Laptop running slow

[fliptheswitch]

I recently lent my lappy to a friend. I got it back a couple of days ago, and it's just not really been the same.
It's running really slowly, and not just when I'm on the internet. I was looking through my pictures earlier, and it was really slow, just clicking through them.
He's put loads of software on here, which I don't really know how to get rid of and there's tons and tons of music files now on here, as well as films and the software to download them.
Could this be the reason it's running slow?

Oh, and I've had to restart the damn thing three times, as the page just freezes and I can't close it down or do anything.

Thanks.

[VHG]

Well you have learned one lesson - dont lend him your laptop again !

He may have installed a torrent program which is trying to download files like flims from the interent which will slows things down.

Open the Windows Control Panel, then open "Programs" (may be a different name on different versions of Windows). This lists all installed programs.

Sort the programs by date to see when they were installed (newest at the top).

Find the ones he may have installed and uninstall them.

If you are not sure put the names of the programs here and we will tell you if it is ok to uninstall them.

[boxtops]

Phew - I would never lend my lappy to anyone, I wouldn't want anyone else looking at my files. Is yours not password-protected, flip?

[fliptheswitch]

Yeah, I have definitely learnt my lesson. It came back in a right state. Tobacco in between the keys, smudge marks all over the screen. Arghh!

I have just had a look. There is something called utorrent?

And no, it's not password protected. There's nothing really on here but pictures, so I'm not too bothered about that. I was quite annoyed to find he'd been trying to access one of my email accounts though. My yahoo email address came up automatically when I went to log into hotmail. I have the email address and password saved on my desktop, so he'd obviously been having a good nose through my stuff. What a cheek!!

[boxtops]

it's a lesson learned then - some people will nose when the opportunity arises, I found a neighbour nosing at the texts on my phone once when they had come round for a drink. Just don't give them the opportunity - or password protect your own files and folders, if you must lend it.

[fliptheswitch]

Haha! Oh my god, that's terrible... though it did make me laugh :)
I cannot believe the cheek of it, he's just text me to ask if I can drop it round again as he "has some stuff to look up on the internet". Er... NO!!

[vivandorron]

If the friendship is good, cannot you discuss with him what he has put onto your lappy and establish the reason for such actions; which were done without your consent.

Don't lend it to him again until he answers questions you ask about the software which he has downloaded.

I dread to think what he might do the next time he borrows your machine.!!

Ron.

[fliptheswitch]

Well, he's now being funny with me, because I've said I'm trying to work out why it's running really slowly.
I text him back and said I think it has a virus or something and that I'm "going through everything" to try and work out what's wrong.
He got really arsey and sent me another text saying it's not got a virus. Let me have it and I will check for you.

[ummmm]

I let my nephew, Richie, borrow my lappy. He just fraped me though.

[fliptheswitch]

lol. That's probably the first thing I'd do too... not try and get into someone's email. Bit weird.

[fliptheswitch]

With regards to uninstalling software, how do I do that exactly? I have just right-clicked on the desktop thing and 'deleted'. Is that enough to get rid of it?
There were also loads of films downloading. I stopped those... after waiting for The Hangover 2 to finish! :)

[ChuckFickens]

No, goto the control panel and then either add remove programs or programs and features (depending on windows version) and find the program you want to remove, click on it once then select uninstall.

[vallaw]

you will need to uninstall via control panel

[boxtops]

Flip, make him go to the library to access the internet, it's freely available there. You can't have him messing up your stuff like this.

[AlBags]

He's been using it for file-sharing .. probably because he has no connection of his own.
What a damn nerve.
Look in Add Remove programs, and remove anything with seed or torrent in the name. Also remove any WEB-based programs or toolbars you don't need or use ... like Yahoo, etc.
then go into System Restore and TURN it OFF.
then do a full scan and let it sort itself out.

Make sure it is not lent to him again. You are lucky it still runs.

[fliptheswitch]

Ah, that's brilliant. Thanks Chuckfickens. There's bloody loads on there that I don't have a clue what they even are!

[AlBags]

After you have done a full scan and rebooted, turn ON System Restore again.
Al.

[fliptheswitch]

Ah sorry ALbags, your answer wasn't there when I started typing. I'll get straight on with it now. Thanks :)
He was using my connection, as he only lives a couple of doors down. I can't believe how many films he'd downloaded. There's a folder full to the brim with weird films. No wonder he wants it back so badly!

Thanks all.

[fliptheswitch]

Ah, brilliant. Thanks Al :)

[AlBags]

OK.
Find the folder in Windows Explorer ..that the program has been saving the material to.
After you have removed the program and others you find. Delete the whole folder. That will make plenty of room again on HDD.

[Eve]

Cheeky sod! I'd have been fuming. Have you got good virus protection? Might well be worth doing some security scans to pick up anything which could have been picked up like a virus/malware/spyware if he's been downloading and be careful about using anything neeing security in the meantime such as online banking.