# Computer Problems
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-problems/213451
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [November 15, 2003, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-problems/213451 "2003-11-15T19:01:53Z")
**Posts on this page:** 3
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@rayray5884](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rayray5884)
#### Post date: [November 15, 2003, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-problems/213451/1 "2003-11-15T19:01:53Z")
I’ve been having these problems for a while and still havent been able to figure out what the issue is.
1.) When I attempt to open a file in Word it takes forever to pull down the look in menu and then once i find a folder it takes forever to open it as well.
2.) When I first log in to windows explorer will load my home page but won’t take me to and other website until a few minutes later.
3.) Sometimes it wont even show explorer. IExplorer will show up in the process list as many times as I open it but it won’t actually show up on the screen or in the start bar.
Just in case you were wondering: WinXP, P4 2.67 GHz, 120 Gb HDD, 256megs ram, 128 MB video card, etc. So its not a slow machine.
Thanks in advance for any advice!
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### Author:  [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)
#### Post date: [November 15, 2003, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-problems/213451/2 "2003-11-15T19:39:17Z")
Are there any other startup programs running in the background?
It has been my experience on occasion that some of these background programs are resource hogs. Individually they do not amount to much, but collectively, can be a real pain.
PC Magazine’s [Startup Cop](http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,4149,2173,00.asp) is a great free utility to kill these programs.
BTW, _Windows_ Explorer is a file utility, while _Internet_ Explorer is a web browser. Go get [Mozilla](http://www.mozilla.org/) or [Opera](http://www.opera.com/) and you won’t make these kinds of errors. Your computer will thank you, too. 🙂
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### Author:  [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)
#### Post date: [November 15, 2003, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-problems/213451/3 "2003-11-15T19:58:40Z")
Also, some types of malware can exhibit symtoms like this. Try [Adaware](http://download.com.com/3000-2094-10214379.html) or [Spybot](http://download.com.com/3000-2144-10194058.html?tag=lst-0-1) or even both, since one will often find problems the other overlooks.