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When is the cure worse than the malady? I wonder every day as my computer slows down more and more!

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Richard Weisser Realty

 

Are all computer slowdowns the result of vicious attacks?I have been using personal computers since their inception back in the late 1970’s. And the technology of today compared to that of those “pioneer” days of yesteryear is beyond astounding!

But as computers became more and more interconnected, the opportunities for system subterfuge exponentially increased.

As a result, we now spend a good deal of our once-productive time dealing with both mischievous and malicious assaults on our precious data.

To make matters worse, any proper attempts at defending our digital devices results is more lost productivity as machines slow to a crawl as every bit is dissected, analyzed and verified.

And as far as this “background” scans go, there is nothing background about having your system operating at one-quarter of it’s normal speed.

As a matter of fact, sometimes my computer slows down so much while delving for miscreant behavior that I often wonder if the cure is worse than the actual malady.

Lost production is lost production, The source of the slowdown s irrelevant!

 

Richard Iarossi
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Crofton, MD
Crofton MD Real Estate, Annapolis MD Real Estate

Richard,

Maybe its time to retire that old Commodore :)

Rich

Jun 30, 2010 01:29 AM
Liz and Bill Spear
Transaction Alliance 513.520.5305 www.LizTour.com - Mason, OH
Transaction Alliance Cincinnati & Dayton suburbs

I thought it was a TRS-80? :)

Jun 30, 2010 01:36 AM
Richard Weisser
Richard Weisser Realty - Newnan, GA
Richard Weisser Retired Real Estate Professional

Rich...

It was indeed a Commodore VIC-20, soon replaced by the best personal computer EVER, the Commodore 64 Thanks for the nudge.

Liz and Bill...

I was never a 'Trash-80" fan, but a lot of people used them! Thanks.

Jun 30, 2010 01:48 AM
Deborah Byron Leffler BzyBee Real Estate Lady!
Keller Williams Realty Boise - Nampa, ID

Oh boy,....Lately seems all I am doing scans to try to figure out why my puter is so slow....half the time I feel like I am still on dial up!  

Jun 30, 2010 01:50 AM
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

I too need a new laptop at the office....I just bought one for home and it's fast....the one at the office makes me crazy and I often do my blogs from home....as in, RIGHT NOW.

Jun 30, 2010 01:53 AM
Glenn Roberts
Retired - Seattle, WA

I feel your pain Richard. Last week I bought a new, fast, big desktop model to replace my 2004 XP and am quite pleased. My office computer is a little better than my old one, but not at all like my new machine. Time to upgrade.

Jun 30, 2010 02:06 AM
The Scott Loper Team Bux-Mont Premier Properties
Keller Williams Real Estate - Montgomeryville - Lansdale, PA

Hi Richard,

It is comforting to know we are not alone.  We think we need new computers or more memory installed on our current ones.  Good luck with yours.

~Lisa

Jun 30, 2010 02:19 AM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

I feel your pain.  I went through this last week.  My computer was so slow I wanted to rip my hair out.  Hope you are back up to normal speed soon and virus free.

Jun 30, 2010 02:34 AM
Andrea Swiedler
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New England Properties - New Milford, CT
Realtor, Southern Litchfield County CT

Richard, I thought you replaced them all? Perhaps it is all the crap important stuff you have crammed into there. I'm just sayin.....

Jun 30, 2010 03:03 AM
Todd Clark - Retired
eXp Realty LLC - Tigard, OR
Principle Broker Oregon

You are so right about the running in the background! I can tell you the exact moment my virus software starts running as even my my screen can't keep up with my typing. I have to wait for all the words to appear before I can start the next sentence.

Jun 30, 2010 05:38 AM
Craig Rutman
Helping people in transition - Cary, NC
Raleigh, Cary, Apex area Realtor

I just spent the better part of last evening and this morning trying to get rid of one of those malicious miscreants. My computer was slowed to the point where I had to reload the entire operating system. Talk about lost time......

Jun 30, 2010 06:59 AM
Lois Davies
Century 21 Birchwood Realty, Inc. - Cape Coral, FL
Cape Coral & SW Florida

This is the technology era - what ever happened to the party-line.  I'm with Todd, I'm waiting for the letter to appear before I continue typing. Fortunately it's only happening on my newest computer, the old one at the office is fine.

Jun 30, 2010 09:25 AM
William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

Richard...I thought it was just me.  Being non-tech savvy, I just thought it was gremlins!

Jun 30, 2010 10:09 AM
Marian Goetzinger
Pine Knoll Shores Realty 252-422-9000 - Pine Knoll Shores, NC
Crystal Coast Real Estate NC

Richard, How true and sad.  Just today my friend next/office spend 1/2 the day trying to get hers going.  Finally turned it off and turned it back on and this time that worked.  Now tomorrow...

I'm still thinking about a legal pad and pen and driving across town to deliver papers. hmmm

Jun 30, 2010 10:14 AM
Karen Crowson
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Rancho Bernardo, CA
Your Agent for Change

It may be your email in box Richard.  My son's an IT guy, and whenever I start to slow down, that's what he checks.  So many of our email messages have very large attachments, it really can wreak havoc with your system.  You might want to check that out!

Jun 30, 2010 01:50 PM
Gabe Sanders
Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL
Stuart Florida Real Estate

In addition to this, there's also the new push to 'cloud computing'.  I just get pretty frustrated with this with the lag time, no matter how fast your computer and internet connection.  And when the network is down....  Forget about it!

Jul 01, 2010 01:30 AM
Gary L. Waters Broker Associate, Bucci Realty
Bucci Realty, Inc. - Melbourne, FL
Eighteen Years Experience in Brevard County

Between the back up scans and the off-site backup (I use carbonite.com) I am used to the periodic crawl..

Jul 01, 2010 01:15 PM
David Bruce, Jr.
Frederick Web Promotions - Frederick, MD
Local SEO Apex Predator

Before you go out and buy a new computer run MalwareBytes spyware scan, let it run all night (or when you're not using it).

http://download.cnet.com/Malwarebytes-Anti-Malware/3000-8022_4-10804572.html

I partnered with a local Frederick IT shop right across the street from where I live, all 6 of our PC's run smooth as silk (and we load em down like pack mules)

IT Services Frederick Md is the computer shop I run my office out of

Jul 03, 2010 02:07 PM