screen goes bizurk from time to time on friends e1705

My friend has an e1705 with basically the base model specs except at the time WinXPMC was an up grade option so that's the only upgrade.
specs are as follows based on what I can remember off hand:
Core solo 1.6GHz
512Ram 533Mhz
60GB 5400rpm HD
integrated sound
Intergrated video
WinXP MC
all other base options

from time to time after returning from the screen saver the screen just freaks out....the only way to stop it isto reboot...I've tried to reinstall and update the video drivers and nothing changed.

also...his computer runs tromenting slow most of the time...20sec waits for click response....30+sec program loads.....
At first I though is was simply because he purchased it with the base options but since he only uses it for MSWord, web browsing and occasionally listenig to music, I am begining to wounder of he has some sort of malware....though antivirus and spyware removers have not found any culprets yet.

any advice on how to solve the screen issues or speed up the system

help is appreciated as always and thanks in advance

 

1) Follow the reformatting guide (top of the Dell forum) if you still have bloatware installed on the machine (that can really bring the system to its knees).
2) Run virus scanner (as you mentioned)

 

So your suggesting I re-Reformat...I reformated his laptop at the beginning of the semester(september). perhaps it's some of the programs he has installed since the reformat...here's a list of programs that I can think of off hand:
windows media player 11
lime wire free version
itunes
Symantec System suit

are any of the previously listed programs problem prone...especially for a low end system?

 

Symnatec can rob some power from a system, but it shouldn't "bring it to it's knees"

I don't know how tech-savvy your friend is, but there is the potential to have a lot of crap installed along with limewire. There is also the fear that he may have downloaded something he shouldn't have.

I'd really look over the system hard, and you'll probably find a lot of things that don't belong. If that's the case, reformat and let him know that there are people out to "get him". He needs to be more careful.

I'd run ADAware,Spybot as well as a virus scan (with updated definitions)

 

Spyware detectors..I knew there was something I was forgetting.

"I don't know how tech-savvy your friend is, but there is the potential to have a lot of crap installed along with limewire. There is also the fear that he may have downloaded something he shouldn't have."

"If that's the case, reformat and let him know that there are people out to "get him". He needs to be more careful."

I'll try....I can't tell you how hard it was to convince him that he needed an antivirus.

 

limewire stuff and pounding the pr0n [sic] = high virus potential

 

"pounding the pr0n [sic]" could you clarify....these terms are foriegn to me.

 

If you are using LimeWire (or any service really) to download naughty ~umm~ material, you are at a VERY high risk of catching viruses. Sometimes viruses are embedded in video or audio clips, so even an MP3 could carry a payload if they wanted to.

I used LimeWire for a while to sample a few CDs I wanted to buy, but after downloading about 5 viruses (which Norton caught thank goodness) I decided it was time to just move on and uninstall it. Even LimeWire installed crapware on my system, so you might not have to do anything to get something bad on the computer.

 

he just uses it for downloading music....but as you said even an mp3 can carry a payload....I for one steer clear of programs such as limewire because of stories like yours...5 viruses...that's scarry.

 

lol, not a chance...

 

fine....I'll just stay confused

 

try reversing the r and O, then think of what the word pounding could be a euphemism for in association with your new found word

 

Bingo..yatzee..is that your final answer...our survey says..........****....bing ding ding bing.
That would explain a lot.....I think he's addicted....went through his IE history file an low and behold....guess what I found.....a month of unmentionable......I will once again thry to warn him the high risk factor his is putting into play when taking part in such pasttimes.....hopefully he'll listen this time......BTW I dumped all his history files and temporary internet content and reduced his TI file size to 1GB....hopefully this will put some control on his future activities.
Found 6 viruses after reallizing what he was doing....I screen shoted it and made a jpg out of it and then made it the back ground for his desktop as a reminder of the consequences for such foolish behavior.

 

LOL, nice.

 

thanks.....he didn't think it was so funny though.