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Computer performance down (memory and CPU way up!)


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#1
BerDov

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Good morning geeks,

For some months now, my computer slowed down considerably. I often observe (in the Windows Task Manager) CPU usage of 50-60% and higher, even when the CPU tab displays mostly 01's and 00's. A separate (or related?) problem is the Firefox which consumes too much memory to the point it has to be restarted a few times per day.

The machine is not new and has only 3GB RAM, but it was not like that before. I am not sure if it is possible for hardware to “degrade” over time, or it needs cleaning-whatever that means, or it the machine was hijacked.

What can be done to check and fix the problem(s) ?

Few details:
Computer: Compaq CQ5320F; about 5 years old;
OS: Win 7, SP 1;
RAM: 3GB;
Paging fie: 3959MB;

Thank you!


Edited by BerDov, 25 June 2015 - 07:00 AM.

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#2
Ztruker

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Edit: Moving this thread to the Vista/Windows 7 forum. - Z

 

Almost sure to be something starting at boot time that is causing the problem.
 

Perform a clean startup to determine whether background programs are interfering with your game or program


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#3
BerDov

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Thank you, Z,

 

I will do this over the weekend; too much work right now.

 

B.


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#4
BerDov

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Sorry, it took me such long time to come back. Life took over.

 

The problem is still there. I performed a "clean start up", i.e. hid all MS services and clicked "disable all". After Restart, opened Outlook. The memory usage started going up at once. When it reached about 2.4GB, I closed Outlook. Memory usage was still going up. Right now, only Excel and Firefox are open. Mem usage was hovering at 2.4GB level, then dropped to 1.7GB while I was typing this where it stayed for awhile; a few sec ago, it dropped to 1GB.

 

As a general observation, memory usage goes up and done regardless of which programs and how many are open. Sometimes a computer is slow to a point of standstill after a period of user inactivity. Then it becomes almost normal.

 

Any suggestions?

 

Thanks.


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#5
Ztruker

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Let's see what's starting and what's installed:

 

 

Download and install CCleaner from the following link:
CCleaner - Standard

During installation, uncheck the option to install the Yahoo toolbar.

Click on Tools (ICON) and Select the following BUTTONS to create two (2) text files:

    * Uninstall > Save to text file (install) – bottom right corner of app window
    * Startup > Save to text file (startup)

Locate and open each saved file in the ‘Documents’ FOLDER:

    * Copy and paste the contents of each file into your next post (2 files).

 


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#6
BerDov

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Thank you, Ztruker!

 

When installing CCleaner, there was no request to install Yahoo toolbar, but there was one to make Google Chrome a default browser. I declined.

 

Here are the files:

 

================================= startup ======================================================

