Essentials instead of AVG free. This was the first hurdle. Now the next issue is that it is all so slow and I keep staring at white blank pages for ages. This also applies to the tabs at the top of the page where I used to have different sites open at once. Now they just don't seem to load, or if they do it's beyond my very patient time limit. Its the whole online experience running slow regardless of the three browsers I tried, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome and IE9. Which performed in that order. All this only started when I updated Mozilla Firefox to Firefox 6.

 

[mikedl]

When you download Fx, be sure you are getting it from here, not file-hippo.

Also, I know many people have dissed AVG Internet Security but I have been using AVG for over 5 years without a problem (except for a blue-screen glitch after an update a number of months ago).

Fx 6.0 should upgrade your Fx 3.x. You really shouldn't need to uninstall Fx 3.x but doing so shouldn't be an issue.

If you have an issue running any add-ons, let me know.

 

[katrinamm]

Thanks, I did end up downloading from that site. When I try to see if my plugins are up to date, I get an error message "Plugin Finding Service Error. We've encountered an error. Please try your request again later". Also my Adblock Plus 1.3.9 doesn't block alot of things it used to. So I've downloaded "NoScript 2.1.2.6, which is a huge pain in the neck but seems to do the job.

 

[Comp Cmndo]

... with my dial up connection...

Please confirm: You are using a dial-up connection, not DSL?

 

[katrinamm]

Yes I'm using Dial up, have been for years so I am used to being patient but this is a little ridiculous.

 

[mach04]

Sometimes these extra plugins can be more harmful than you expect it, try to run FF without it and see if it helps.

 

[Heyyou]

Yes I'm using Dial up, have been for years so I am used to being patient but this is a little ridiculous.

I'm not a techie, but could it be that browsers aren't taking dial up into consideration any more, resulting in ultra slow access? My new computer didn't even come with a dial up modem. What if you considered broadband if available?

 

[katrinamm]

Found a solution on day 14.

Here are some notes:

If you change from an antivirus program that has a firewall to one that doesn't, make sure you allow IE and Firefox with the Windows 7 firewall. When creating a new folder to download to, don't create it in the existing Downloads folder. Turn off windows defender when downloading. I did all of that and stopped getting the error message "Source file can not be read". I still can not download Mozilla Firefox 5.1 or AVG Free from CNet or FileHippo but was able to from MajorGeeks.com - Download Freeware and Shareware Computer Utilities.. Life is better again. STAY AWAY FROM MOZILLA FIREFOX 6!

 

[boohbah]

I have never had any serious trouble with FF and downloads have always worked perfectly.
long live Mozilla.

 

[stve]

Is your System slow or it's only the browsers running slow.?
I fixed my friends PC last week it was crawling along because the Hard drive was completely full & there was no free space left for the Page file to work.