Files taking ages to open????

[what..the?]

I have checked for viruses numerous times, each time using 3 different virus softwares and nothing, but still for the last 3 month it will take my 1yr old window xp pc about 5 mins to open say a excel spreadsheet or a word doc. Why?

Also, we have 2 pc's connected together through a router, I do not access the info and files from the other pc very often but when I do I now find it impossible as it will not allow me access. I had it set up well before with both pc's having access to each other doc's, but then recently a Mcfee security software update made me aware that my neighbours pc was not fully protected, so I clicked a button to fully protect 'it said' but then is said what password would you like to use etc, and it turned out it was protecting the pc from someone in the office accessing files on it, and therefore putting a password in place or a log-on feature. This was completely unness. for us we do not need that facility so I then cancelled it and we do not have to log-on or anything. But since then I cannot access that pc from mine it has stoped me accessing for security reasons I think. What can I do to get the access back, all files are 'shared' so to speak but I cannot think what else to try to lift the barrior?

Any help???

[Buenchico]

(2-part post):

It's not clear what you mean by '3 different virus softwares'. I sincerely hope that you're not actually running 3 anti-virus programs simultaneously. To do so would risk causing serious problems to your PC. (You should never have more than one anti-virus program running at any one time). If you really are running 3 anti-virus programs, disable 2 of them because they might be the cause of your problem.

I suspect that you're probably referring to anti-adware/spyware programs, such as AdAware or SpyBot. However, if you're not, the first thing to do would be to run one or more of those programs to see if there's something running in the background which is using all your PC's memory or processor time.

Next, press Ctrl-Alt-Delete and access the Task Manager. Take a look to see if there's anything running which you don't recognise. Also ensure that there's nothing labelled as 'not responding'. Use 'end task' to disable anything suspicious or which you simply don't require.

[Buenchico]

Then check which programs your PC is running from start up. Go to Start > Run. Type 'msconfig' (without the quote marks) and hit 'Return'. Select the Startup tab and disable anything you don't really need. Click 'Apply' and 'OK'. Restart your PC. (When you get a message telling you that you're using selective startup, place a check mark alongside 'do not show this message' and click 'OK').

All of these suggestions relate to your slow PC. I know little about sharing files (or the software which protects them) but your post does mention the dreaded name, McAfee, which must be among the world's most hated software. (It's nearly in the same league as Microsoft!). McAfee security software is well-known for dramatically slowing down computers, so it could be the cause of both of your problems. Try completing disabling it (from the Task Manager) to see if things improve. If they do, uninstall McAfee and put some decent security software on your PC. Free programs such as AVG (anti-virus) and Zone Alarm (firewall) are far superior to either McAfee or Norton.

Chris

[what..the?]

Thanks so much for your help, yes I am just running Mcfee is my antivirus but also run adware such as spybot etc on top. Sorry not too technically minded as you probably have already guessed and so I can often get IT terms confused.

I will have a go now at what you say and get back to you.

Thanks for you help, we have spoken before.....do you remember my question re : the old fashoned food called frezett's - cannot remember spelling.