pc help...

[weirdoguy]

i recently formatted my hd. uh i updated all the drivers,got all or most of the windows updates.
but somethigns wrong with my internet.the modem is installed in and i see it on my toolbar that i am connected online.but when open ie. it says that im not connected to my isp or something. but the weird thing is im using programs that require online stuff. ex. aim,steam,ventrilo,ragnarok. it allows me to use those programs but ie wont work. this is becoming a problem.and when i right click my computer>properties>advanced tabs>under performance i click settings>advanced>the bottom where it says ram size, it always changes. i cliked change,its on custom size: initial size (mb) 1024, maximum size : 1024, i click set,and okay. but on the bottom it says total paging file size for all drives. it says min. allowed 2. recommeneded: 381mb, currently: 381mb. is there anyway i can change it so it stays on the custom one i set?
also it takes a while for some programst o load. ive been running norton and theres nothing. buut if anybody can help me please respond
thanks.

 

[aznbomber]

What windows are you using? and When you say modem, is it for DSL, cable, or dialup?

For your virtual memory settings, it will only allocate however much it needs to use. So even if you set the max at 1024mb, the current will not change until you begin to use it. Mine displays the same thing, the current virtual memory allocated is lower than my max. There is no need to worry about that.

For your slow loading programs, is it acroos the board or is it only specific programs? please be more specific

 

[weirdoguy]

right now im using win xp home sp1,i was thinking about getting the sp2.
my connection is dsl, if you want the isp its verizon.
about the programs.
like when i load aim it takes a while. but usually thats it. i havent experienced any hardcore lagging. dontk now if that'll help but yeah

 

[weirdoguy]

right now im running,2 ie windows anandtech and this. i loaded another window of ie and it took 2 mins. i think theres ap roblem. im connected to mirc if anybody heard about it, and ventrilo. but when i try to connect on aim. its stuck on 1. Connecting...., but i look on the bar it shows my internet connection. and it goes that i am connected to the internet. before i reformatted my pc it was never like this. either i did something wrong when i reformatted it. but im not sure.
uh i need help asap
thanks