# I need computer help! Please! **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 21, 2002, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-computer-help-please/99415 "2002-03-21T21:43:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Hayduke\_Lives](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Hayduke\_Lives](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hayduke_Lives)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2002, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-computer-help-please/99415/1 "2002-03-21T21:43:56Z")
My computer has been running “herky jerky” for the last 3 days. Something, somewhere, is conflicting. Not only does it make normal operations difficult, it’s really slowed up my internet access (Road Runner). Something is bogging it down somewhere, but I don’t know what. I’ve rebooted several times, but that hasn’t done anything. How do I find out what’s doing this? What do I go into? Help is appreciated…GREATLY! ---
**Author:** ![Tattva](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ba8739/32.png) [@Tattva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tattva)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2002, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-computer-help-please/99415/2 "2002-03-21T21:56:49Z")
We need a lot more information before we can help you much. What OS, processor, RAM? Have you recently installed something? But for a suggestion if you’re in Windows something, hit CTRL-ALT-DEL and close all unnecessary programs. Don’t leave too many programs running in the background (things like Kazaa can be very memory intensive.) You may have a lot of programs that execute when the computer is booted up. Assuming you have Win98/ME/XP, go to start -\> run and type msconfig. Select the startup tab, and go through the list, unchecking the boxes of the programs you don’t want to execute on startup. ---
**Author:** ![Boobka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Boobka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boobka)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2002, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-computer-help-please/99415/3 "2002-03-21T23:26:42Z")
run a virus checker ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2002, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-computer-help-please/99415/4 "2002-03-21T23:32:06Z")
Must be a Mac 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Hayduke\_Lives](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Hayduke\_Lives](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hayduke_Lives)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2002, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-computer-help-please/99415/5 "2002-03-21T23:39:31Z")
I followed Tattva’s advice it seems to have worked…for now anyway. Oh, and it’s an IBM with Windows 98. ---
**Author:** ![Hayduke\_Lives](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Hayduke\_Lives](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hayduke_Lives)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2002, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-computer-help-please/99415/6 "2002-03-21T23:44:37Z")
Oh, and thanks for the advice, Tat.🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2002, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-computer-help-please/99415/7 "2002-03-22T00:37:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by handy \* > Must be a Mac 🙂 _speaking as staff_ And we trust that the platform war will stop right here. We do not want to turn this thread into a Windows vs. MacOS vs. Linux vs. BeOs vs. whatever debate. _end of staff speech_