Steve, can you change the settings on your browser to allow them to load faster? I find on my Safari browser, there are Security settings under preferences, where you can disable popups and uncheck the box that allows for 'plugins' and this will take care of a lot of the ads that load. One other idea is if you have access to a computer tech support, you might explain what is happening to them and see if they can't figure a way to speed things up without too much trouble. As far as other forums, there are a few gardening forums aside from this one. The other large competitor to Gardenweb would be DG which I can't spell out or this thread might get pulled. I don't know if their forums would load faster for you. Plus you have to pay for participation. If you do a google search for garden forums, I think you will find a few to explore and see if any load faster. Those I am aware of... there are some over at Organic Gardening. There's a Facebook gardening group. Gardenbuddies, I've visited The UBC Botanical Garden forums and have read some knowledgeable input there. I hope you will be able to adjust your browser so you can continue to come here, but If you try other sites, come back and let us know how it works out. Good luck. :-)

Colin - your explanations of restore, system restore, back up, etc were very helpful. They were a very useful edition to what Ravencajun wrote - it didn't seem repetitive to me. I think I can really use any reiteration at this point. Now I actually understand that the system can be backed up to a hidden spot on the hard drive as well as my backing it up on dvd - to be used in the event that the hard drive back up doesn't work. By George, I think I've got it...........Well - at least that part. I'm not sure that I saw any option to create a back up start-up disk. Was that automatically included when I backed up the entire hard drive - or is there a separate step I should take? I also realize that I hadn't understood what you meant by blue button. I was looking at an actual blue button the thinkpad keyboard. Will that button do - or should I be looking for something else. I didn't not notice any blue buttons on the screen (except the Avast buttons in the task bar). Raven - I have a question about revo uninstaller. What would it uninstall? I noticed that I have Office on my computer but I don't know if it came with Office - or if this is a trial program. Is there a way I can figure that out? If it's a trial, I'd like to remove it. If it's permanent, I'll keep it. I know I did not get Microsoft Word with this and thought I had chosen no office software. I was planning on getting open office for the few times I might need to work on a word document (working on a document that is in Word on my desktop). Zep - good point about the printer software. I know when I chose the Canon mx850 and was researching printers, these were considered much better in terms of minimal bloatware (than say the HP's). I know when I installed the software on my desktop (and my daughter's) that several files were installed, but I think I want them all. The computer is networked so I can scan documents to any of our computers - print from any computer, fax from any computer, etc. I'm not sure how I would determine if any of those canon files are bloatware. More on my progress: -I did do all the lenovo updates. -ran javara and updated java and removed old programs. -installed and ran malwarebytes, spywareblaster. Any particular settings I should choose for spywareblaster,malwarebytes or Avast? I have so far just chosen the defaults - but don't know if I should "protect?" cookies - or anything else. And I just realized that I forgot to install superantispyware. For Avast, I did not set up scans on the screensaver - because at this point I will be turning the computer off if it is not being used for a while. If I just happen to walk away for 20 minutes or so, I don't want a scan automatically running that I have to wait to finish - or interrupt and cancel it - and run it manually later. Does it seem okay to just run it manually? If so, how often? Maybe I should use the screensaver option? I think "protecting (I know that's the wrong word - unselecting ?) cookies was for ccleaner - not anti-spyware programs. Somebody please correct me if I'm wrong. So now I'm off to get superantispyware - run secunia and get any necessary updates - and set up the printer software. This is extremely gratifying to be able to do this (with everyone's help). It really helps me to understand what's going on with my computer. Thanks. Lynn. PS - if I get open office, is there anyplace in particular I should download it from? Are there parts to download and parts to avoid - or do I just download the whole program?

Try disabling add/ons for firefox see if that does help, To disable all of Firefox's add-ons, you have to open the browser in its Safe Mode (no relation to Windows' own Safe Mode) by clicking Start - All Programs -Mozilla Firefox - Mozilla Firefox (Safe Mode). A quicker way is to press the Windows key (in XP, follow this by pressing R), type Firefox - safe-mode, and press Enter. See the link it gives a picture about the information above, Scrool down to where it says "To disable all of firefox add ons. If this is no help perhaps it is a up-date problem, but I think you should try the disable add/ons thing first and then try to load page using firefox. If nothing works then we start to wonder if we/you should consider reinstalling firefox.. zep Here is a link that might be useful: Firefox disable add/ons

Are you using IE or firefox? When was the last time you dumped your temp files? You also may want to manually go and delete the realtor.com cookie. In IE click on tools internet options, click the button - delete files - for the cookies - you want to click on start - all programs - accessories - windows explorer - navigate to the C drive - it may say these files are hidden - click on view files - look for documents & settings - then the user name you are using - and cookies - once in cookies - find the one for realtor.com (should be alphabetical.) Close the browser and restart - type in realtor.com (in the url bar) and try to log in again. Hopefully one of these will work. If you're using firefox, the process is easier - tools - options - the privacy tab - you'll see an entry for cookies - click show cookies - then look for the one for realtor.com