[Gary Gee]

Got a problem with my computer in that its useless to watch any kind of video on the web - bbci, youtube etc.
The sound is usually ok but rather than a nice flowing video I get a series of stills, almost like pics that have been taken 5 - 10 secs apart.
Recently bought a 2nd hand laptop and both this and our old laptop refuse to talk to / couple to our modem so they are no use at all.
So decided to try and get desktop working right. Have added extra memory which seems to have speeded up normal browsing but not helped with video problem. According to Crucial.coms' scan its now running with max memory: 768MB.
My Norton antivirus (which seems to monitor everything else too) occasionally tells me that IE is using too much memory (something like 85% of the CPU) but doesn't give me a hint on how I may change this and have no idea myself - could this be causing the video problem?
Thanks

 

[Keosk]

If I.E or any other process is hogging 85% of your processor while you're watching vids then that will degrade playback. Try watching in Firfox see if that makes any difference.

p.s. Of course your desktop needs to be up to the task. If it's single core forget about smooth flowing High Def..unless it's 3.8GHz or something.

 

[RaptorUK]

So decided to try and get desktop working right. Have added extra memory which seems to have speeded up normal browsing but not helped with video problem. According to Crucial.coms' scan its now running with max memory: 768MB.

It sounds like your computer is about 7 years old . . or maybe more ? Time for a new PC. Is it running Windows 95 ?

 

[Gary Gee]

It sounds like your computer is about 7 years old . . or maybe more ? Time for a new PC. Is it running Windows 95 ?

I'd love one "only" 7, think its from about 2002 or 2000.
Its running XP, even when its just sat here it only seems to have 30% or less RAM free, does that sound right?
Single core but it did used to play youtube and bbci ok a bit ago - have they upped their standard or something?
I'll give Firefox a go, tried Chrome this morning but made no difference.
Just handy if you miss recording something on TV if you can get it on the web.

Just had a look at system information: LOL @ 3.8GHz, its got 757MHz!

Cheers for suggestions so far.

Any ideas why I cannot get laptops to use modem - I have a speedtouch (330 iirc, cannot see it properly where its located). When I connected it to the desktop it couldn't have been easier - load CD then follow instructions but with both laptops the CD doesn't appear to load correctly - even have 2 CDs and tried both but they just seem to get stuck.

 

[DEViANCE]

It definatly sounds like your computer is too old and not upto the task.

A format and fresh re-install with all the latest drivers should help things.

As for your modem and laptop issues, on those speed touch modems you need to install the cd software and drivers BEFORE connecting the modem. If you connect it before all the software is installed it with not work.

Now you have connected it before installing software you need to delete all traces of it and start again.

better still get yourself an ADSL router and then you can connect via wireless and/or CAT5 cables.

 

[Patrick]

A modem? How old is the kit you are using? Modems are for anologue services!

 

[Gary Gee]

As for your modem and laptop issues, on those speed touch modems you need to install the cd software and drivers BEFORE connecting the modem. If you connect it before all the software is installed it with not work.

Thats what I have done - with the desktop it takes you step by step (load CD, connect to comp when prompted, connect o phone line when prompted etc) with the laptops it just doesn't seem to get anywhere - have tried leaving it for ages but its never come up with the connection screens :dunno:

 

[Gary Gee]

Tried Firefox and on youtube it seemed to work but said to download new version of Flash - done that and now back to where I was!
Arrrgggghh!

 

[Gary Gee]

A modem? How old is the kit you are using? Modems are for anologue services!

Its what Orange supplied when we went over to broadband, we did have a router at one point so we could use laptop downstairs but to say it was unreliable is quite an understatement! Used to be very hot and in the end you'd have to unplug it about 3 times a day to reboot it.
Was a Netgear one and almost everything else seems to be that make - reluctant to spend out on another pile of their poo, unless we were just unlucky?

 

[Gary Gee]

Rather than a new computer is it feasible to just replace the CPU, or would this be nearly as expensive as a new comp anyway? Would it also require new motherboard etc?

 

[Spectre]

Rather than a new computer is it feasible to just replace the CPU, or would this be nearly as expensive as a new comp anyway? Would it also require new motherboard etc?

I'd say no, if its running at iro 700 mhz its probably a P3 so even the fastest P3 would struggle with the new youtube format (my machine noticed the difference aswell).

 

[DEViANCE]

Your best bet is to try and find a newer second hand pc on ebay or in local paper.
you need minimum Pentium4 2.5ghz+, Athlon XP 2500+, Intel Core2 really with 1gb of ram and a stand alone gfx card.

 

[sheddist]

A few possibilities.

1. In internet explorer, delete all history and cookies.
2. When in Firefox, enable private browsing, this stops "junk" building up that can hog soem bandwidth. Delte all history and cookies.
3. Norton slows up computers. Problem is getting rid of it. A program has to be downloaded from the Norton website that deletes the AV properly. Then you can install soemthing good and free like Avast home edition.
5. In firewall, make sure only the programs you want to communicate with the web can. Often, various bits of saftware communicate to find updates etc. Those can be blocked, givign more bandwidth to what you are doing.
4. Run "services.msc" This lists all the processes that can start up automatically. Have a look if any software related to some hardware such as telephones and music players starts up automatically. This can eat memory and processing.
5. Tour graphics car may not be up to the job.

 

[Spectre]

One of the biggest problems is that the new version of flash uses code only found in modern CPU's (and not Atoms) so even if you had a fully optemised system running a good speed if you dont have a P4 or above it wont run smoothly.

 

[Gary Gee]

Had a quick look around web and easiest / cheapest option would seem to be to get a new router, use desktop for general surfing and laptop for bbci etc.

Question is, what do I need?

Had a look on one site where it had a questionairre but that was more to do with what you wanted the router to look like!

We have broadband supplied by Orange via BT phone line. At present the desktop is wired to Speedtouch modem but I do have a "wireless G desktop card" which I assume means the desktop can be connected wirelessly to the router, once fitted.
We also have an Acer laptop which is wireless ready and a Dell (which I don't think is).
The desktop is upstairs, where router will be probably, the laptop will tend to be used downstairs.

Any help greatly appreciated - I only use the thing and don't know much about them!

 

[DEViANCE]

This should be what you need
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/113934

if your laptop/pc is not wireless ready you will need a wireless usb dongle

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/149672

 

[RaptorUK]

You need a ADSL wireless router . . . connect the desktop via a Lan cable and the laptops via wireless.

Something like this would do the job: http://www.scan.co.uk/products/belk...300mbps-adsl2-2plus-router-with-4-port-switch