Yes    HKCU:Run    AdobeBridge        
No    HKCU:Run    AVG-Secure-Search-Update_0913a        C:\Users\DovBer\AppData\Roaming\AVG 0913a Campaign\AVG-Secure-Search-Update-0913a.exe /PROMPT --mid 97d9323c768e9936ad0e8106831d03d9-5cc5ec22afae10e0c32388f46f7f6cfd8788e865 --CMPID 0913a
Yes    HKCU:Run    CCleaner Monitoring    Piriform Ltd    "C:\Program Files\CCleaner\CCleaner64.exe" /MONITOR
No    HKCU:Run    DAEMON Tools Lite    DT Soft Ltd    "C:\Program Files (x86)\DAEMON Tools Lite\DTLite.exe" -autorun
No    HKCU:Run    Dropbox Update    Dropbox, Inc.    "C:\Users\DovBer\AppData\Local\Dropbox\Update\DropboxUpdate.exe" /c
No    HKCU:Run    EPSON Stylus Photo R1800    SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION    C:\Windows\system32\spool\DRIVERS\x64\3\E_IATI9LA.EXE /FU "C:\Windows\TEMP\E_S8915.tmp" /EF "HKCU"
No    HKCU:Run    EPSON Stylus Photo R1800 (Copy 1)    SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION    C:\Windows\system32\spool\DRIVERS\x64\3\E_IATI9LA.EXE /FU "C:\Windows\TEMP\E_SA811.tmp" /EF "HKCU"
No    HKCU:Run    Garmin Lifetime Updater        C:\Program Files (x86)\Garmin\Lifetime Updater\GarminLifetime.exe /StartMinimized
No    HKCU:Run    GarminExpressTrayApp    Garmin Ltd or its subsidiaries    "C:\Program Files (x86)\Garmin\Express Tray\ExpressTray.exe"
No    HKCU:Run    ROC_ROC_APR2013_AV        C:\Users\DovBer\AppData\Roaming\AVG April 2013 Campaign\AVG-Secure-Search-Update.exe /PROMPT --mid 97d9323c768e9936ad0e8106831d03d9-5cc5ec22afae10e0c32388f46f7f6cfd8788e865 --CMPID ROC_APR2013_AV
No    HKCU:Run    Skype    Skype Technologies S.A.    "C:\Program Files (x86)\Skype\Phone\Skype.exe" /minimized /regrun
No    HKLM:Run    AdobeAAMUpdater-1.0    Adobe Systems Incorporated    "C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Adobe\OOBE\PDApp\UWA\UpdaterStartupUtility.exe"
No    HKLM:Run    AdobeCS6ServiceManager    Adobe Systems Incorporated    "C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Adobe\CS6ServiceManager\CS6ServiceManager.exe" -launchedbylogin
No    HKLM:Run    APSDaemon    Apple Inc.    "C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Apple\Apple Application Support\APSDaemon.exe"
Yes    HKLM:Run    AVG_UI    AVG Technologies CZ, s.r.o.    "C:\Program Files (x86)\AVG\AVG2015\avgui.exe" /TRAYONLY
No    HKLM:Run    GrooveMonitor    Microsoft Corporation    "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office12\GrooveMonitor.exe"
No    HKLM:Run    HP Remote Solution    Hewlett-Packard    %ProgramFiles%\Hewlett-Packard\HP Remote Solution\HP_Remote_Solution.exe
No    HKLM:Run    HP Software Update    Hewlett-Packard    c:\Program Files (x86)\HP\HP Software Update\HPWuSchd2.exe
No    HKLM:Run    hpsysdrv    Hewlett-Packard    c:\program files (x86)\hewlett-packard\HP odometer\hpsysdrv.exe
No    HKLM:Run    ISW        "C:\Program Files\CheckPoint\ZAForceField\ForceField.exe" /icon="hidden"
No    HKLM:Run    NvCplDaemon    Microsoft Corporation    RUNDLL32.EXE C:\Windows\system32\NvCpl.dll,NvStartup
No    HKLM:Run    PC-Doctor for Windows localizer    PC-Doctor, Inc.    C:\Program Files\PC-Doctor for Windows\localizer.exe
No    HKLM:Run    QuickTime Task    Apple Inc.    "C:\Program Files (x86)\QuickTime\QTTask.exe" -atboottime
No    HKLM:Run    SunJavaUpdateSched    Oracle Corporation    "C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Java\Java Update\jusched.exe"
No    HKLM:Run    SwitchBoard    Adobe Systems Incorporated    C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Adobe\SwitchBoard\SwitchBoard.exe
No    Startup Common    Adobe Gamma Loader.lnk    Adobe Systems, Inc.    C:\PROGRA~2\COMMON~1\Adobe\CALIBR~1\ADOBEG~1.EXE
No    Startup Common    Corel Registration.lnk    IntelliQuest Communications, Inc.    C:\PROGRA~2\Corel\WORDPE~1\Register\Remind32.exe
No    Startup Common    CorelCENTRAL 9.LNK    Corel Corporation Limited    C:\PROGRA~2\Corel\WORDPE~1\programs\ccwin9.exe  /NoSplash
No    Startup Common    CorelCENTRAL Alarms.LNK    Corel Corporation Limited    C:\PROGRA~2\Corel\WORDPE~1\programs\alarm.exe  
No    Startup User    Adobe Gamma.lnk    Adobe Systems, Inc.    C:\PROGRA~2\COMMON~1\Adobe\CALIBR~1\ADOBEG~1.EXE
No    Startup User    Dropbox.lnk    Dropbox, Inc.    C:\Users\DovBer\AppData\Roaming\Dropbox\bin\Dropbox.exe /systemstartup
No    Startup User    OneNote 2007 Screen Clipper and Launcher.lnk    Microsoft Corporation    C:\PROGRA~2\MICROS~2\Office12\ONENOTEM.EXE /tsr
 

========================== install.txt ==========================================================

