I'm having trouble with my laptop, it's going slow

[askyourgran]

Or to be precise something is busying away in the background while I try to use it. I'm getting messages saying Answerbank/google has stopped working recover webpage. Or I try to type and the letters won't register. Could it be something to do with the disc drive?. No Idea really but I looked at the hard drive disc: total size local disc C 137GB free space 66.8GB. HP recovery D local disc. total size 11.5GB free space 1.68GB. I haven't a clue what to do about it anyway. On the other hand I noticed someone said on another thread about registry clean up that slows it down. I think I have that but not sure where to find it. Has anyone any ideas. Thanks.

[galeck1947]

You haven't said what OS you are using ? Have you opened the task manager to see what is running ? Why dont you download and run MalwareBytes to see if you have an infection which an make it run slow.

[askyourgran]

I'm running Internet Explorer with a Vista laptop. I'll try to see what is running wasn't sure where to look. Can you tell I'm a complete dork at this? I have MalwareBytes and a Microsoft firewall of some sort.

[askyourgran]

How can you tell which programme is running? I have Windows Defender and Firewall. Just ran a quick scan on Microsoft Security Essentials where two trojans had been quarantined, now deleted. I'll have to wait until tomorrow to run the Malwarebytes.

[askyourgran]

Internet explorer 9: 9.0.8112.1642 1IC
Update version 9.0.5 (kb2647516)
Cipher strength 256.bit
Sorry can't remember the name of the trojans they had been quarantined since late 2011 before I zapped them recently. I'm storing some photos, and documents on geneology, I'm told if I delete the photos it should free up some space, but I don't really want to lose them. Quite a few favourites saved on my favourites button if that makes any difference. The message reads internet explorer has stopped working or Google or answerbank has stopped working. then Windows will run a check and ask if I want to close the programme or wait until the problem clears. Sometimes I get a window which asks me if I want to report the prob to Microsoft. Done that but no comeback. Thanks for looking at this methyl, I'm away first thing in the morning until next Saturday (awkward timing for this I know). I'll will look at this again when I come home.

[askyourgran]

PS I have Google Chrome too. The screen sometimes goes black and sometimes a message says the driver has stopped working.

[askyourgran]

Hi methyl, thanks again for looking at this. I have disabled the shockwave flash object, although I've come across one or two items I can't view since I did that. The only thing I think I'm doing wrong is not running a file check every week. I can't remember what my son in law used to do, I think he used a disc to store the files or something, I can't ask him now he isn't here any more. It has been acting up all this afternoon couldn't get anything done because it is busy doing something??