Hi,
Unfortunately I have not been able to work as I normally would this week, because ever since last Sunday both my internet Explorer and Netscape has been running VERY SLOW - or on and off. Sending and receiving email has also been unstable. At first I contacted my internet provider and went through settings, pings etc. but that did not fix the problem. I then tested Internet and mail on an old Win 95 PC and no Internet connection problem was detected. I use an analogue 56kbps modem on both PCs, and Win 2K on the Pc with the named problem.
Thought it was due spyware and some sort of virus, and as I did not have capacity to deal with it myself, I had a computer technician to solve the program. He worked 4 hours and cleaned my system for viruses and spyware for a substantial fee. He also installed Ad-aware, Spybot and Trend Micro Internet Security( 30 days trial, but I will buy this as Norton did not catch what Trend Micro did). However, Explorer and Netscape is still running VERY SLOW and sometimes not at all and I don't know what the problem is or what to do except from reformating the harddisk, which I am now doing ALL I can to avoid. Tried to reinstall the modem driver but that did not help. Have also downloaded and run FixWelch from Symantec but no worm was detected. I have also run CWShredder from Spyware and my system was found to be clean. Tried in addition Hijack, but as I could not determine what was bad I did not risk deleting anything. Downloaded PCBugDoctor but that proved to be a program one had to pay for, even for 30 days trial, and as I don't want to use my credit card in this situation, that alternative is left out for now. I am completely confounded, especial since the so-called expert contacts that I know of here, seem to be at a loss too. I am now dreading having reinstall Windows ( 2K) on this portable PC because of all the extra work that would involve. If anyone can think of something based on something that would solve my problem, I would more more than grateful - i.e. life would once be good again :-)
PS. If I would have to re-install Windows and install all my back- up files I wonder if the problem I am having might persist due to a file that might cause this problem. Anyhow, reinstalling Windows 2K will my very last step to solve the problem.