Adobe Acrobat 9 Pro Extended 64-bit Add-On    Adobe Systems Incorporated    5/4/2010    34.0 KB    9.0.0
Adobe AIR    Adobe Systems Incorporated    2/16/2013        3.6.0.5970
Adobe CS6 Design and Web Premium    Adobe Systems Incorporated    2/16/2013    1.28 GB    6
Adobe Download Assistant    Adobe Systems Incorporated    2/16/2013        1.2.5
Adobe Flash Player 18 ActiveX    Adobe Systems Incorporated    7/14/2015    17.1 MB    18.0.0.209
Adobe Flash Player 18 NPAPI    Adobe Systems Incorporated    7/15/2015    17.6 MB    18.0.0.209
Adobe Help Manager    Adobe Systems Incorporated    2/16/2013        4.0.244
Adobe Photoshop CS    Adobe Systems, Inc.    4/16/2010        CS
AnswerWorks Runtime        4/14/2010        
Apple Application Support    Apple Inc.    10/27/2014    64.0 MB    2.3.6
Apple Software Update    Apple Inc.    10/27/2014    2.38 MB    2.1.3.127
AVG 2015    AVG Technologies    7/30/2015        2015.0.6086
Blurb Book Creator CS6 v2.2.0.20d10        2/16/2013    10.9 MB    
BookSmart® 3.4.3 3.4.3    Blurb, Inc    12/2/2012        
CCleaner    Piriform    8/9/2015        5.08
CDex - Open Source Digital Audio CD Extractor    Georgy Berdyshev    6/19/2014        1.70.4.2009
Compatibility Pack for the 2007 Office system    Microsoft Corporation    12/31/2014    116 MB    12.0.6612.1000
Corel Applications        4/14/2010        
CutePDF Writer 3.0    Acro Software Inc.    4/17/2015         3.0
CyberLink DVD Suite Deluxe    CyberLink Corp.    1/12/2010    36.1 MB    7.0.2115
Dropbox    Dropbox, Inc.    7/30/2015        3.8.5
E.M. PowerPoint Video Converter 3.20    EffectMatrix, Inc.    7/20/2011    28.0 MB    
EPSON Printer Software    SEIKO EPSON Corporation    11/29/2010        
EPSON Scan        4/20/2010        
ESET Online Scanner v3        7/31/2014        
fotoQuote Pro 6    Cradoc fotoSoftware    6/6/2010    82.0 MB    6.0.3
Garmin Communicator Plugin x64    Garmin Ltd or its subsidiaries    8/4/2012    22.7 MB    4.0.3
Garmin Express    Garmin Ltd or its subsidiaries    5/7/2014    92.0 MB    3.1.8.0
GFI Backup 2009 - Home Edition    GFI Software Ltd.    8/7/2010        3.0
Google Earth Plug-in    Google    12/12/2013    83.8 MB    7.1.2.2041
Hardware Diagnostic Tools    PC-Doctor, Inc.    1/19/2010        6.0.5247.34
HP Advisor    Hewlett-Packard    1/12/2010    49.7 MB    3.3.9512.3162
HP Odometer    Hewlett-Packard    1/12/2010    48.0 KB    2.10.0000
HP Remote Solution    Hewlett-Packard    1/12/2010        1.1.11.0
HP Setup    Hewlett-Packard    1/12/2010        1.2.3560.3170
HP Support Assistant    Hewlett-Packard    1/12/2010    20.1 MB    4.2.5.3
HP Support Information    Hewlett-Packard    1/12/2010    160 KB    10.1.0002
HP Update    Hewlett-Packard    1/12/2010    2.96 MB    5.001.000.014
ICC Profiles    EPSON    7/17/2013        1.10
Java 8 Update 40 (64-bit)    Oracle Corporation    3/20/2015    88.8 MB    8.0.400
JavaFX 2.1.1    Oracle Corporation    6/18/2012    20.8 MB    2.1.1
JDiskReport 1.4.0    JGoodies Karsten Lentzsch    1/20/2013        1.4.0 (2012-01-20 11:38:43)
JGoodies JDiskReport 1.3.2    JGoodies Karsten Lentzsch    5/31/2011        1.3.2 (2009-12-18 11:57:44)
K-Lite Codec Pack 9.9.5 (Full)        6/15/2013    50.9 MB    9.9.5
LAME v3.98.3 for Audacity        1/16/2012    1.16 MB    
Leawo PowerPoint to Video Free version 2.2.0.55    Leawo Software    7/21/2011        
LSI PCI-SV92EX Soft Modem    LSI Corporation    1/12/2010    16.0 KB    2.2.98
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware version 2.0.4.1028    Malwarebytes Corporation    4/26/2015    57.2 MB    2.0.4.1028
Microsoft .NET Framework 4 Client Profile    Microsoft Corporation    8/20/2011    38.8 MB    4.0.30319
Microsoft Expression Blend 3    Microsoft Corporation    4/16/2010        3.0.1927.0
Microsoft Expression Blend 3 SDK    Microsoft Corporation    4/16/2010    10.5 MB    1.0.1327.0
Microsoft Expression Design 3    Microsoft Corporation    5/26/2014        6.0.1739.0
Microsoft Expression Encoder 3    Microsoft Corporation    4/16/2010        3.0.1332.0
Microsoft Expression Studio 3    Microsoft Corporation    4/16/2010        3.0.1061.0
Microsoft Expression Web 3    Microsoft Corporation    6/21/2014        3.0.3813.0
Microsoft Live Search Toolbar    Microsoft Live Search Toolbar    1/19/2010        3.0.566.0
Microsoft Office Enterprise 2007    Microsoft Corporation    5/26/2014        12.0.6612.1000
Microsoft Office File Validation Add-In    Microsoft Corporation    12/31/2014    10.9 MB    14.0.5130.5003
