My computer is going crazy! I can't copy-paste, the internet is working very strangely, and I can't even open music, or I get the error message "Cannot perform operation : low memory". I tried to uninstall some programs via the Add/ Remove programs menu....but it won't even load.
Help!

First thing, unplug from the net to make sure a virus isn't sending out anything. Have you tried restarting it yet?

I've restarted it several times, to no effect. I'm using another computer right now, I just turned it back on, waiting for it to boot up (taking much longer than usual on the "Preparing Network Connections" part) The Wifi that our neighbors have just started working at the same time this problem started. It hadn't been working for a while for us, but we were able to use it before without any problems. There's nothing wrong with the internet, I don't think, because I'm using it with the computer I'm using right now.
Should I disable my wifi card and run a Norton scan on the broken computer, then?

Could it just be a coincedence with the wifi? I ask this because the same computer broke a few months earlier. The problem was a burnt out RAM chip. I got the broken one removed but I never got around to replacing it. (There's 512 in there right now, I believe)

Sounds like you have... bom bom boooooom.. low memory.

Try doing a Fragmentation and removing some programs that aren't used that take up alot of space?

I agree. Check to see how much memory you have, check for viruses, spyware, repair your registry, ect. ect. What all have you done to try and fix it?

It keeps giving me messages like this:And asking me if I want to debug when on the internet. Garrr.
Just posting the above if it helps in the diagnosis. I tried Add/Remove Programs...but it wouldn't load. A window popped up with some text in the wrong places. Let me try again...

No Dice.
Does Defragmentation clear my Hard Drive? I don't want it deleting important things...

No. It moves files around and combines them, i think, so that similar files are grouped and thereby frees up alot of space.

How do I check how much memory I have or repair my registry?

Well, I tried restarting the computer, and I tried running Norton to scan for viruses and spyware but it gave me a message like the one in the code box above. Is there anyway to try to make it run the program?
My poor computer

Also, where do I find the Defragment command?

I found this looking for somethings on it.

W32.HLLW.Cydog@mm

Discovered: February 26, 2003
Updated: November 18, 2003 01:09:07 PM ZE9
Type: Worm
Infection Length: 34,816 bytes
Systems Affected: Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows ME, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP

W32.HLLW.Cydog@mm is a mass-mailing worm that spreads by email. This worm uses Microsoft Outlook to send itself to the contacts in the Outlook Address Book:
The email will have a random subject chosen from a predetermined selection.
The attachment will have a random file name chosen from a predetermined selection, with a file extension of .exe or .scr.

W32.HLLW.Cydog@mm also attempts to spread using the KaZaA, eDonkey2000, Bearshare, Grokster, and Morpheus file-sharing networks. The worm attempts to terminate the active processes of various antivirus programs and system utilities.

W32.HLLW.Cydog@mm also attempts to delete:
Program files that Norton AntiVirus products use
Files shared by various Symantec programs, including the virus definition files

W32.HLLW.Cydog@mm is a Visual Basic application that is packed with UPX 1.24.


Protection
Virus Definitions (LiveUpdate™ Weekly) February 26, 2003
Virus Definitions (Intelligent Updater) February 26, 2003
Threat Assesment
Wild
Wild Level: Low
Number of Infections: 0 - 49
Number of Sites: 0 - 2
Geographical Distribution: Low
Threat Containment: Easy
Removal: Moderate
Damage
Damage Level: High
Large Scale E-mailing: Sends itself to the contacts in the Outlook Address Book.
Deletes Files: Attempts to delete all the .exe, .dll, .ocx, and .ini files. Attempts to delete files related to Norton Antivirus.
Modifies Files: Modifies the registry.
Degrades Performance: May launch mulitple copies of itself thereby draining system resources.
Compromises Security Settings: Attempts to terminate the active processes of antivirus programs and system utilities.
Distribution
Distribution Level: High
Subject of Email: Randomly chosen from predetermined selection
Name of Attachment: Randomly chosen from predetermined selection with .exe or .scr file extension.
Size of Attachment: 34,816 bytes
Shared Drives: Attempts to spread using the KaZaA, eDonkey2000, Bearshare, Grokster, and Morpheus file-sharing networks.

Writeup By: Serghei Sevcenco
___

To clean your registry you'll need a registry cleaner, there are some free ones out there, just got to look for them.

I updated last week, I don't think that could be it.
I'll go look on download.com for a Registry Cleaner, I suppose

I got "Registry Mechanic"...It found 255 problems.
It fixed 86, apparently. But I need to register to fix the rest >_>
I'll get another program.

PC Dr. Pro also wants me to register before it fixes my 277 problems....
Garr!

I bought those programs long ago, so nice to have. The reason to disconnect from the net when your having problems is it stops a virus's actions thus freeing up memory so you can figure out the problem quicker. Anytime my comps begins to mess up the first thing I do is physically disconnect the net which has helped on many occasions. Too bad I can't give you WinCleaner...once you install you don't need the CD....

Well I closed out my wifi card and the dial-up wire is pulled out. Like I said, I'm using a different computer at the moment.
What's your opinion?
Virus or actual low memory? It seems to be preventing me from opening Norton...How can I fix it
Well, I've got to eat...I feel so tired after all of this. At first I was like "All right! The Wifi is working!" now it's gone to "MY COMPUTER IS BROKEN FOREVER aND IT's GOING TO BLOW UP AND SHRAPNEL IS GOING TO KILL ME."
In other words, this is stressing me out.

