Hi there:
From what you've described, it sounds like resources on your computer are
slowly being sucked up by programs.
The first thing I would consider doing is running a few tests to see if any
spy ware or ad ware is installed on your computer.
I always thought that I was spy free, but was I wrong.
There are many free utilities out there which will test for spy ware.
The most popular one is Ad aware available at:
http://www.lavasoft.de/
It seems to work okay, but I use it in conjunction with other products.
I find spy Sweeper to do a better job.
Do a search at:
www.downloads.com
for Spy sweeper and it'll come up as a downloadable program.
The main product is pretty neat. It found spy ware that Ad Aware never did
such as the old "Bonzy Buddy".
It is subscription-based, however you can run the initial download for free
without ever subscribing.
I think my favourite spy program yet in my arsenal is:
SpyBot
Search & Destroy
This program is a spyware killer which is quite effective.
You can get it at:
http://spybot.safer-networking.de/
Its interface is a bit strange, but its benefits outweigh its weirdness.
Pc Magazine recently did a review of ten spyware killing programs and this
one came out on top of the pile.
There is a companion program which comes with it called Spy Blaster.
It's sort of a plug-in for Windows which will block over 300 known spy
programs from trying to install on your system. This program can be
installed while using the Spybot Search and Destroy program under updates.
A few other things you may want to look at is investing into a memory
cleanup program. Most windows programs are hogs when using memory and when
they unload, the memory they used get fragmented.
There are many memory optimizing programs out there, they range in price and
screen reader friendliness.
Here is a link to one of them.
http://www.systweak.com/
Hard drives will also slow you down.
One expensive solution would be to upgrade to a harddrive with a bigger
cache. A cache is a memory area which keeps important information about
your files and folders close at hand for faster data retrieval. Just
remember, the bigger the cache, the faster the data retrieval.
Of course, if you wanted to go with SCSI technology, that would make your
hard drives go even faster. There is of course a bigger price.
If you are like me and don't like spending money, you could opt to having
your hard drive run a defrag every night. This will ensure and lengthen the
life of your hard drive and will also speed it up. The storage on your hard
drive will fragment just like the memory area of your computer. This is
why, it's essential to defrag as frequently as possible.
The defrag which comes with Windows will do in a pinch, but it isn't as
effective as commercial programs such as disk keeper or Norton Speed Disk.
There is a Freeware version of Disk Keeper called Disk Keeper lite. You can
find it on the:
www.downloads.com web site by doing a search for Disk Keeper. Can you tell
I like that web site?
You could also just purchase the full version and get the benefits of being
able to schedule your defrags at a time when you are less apt to be using
your computer.
Norton Speed Disk has the scheduling function as well.
Well I guess I've run my mouth long enough. I just thought this might help
your situation.
Cheers for now.
Martin
----- Original Message -----
From: "Russel Holloway" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, May 15, 2003 9:29 AM
Subject: Assistance, please!
> List members, Hi!
>
> Likewise, like Doreen has already explained in her message below about the
> running problems she experiences on her computer, is happening to me as
> well. Which ever application I'm using with JAWS, the speech runs normally
> then gradually, slows breaking up, skipping and chopping up the words. I'm
> using Windows 98s, Office2000, IE 6, and JAWS 4.2. The unit system is a
> seleron 1.8, with a built in screen and sound on the INTEL
> mother board.
>
> Any assistance would be tremendously welcomed to resolve this problem
would
> be gratefully appreciated.
> Many thanks!
>
> Russell
>
> Message From Doreen
>
> Good morning list members:
>
> Your thoughts on my problem would be appreciated.
>
> I am running Windows 98 second edition, office 2000 and JAWS 37u. For
some
> unaccountable reason JAWS has started to, for want of a better word, "die"
> suddenly and inexplicably. Occasionally I do notice a decrease in volume
> before it stops altogether but at other times it just dies.
>
> I don't think this is a sound card problem as the Windows sounds seem fine
> but if anyone has got any ideas on where to start to solve this problem I
> would be appreciative. Currently, I am having to close down the computer,
> then restart.
>
> I look forward to any thoughts.
>
> Best regards:
>
> DOREEN YALE,
> Ontario
> Canada.
>
>
> VICUG-L is the Visually Impaired Computer User Group List.
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>
>
> VICUG-L is the Visually Impaired Computer User Group List.
> To join or leave the list, send a message to
> [log in to unmask] In the body of the message, simply type
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> VICUG-L is archived on the World Wide Web at
> http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/vicug-l.html
>
VICUG-L is the Visually Impaired Computer User Group List.
To join or leave the list, send a message to
[log in to unmask] In the body of the message, simply type
"subscribe vicug-l" or "unsubscribe vicug-l" without the quotations.
VICUG-L is archived on the World Wide Web at
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