Microsoft Office PowerPoint Viewer 2007 (English)    Microsoft Corporation    8/9/2014    194 MB    12.0.6612.1000
Microsoft Silverlight    Microsoft Corporation    8/9/2014    100 MB    5.1.30514.0
Microsoft Silverlight 3 SDK    Microsoft Corporation    4/16/2010    31.6 MB    3.0.40624.0
Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Compact Edition [ENU]    Microsoft Corporation    1/12/2010    1.72 MB    3.1.0000
Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 Redistributable    Microsoft Corporation    2/16/2013    300 KB    8.0.59193
Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 Redistributable (x64)    Microsoft Corporation    1/12/2010    708 KB    8.0.61000
Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 Redistributable - x64 9.0.30729.17    Microsoft Corporation    1/12/2010    788 KB    9.0.30729
Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 Redistributable - x64 9.0.30729.4148    Microsoft Corporation    1/12/2010    788 KB    9.0.30729.4148
Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 Redistributable - x64 9.0.30729.6161    Microsoft Corporation    6/21/2014    788 KB    9.0.30729.6161
Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 Redistributable - x86 9.0.30729.17    Microsoft Corporation    1/12/2010    596 KB    9.0.30729
Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 Redistributable - x86 9.0.30729.4148    Microsoft Corporation    1/12/2010    596 KB    9.0.30729.4148
Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 Redistributable - x86 9.0.30729.6161    Microsoft Corporation    6/21/2014    600 KB    9.0.30729.6161
Microsoft Visual C++ 2010  x64 Redistributable - 10.0.40219    Microsoft Corporation    5/26/2014    13.8 MB    10.0.40219
Microsoft Visual C++ 2010  x86 Redistributable - 10.0.40219    Microsoft Corporation    5/26/2014    15.0 MB    10.0.40219
Microsoft Visual C++ Run Time  Lib Setup    Microsoft    7/21/2011    54.0 KB    1.0.0
Microsoft Works    Microsoft Corporation    5/26/2014    166 MB    9.7.0621
Mozilla Firefox 39.0.3 (x86 en-US)    Mozilla    8/9/2015    97.1 MB    39.0.3
NVIDIA Drivers    NVIDIA Corporation    1/12/2010        1.5
Photodex Presenter    Photodex Corporation    10/2/2011        
PlayReady PC Runtime amd64    Microsoft Corporation    1/12/2010    2.05 MB    1.3.0
Power2Go    CyberLink Corp.    1/12/2010    169 MB    6.0.3304
PowerDirector    CyberLink Corp.    1/12/2010    522 MB    7.0.3503
ProShow Producer    Photodex Corporation    10/2/2011        
QuickTime 7    Apple Inc.    10/27/2014    70.3 MB    7.76.80.95
Realtek High Definition Audio Driver    Realtek Semiconductor Corp.    1/12/2010        6.0.1.5938
Russian Phonetic Student - WinRus.com    Paul Gorodyansky    1/2/2011    128 KB    1.0.3.40
Russian Phonetic YaWert - WinRus.com    personal    1/2/2011    128 KB    1.0.3.40
Secure Download Manager    e-academy Inc.    9/8/2011    3.62 MB    3.0.0
Skype Click to Call    Skype Technologies S.A.    7/11/2013    37.7 MB    6.9.12585
Skype™ 7.7    Skype Technologies S.A.    8/7/2015    125 MB    7.7.103
Total Recorder 8.5 Professional Edition        10/27/2014        
UltraFileSearch    Stegisoft    1/23/2013        
Visual C++ 8.0 Runtime Setup Package (x64)    AVG Technologies CZ, s.r.o.    4/16/2010    2.23 MB    9.0.0.623
Visual Studio 2008 x64 Redistributables    AVG Technologies    11/3/2010    8.14 MB    10.0.0.2
Visual Studio 2012 x64 Redistributables    AVG Technologies    8/2/2014    12.9 MB    14.0.0.1
Visual Studio 2012 x86 Redistributables    AVG Technologies CZ, s.r.o.    8/2/2014    10.5 MB    14.0.0.1
Visual Studio C++ 10.0 Runtime    TomTom International B.V.    6/20/2014    8.00 KB    10.0.0
Windows Driver Package - Dynastream Innovations, Inc. ANT LibUSB Drivers (04/11/2012 1.2.40.201)    Dynastream Innovations, Inc.    4/12/2014        04/11/2012 1.2.40.201
Windows Driver Package - Silicon Labs Software (DSI_SiUSBXp_3_1) USB  (02/06/2007 3.1)    Silicon Labs Software    4/12/2014        02/06/2007 3.1
Windows Live Essentials    Microsoft Corporation    1/12/2010        14.0.8089.0726
Windows Live Sign-in Assistant    Microsoft Corporation    1/12/2010    1.93 MB    5.000.818.5
Windows Live Sync    Microsoft Corporation    1/12/2010    2.78 MB    14.0.8089.726
Windows Live Upload Tool    Microsoft Corporation    1/12/2010    224 KB    14.0.8014.1029
WinRAR 4.20 (32-bit)    win.rar GmbH    2/10/2013        4.20.0
WinRAR archiver        4/16/2010        
WPF Toolkit June 2009 (Version 3.5.40619.1)    Microsoft Corporation    4/16/2010    2.47 MB    3.5.40619.1

