Hello, i've got a Dell Dimension 3000 and until about a month ago it was fine. I did have a couple of viruses but I think I got them sorted and is no longer connected to the net.

I think the problem is that I installed a new program without realising how big it was and I think I may have filled my hard drive.

My computer now starts normally to the point where I type in my password but then takes about 20 mins to load my desktop (it often doesn't get this far and just loads my desktop wallpaper) and then if you try to do anything (even click on an icon) it tries to refresh the screen and takes about 20 mins to do so. I can't access anything.

Any help would be much appreciated, I would prefer not to wipe my computer completely, but if I had to is there anyway I could without having to re-install windows as I can't find my CD anywhere?


cheers
Simo ++

ok. go to "my computer" right click on Local Disk C:, and click properties. tell me how big the drive is, and how full it is. i also reccomend defragmenting, that could help. let me know

problem is that as soon as I click on 'My Computer' it begins to open but then the screen goes blank (except my wallpaper) and then loads the desktop again, which takes 10 seconds to 10 mins and without My computer being open.

And I forgot to mention when I had the virus a while ago it disabled ctrl-alt-delete, which I didn't fix before this problem - so no ctrl-alt-delete, which makes things a bit trickier.

Can you get into Safe Mode?
If so, i'd advise you to do the Prework (In my signature). You mentioned that you previously had some infections, these might not be fully cleared so by doing this Prework our security team can make sure.