# Simple computer malfunction fix? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 15, 2007, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-computer-malfunction-fix/419315 "2007-09-15T15:15:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Enola\_Straight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dec6dc/32.png) [@Enola\_Straight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Straight)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2007, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-computer-malfunction-fix/419315/1 "2007-09-15T15:15:33Z")
Lately my list of sites in Favorites are shaded grey instead of black. I can’t open some of my favorite sites. Have I inadvertantly pressed a button on the keyboard that “locked up” the Favorites window? Do I have to open a menu of options to…do something? I have rebooted the computer, and also Restore-ed it to when the problem didn’t exist, but the problem is still here. What next? ---
**Author:** ![Rico](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rico/32/3582_2.png) [@Rico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rico)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2007, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-computer-malfunction-fix/419315/2 "2007-09-15T15:57:08Z")
Whcih browser? IE? Firefox? Opera? Other? PC/Mac? Windows/Mac/Linux? OS? ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Straight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dec6dc/32.png) [@Enola\_Straight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Straight)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2007, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-computer-malfunction-fix/419315/3 "2007-09-15T16:06:52Z")
PC, Internet Explorer, Windows. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2007, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-computer-malfunction-fix/419315/4 "2007-09-15T16:14:15Z")
Are you in Work Offline mode, by any chance? Go to the File menu in IE and click Work Offline to toggle it off, if so. ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Straight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dec6dc/32.png) [@Enola\_Straight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Straight)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2007, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-computer-malfunction-fix/419315/5 "2007-09-15T17:00:16Z")
Something must be REALLY wrong…I cant get any File in any toolbar when I click on Internet Explorer. FWIW, I am also being infected with the Adware virus…I keep running antiviral software, but it keeps coming back, and I can’t find it in my files so I can’t use Add or Remove. ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2007, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-computer-malfunction-fix/419315/6 "2007-09-15T17:35:55Z")
[QUOTE=Enola Straight] Something must be REALLY wrong…I cant get any File in any toolbar when I click on Internet Explorer. FWIW, I am also being infected with the Adware virus…I keep running antiviral software, but it keeps coming back, and I can’t find it in my files so I can’t use Add or Remove. [/QUOTE] download and run a program called rogue remover (i only say that because its real quick but has a limited scope) if that does not get it try [www.superantispyware.com](http://www.superantispyware.com) ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Straight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dec6dc/32.png) [@Enola\_Straight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Straight)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2007, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-computer-malfunction-fix/419315/7 "2007-09-15T18:48:39Z")
Just ran antiviral a couple of times and Adware is gone (for now) but the original problem still exists. ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Straight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dec6dc/32.png) [@Enola\_Straight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Straight)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2007, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-computer-malfunction-fix/419315/8 "2007-09-16T18:34:28Z")
Now I can’t Restore: all restoration points aren’t working for me. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2007, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-computer-malfunction-fix/419315/9 "2007-09-16T19:29:06Z")
You have a thoroughly infected box. Take it to a pro before you trash it completely. ---
**Author:** ![flex727](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/258eb7/32.png) [@flex727](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flex727)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2007, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-computer-malfunction-fix/419315/10 "2007-09-17T14:09:05Z")
[QUOTE=Enola Straight] Now I can’t Restore: all restoration points aren’t working for me. [/QUOTE] While **LSLGuy** ’s advice is sound, and you’ve tried restoring already to no avail, it’s probably pointless to mention that I have found that performing restore from Safe Mode is more likely to be successful when the restore points quit working. ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2007, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-computer-malfunction-fix/419315/11 "2007-09-17T16:36:02Z")
[QUOTE=flex727] While **LSLGuy** ’s advice is sound, and you’ve tried restoring already to no avail, it’s probably pointless to mention that I have found that performing restore from Safe Mode is more likely to be successful when the restore points quit working. [/QUOTE] Any heavily infected machine it usually less time intensive, and less likely to become a warranty issue for the shop if personal files are backed up and the whole machine reloaded clean. Major virus problems often leave a system a little twitchy and slow even with all of the viruses removed. Quite a few virii mess with and or can insinuate themselves into the restore files. ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Straight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dec6dc/32.png) [@Enola\_Straight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Straight)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2007, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-computer-malfunction-fix/419315/12 "2007-09-17T18:00:38Z")
[QUOTE=flex727] While **LSLGuy** ’s advice is sound, and you’ve tried restoring already to no avail, it’s probably pointless to mention that I have found that performing restore from Safe Mode is more likely to be successful when the restore points quit working. [/QUOTE] I HAVE been trying in Safe Mode. I am going to turn my comp OFF now and not turn it back on until someone is sitting in front of it to fix it. ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2007, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-computer-malfunction-fix/419315/13 "2007-09-18T02:01:17Z")
that was weird ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Straight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dec6dc/32.png) [@Enola\_Straight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Straight)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-computer-malfunction-fix/419315/14 "2007-09-20T01:50:19Z")
Ok I had a real professional come in and do serious upgrades. Changed me from something pack 1 to something pack 2, and from IE6 to IE7. Things seem to go good now. (crosses fingers) ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Straight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dec6dc/32.png) [@Enola\_Straight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Straight)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-computer-malfunction-fix/419315/15 "2007-09-20T02:43:10Z")
Now I got a new problem: If i leave internet Explorer to go to the desktop, then try to start IE again, I can’t connect. I’d have to shut down and restart my computer everytime I want to go to IE! :mad: ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2007, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-computer-malfunction-fix/419315/16 "2007-09-26T13:24:22Z")
[QUOTE=Enola Straight] Now I got a new problem: If i leave internet Explorer to go to the desktop, then try to start IE again, I can’t connect. I’d have to shut down and restart my computer everytime I want to go to IE! :mad: [/QUOTE] Call the tech back and tell him he didn’t fix it. ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Straight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dec6dc/32.png) [@Enola\_Straight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Straight)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2007, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-computer-malfunction-fix/419315/17 "2007-09-26T15:20:37Z")
OK. Maybe someone here can tell what is wrong if I describe what’s going on. My desktop icons are all highlighted all the time. Download times, refresh rates, and other things are slowed down. If I manage to get on the web, other applications can’t get on, like updates for my antivirus software. I figure one or more apps are “fighting” over which gets used first and slowing down the works. PC, service pack 2, IE7 ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2007, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-computer-malfunction-fix/419315/18 "2007-09-26T16:34:23Z")
You shouldn’t really have to tell the shop anything more than what you just told us. Take it back, tell them to fix it. They are used to people not knowing WHY stuff is broke, just that it is. If you knew why it was broke, you wouldn’t have to pay them to fix it and they’d be out of business 🙂