 

=========== end ====================

 

Thank you!
 


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#7
Ztruker

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Almost nothing starting at boot time, that's good.

 

These are the only programs installed around the time you started seeing a slow down:

 

CutePDF Writer 3.0    Acro Software Inc.    4/17/2015         3.0
Java 8 Update 40 (64-bit)    Oracle Corporation    3/20/2015    88.8 MB    8.0.400
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware version 2.0.4.1028    Malwarebytes Corporation    4/26/2015    57.2 MB    2.0.4.1028

 

You could try uninstalling them just to see what happens. If no different reinstall the latest version.

 

The latest MBAM is 2.1.8.1057.

 

Do you actually use Java?  I've not had it installed on my computed for over a year now with no adverse effects.

If not, get rid of this one too:

 

JavaFX 2.1.1    Oracle Corporation    6/18/2012    20.8 MB    2.1.1

 

 

I see CCleaner installed. Have you run it recently (the disk cleanup part)?
 

Also, what Add-ons do you use in your web browser? Have you tried running without them?


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#8
BerDov

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Thank you, Ztrucker!

 

Here are my answers:

 

Re CutePDFWriter. I do not understand your comment. Yes, it was installed on the computer, like the MS Word, Photoshop, etc, but it was not running. Only the MS outlook was running and, a bit later, the Firefox.

 

Re Java. A year or two ago, when I had another set of problems (do not remember the specifics), one of your colleagues on geekstogo suggested not using it. Right now, after starting the machine, I kill one or two Java processes in the task manager.  It is my understanding that Java only helps load/run some web pages. I do not know where else and why it is used. If you think web pages can be accessed without it, I will uninstall it.

 

Re Malwarebytes, thanks, I Will install the latest version.

 

Yes, I did run CCleaner.

 

Re Firefox plugins, only three have "always Activate" status:

 

OpenH264 Video Codec;

Primetime Content Decription Module by Adobe;

Shockwave Flash 18;

 

Are they needed to be always active, or should I change the status to "Ask to Activate"? I do not know enough.

 

There are several more, with "Ask to Activate" status, e.g. Google Earth. If they are not active, I assume they do not consume resources.

 

Thanks again.


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#9
Ztruker

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I would change these to ask and leave Shockwave Flash asis.

 

OpenH264 Video Codec;

Primetime Content Decription Module by Adobe;

 

Java is a server side programming language as a rule and not used in web pages on your computer. Uninstall it and JavaFX and run for a bit, see if any adverse effects. There  shouldn't be any.


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#10
BerDov

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Thanks!

 

I just did what you suggested; will see if anything changes.


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#11
linday21

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That works great ???


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#12
BerDov

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Sorry, Ztrucker, the same SOS.

 

In the last 5-10 minutes, CPU jumps between 25-60%, RAM Usage 1.3-2.6GB; three biggest programs running: skype (35MB), Win explorer (20MB), outlook (18MB);

 

Any suggestion?

 

BTW, you suggested "leave Shockwave Flash asis."

Now that pay attention, I realize Shockwave Flash crashes at least 1-2 time each day.

 

???

 

THanks


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#13
Ztruker

Ztruker

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Uninstall it and install Adobe flash maybe (or is that the same thing?)

 

Uninstall then download and install the latest version.


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