You may want to take it to a computer repair shop at this point. You don't want to risk making things worse.....low memory should fix itself when you restart unless you have a lot of programs running in the background. Try this and see what running at start up:

>Click Start
>Click Run
>Type msconfig (this brings up the start up menu)
>Go to the far right tab and those are the programs that start up when you turn the computer on. If your not comortable clicking anything off then take a pic of the screen (with the program extensions visible) and post it here if you can. I'll let you know what's safe to stay on and if anything should be taken off.

The registry errors are a big part of it though.....

Do you know how to expand your virtual memory?

Umm...could you go ahead and tell me how to do that? I don't know how much of that is going to work...if this problem does what it did to the Add/Remove programs screen then I don't think it is. I hope I'm able to take a screen capture...since copy-pasting isn't working with text. I'll try your advice before 7 but I need a break right now.



So...typing msconfig doesn't do anything and I searched my hard drive for "msconfig" with no results...

Dang, I'm at work right now so when I get home tonight I can play around on my comp and then I'll post with the explanation....

Okay, thanks for helping.

No prob, as long as you don't mind waiting a few more hours..fiancee wants to go out for dinner as soon as I'm done at work.....

That's cool, man. Whenever you can help is good.
Proffessional computer repair cost a lot around here.

My apologies, we were half way through dinner when one of our friends called us and we ended up there for a bit after.... I just got home and have to work in 7 hours so I'll definitly have it for you tomorrow, sorry!

might i help?

ok well

to expand you virual memory.

go start>control panel (on the right side of the start menu)>system>advanced> under "performance" click settings>click the "advanced" tab>under "virtual memory, click change>

NOW, if your sure about how much RAM you have, set the minimum and maximum to 1.5 times the amout of RAM

i would also suggest springing for another stick of RAM

defragging groups files of the same program back together after they get separated, and it takes longer to find all of them.

also, if you want, download PC wizard 2006, and tell me how much RAM is says you have

Farenheit, what Operating System are you running?

Anyway, you can download MSCONFIG from this link. Click. Just open that once you've downloaded it, then you can change the Start-up applications like Dando said.

To check how much RAM you have push Windows Key + Pause/Break.

Push Ctrl + Alt + Del and look at the processes list, and from there you can see which programs are taking up all of your memory.

I'm running 2000 Profesional.
I'll try to take a screen capture of the Msconfig screen, and put up the big memory users on the task managers on here, and you guys can tell me which things look suspicious.

It takes so long to boot up (over 20 minutes)and I'm busy doing other stuff right now, but I'll definetely do those things today.

Thanks for the help Raptor and A+certified, much appreciated!

This is why people should use Macs

thank you for that helpful, non-biased, well informed comment pyro.



if you have anything HELPFUL to say, it would be appreciated.
and your ignorant if you think macs are better than PC's, becuase they're both as good asthe other, niether is better.

Yeah, I can't stand Macs, but that's just a personal opinon.
I don't like the way they work.
And you can't pretend like nothing bad ever happens to Macs.

Okay everybody. It turns out print screening did work:





I forgot to tell you guys that I am going on vacation for a few days.
I'll be back online on sunday.

It could be that you just don't have enough memory to be doing what you're trying to do.. or you could also have a bad ram chip, could even be a software glitch or a corrupt file. What is your processor speed? ie pentium 2.. celeron... etc.

Here is how I would start ...

First try to back up your data. Write it to CDs, take the drive out and transfer it over to a computer with updated antivirus and scan it asap after transferring the data. Transfer it over the home network, email them to yourself. Just back it up if you can!!

On the task manager (this is the first picture you posted Mr. Fahrenheit), start by clicking where it says "mem usage", right on the words. This will sort the list from lowest to highest or vice versa, put it so the highest is at the top. Then run a search at http://www.processlibrary.com/ for the biggest memory hogs. Also sort the list by clicking "CPU" and see if anything is sucking some serious CPU resources, if so search on that. Processlibrary will let you know if any of those processes are spyware, if so terminate them - click it and click end process. They might come back but for now it might help keep them out of your way.

Then see if norton will scan. If not you can disable norton's tray icon and try a less memory intensive virus checker like avg free, you can download it Here. I see alot more malware than viruses so if you can't complete these steps don't sweat it, just move on to malware. There are alot of free ones just make sure you search and find good recommendations from several sources before you download, alot of malware disguises itself as malware (adware/spyware) removal tools. I like adaware personal, it's free and can be downloaded here. TrendMicro has a great online scan, spybot search and destroy does pretty well also.

Hope this helps. -Ep

....you have the wrong tab clicked as well.... should have 'Start up' as the one displaying, then you'll have to drag the box with the file name so it can be clearly seen up to the extension

Looks like a memory "leak" install the latest service pack.

http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/downl...p4/default.mspx

See how that goes.

I'm sorry that I forgot about this topic but I'm getting help from a friend that works for a computer repair service. I'll let you know how it turns out.
Thanks

Uhh there 1 thing noone said which im suprised on how smart people think they really r have u though about svchost.exe if u kno u have alota ram and its doin it its probly because of svchost is ****ed or u stopped it from workin somehow ever end the process svchost.exe and ur somputer shows a timer and says is shutting down? well if not try it then go to new task by ctrl alt del its in bottom right corner then type in while its shutting off shutdown -a it wont shut down but then try to open certain programs some say not enough memory some dont even open geta a new svchost for dll management and that might fix it