Computer lock up-ngc

[redrider]

Several weeks ago my desktop started being very slow to open Explorer. At last try yesterday, it consumed two hours of time just to get to my home page with a new cable to the wall. (My UVerse router uses 120vac wall circuits with plug in adapters) Ordinary programs such as libre office and documents operate with the usual warp 9 speed. I am using the laptop/wireless as of now. Windows 7 Professional.

[rodekyll]

Too many possibilities to sort from that brief a description.  My first guess is that it's not the IE's problem -- it's something else.  Something that wants to be loaded and ready before the internet explorer is opened.  Something that's broken.  Usually that's an antivirus software wanting to update and configure before it lets you out on the internet, or some other 'update script' running, that for whatever reason can't complete.  Sometimes it's a virus or other malware trying to install itself.  Sometimes something has slipped in the computer's network configuration.  There's just not enough information here to make a judgement, and unless you already know where to look and what the significant clues are, there's not much chance that describing it in a chat windows is going to help, either.  Someone needs to get eyes on it.  When I can get to the keyboard, I can usually figure out what's up in half an hour or less.  So I'd recommend either letting someone dial in to it or take it to a shop for a quick look over.

[redrider]

Thanks RK, You actually confirmed my thinking. I purposely left out the part about my AV being disabled by something and unable to switch back on. This was a test and we passed.
Joe

[rodekyll]

If that's the case it will probably never be 'right' again without reloading the hard drive.  Once the AV has been clobbered, the malware has also disabled other admin functions.  That's why you can't switch it back on.  It probably won't cleanly uninstall or reinstall, either.  If you dig around you'll find other things also disabled -- like the task scheduler and system file editor.  You may have lost the administrative account altogether.  I'd cut to the chase if it was mine -- back up any important information, email, favorites, etc and completely reload the computer.

[Groover]

Rodekyll's advice is solid. Backup your documents should be your first step.

Once that's done, if you can, download and run this program. It's the best one I've worked with to clean up similar issues.

https://www.malwarebytes.org/trial/

14 day trial, if it fixes it, I'd recommend buying it.

Good luck.

[Sasquatch Jim]

  The greatest likelyhood is malware.  I can't imagine what motivation people have for creating the stuff.
It's probably a phsychological aberration.  Since the legal system hasn't enacted a stiff enough punishment for it and it is so difficult to catch, what is needed is cyber vigilantes.  People capable if cyber detecting the scources of this sort of thing and then posting where all can see,  The real identity, photo, and physical address of the offenders.  Anonymity is the only way they can operate.  Take away the anonimity and they are vulnerable to paybacks.  On telephones, caller I.D put an end to obscene phone callers.  Do the same for purveyors of malware,  and put severe penalties on it for conviction.  Like long prison sentences with the stipulation of NO INTERNET CONTACT at all.

[rodekyll]

Adding antimalware software to an infected computer doesn't help.  The added software is disabled or compromised as it is installed.  You need to have it in place before the fact, not afterward.  Even if it reports having cleaned the file system, and even if it appears clean, there are probably critical functions that remain outside of your control.  So again -- in the interest of getting up and running with a minimum of fuss, back up your data and reload the hard drive.

[twowings]

I have no idea of your level of comfort troubleshooting OS problems, but should you want to use the same tools that you pay the geeks to use to diagnose go here and read:

http://www.howtogeek.com/school/sysinternals-pro/lesson1/

IF you don't have a usable system backup prior to the problem appearing, I wouldn't bother to make one now as you would just be backing up the problem and recreating it when you restore...hopefully, you have a System Disk to reload after wiping your hard drive...