Hello Superdave!
Just thought I would update you on what I have found out. went out and bought a new hard drive and reinstalled OS. A bit tedious, but got all windows updates done, plus all the programs and applications that my mother uses, all updated. also restored files from back-ups taken from old hard drive. After all was said and done computer was running like a dream for about 3 WEEKS and then mom calls me and says she has a problem.
Well I noticed right off it was pretty much doing everything that I started this thread for (slow boot up, programs taking over a minute to open, getting page cannot be displayed in IE, and hanging in firefox. just a slow and sick computer again. first off I ask her if she had downloaded or installed any new programs or applications. She told me that she had trouble with her online banking and had to call them and I guess they told her it would be in her best interest to install an application called Trusteer Rapport and PROCEEDED to walk her through installing it. my thought was to restore the computer to an earlier time before she installed Trusteer Rapport. Once in restore points I noticed that there was a restore point for everyday and even several times a day that said "installed Rapport". I then went back to a restore point before the install of Rapport and it was successful. After that the computer started running like a charm again.
Told Mom it could have been a bad install, so proceeded to install it again and the same problem's started occurring again. So just uninstalled it and things went back to normal again. Told Mom to GO into her bank and see if she had any problems with getting in and doing things. She had no problems, so I figure she didn't have to have that application.. so it will be left off her computer. She is happy now again !
I noticed by going through this thread that she had Trusteer Rapport on her old hard drive installed too,(dunno why I didn't question it then ). We did have old hard drive tested and was told it was starting to fail, but I started thinking maybe this Rapport app could have been a prominent cause of her problems also, as this hard drive is brand new and experienced much of the same problems! Started doing some research on Trusteer and noticed a lot of other people had the same problems after installing it, with slow and sluggish computers.
Anyhow Just thought I would update you with this information and possibly maybe help someone else on how this was solved. Thanks again for all your help!! Have a great day !
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I guess they told her it would be in her best interest to install an application called Trusteer Rapport and proceeded to walk her through installing it.