I have Windows ME. What can I do when my programs are not responding? I try to open my AOL connection and it says "Not responding". Then I try to open Internet Explorer and that is "Not responding". I try to shut down my computer but it also is not responding, so I have to shut it down manually. What can I do to fix the problem? Please Help! Thanks!

You don't give us much to go on here. A few questions first to give us a fighting chance, all our psychics are on sick leave. What computer model? How old is it? You Are running Windows ME?? What version of AOL? Go to Start, Programs, AOL, AOL System Info, and post what it says for "System Resources" and for "Memory"?? Now, *what were you doing/running just prior to it usually freezing up (not responding)?? *Does it only happen when you are online? *Do you run updated anti-spyware and anti-virus programs for protection? *How long ago did this start being a problem? I know this may seem like a lot to answer but it will allow someone here to give you some good educated advice about what your problem(s) may be and which things to do to make it improved. Thanks for your time. Ps this is an excellent site on "How to run WinME well" http://www.burzurq.com/index.htm

Well I had to use my other computer in order to post these message. I have an IBM Personal Computer 300PL and I have Windows ME installed on it. Not sure how old my computer is. I have AOL 8.0 downloaded on my computer. I tried running it but it will not respond. I went to System Info and the "System Resources" is 76% free and the "Memory" is 256MB total (43% load). Prior to the freezing up, I was logged on to AOL working on my online class. The only strange thing that happend was an oline casino game popped up but I just closed it. After logging off and closing AOL I saw that the casino game had downloaded on to my desktop, there was two icons for it. I just removed them and thought nothing of it. I don't know if it was a Virus. I don't run anti-spyware or anti-virus programs. But now AOL is not responing. I tried removing it from my computer but it will not respond. Then I go to start to shut down and this comes up "This program is not responding. It may be busy, waiting for a response from you, or may have stopped running", I just click on "End Task" and my computer shuts down. Thank you for trying to help me.

Not running any protection is just asking/demanding problems. I suggest you look at this link It works for me D4

Unfortunately just deleting the 2 undesired icon did not remove the undesired programs behind them (probably). I almost guarantee you are infected!!! If you have been online without any A/V or ad-aware then you are probably LOADED with bugs and one finally shut you down. A bit harder to deal with since you can't get online now but perhaps try this: Start up in Safe Mode (tap F8 repeatedly as soon as you power ON. A small DOS type window will offer 4-5 choices, use arrow keys to choose Safe Mode, then hit ENTER. Once in Safe Mode, close the troubleshooting assistant window - now it should look like your desktop except only 16 colors and it says Safe Mode in all 4 corners - run your updated anti-virus program in Full Scan Mode (*Oh right you don't have any &Y&%$$^%^&^). Hmmmm, You may have success using "System Restore" to go back to a point before this happened,way back, make sure of the date!! You can try this from Safe Mode as well I believe. Look in your HELP files for System Restore directions. If System Restore doesn't work you could pull that hdd out and put it in as a slave in your other system and run A/V scans on it from there (does this machine have anti-virus program??) and then run a free online scan as a 2nd opinion. **Note this may put other system at some infection risk as well, SO YOU NEED TO INSTALL a good ANTI-VIRUS PROGRAM on other COMPUTER F I R S T !!!, Here is a free one you can download http://www.grisoft.com/us/us_dwnl_free.php Update it after install, then run it immediately. if you can switch other hdd in as slave into this unit and run scan of slave drive fine, if not then....... Pehaps you should just bite the bullet and take infected computer into a repair tech, let him/her slap you and then repair your system and install some free A/V, Adaware, etc installed. If you are on a highspeed connection you also NEED a firewall. Make sure you get protection on your other computer before it is too late for that one as well. Also if you don't have a previous version of AOL (that worked) still on your system then you may need to get one of the free AOL disks (available almost everywhere). It will say version 9.0 but there are several earlier versions also there in 'hidden files'. You may need to reinstall AOL-8 (I would avoid 9.0) from that after everything is actually healthy again.