Q: We have a Blu-ray DVD player and we stream our videos through Netflix. We love it. However, why does it constantly pause while we are watching it? We have to wait for it to re-link which is most aggravating. We have high speed DSL through AT&T. It streams from our wireless router which is in an adjacent room. I had a tech come out and he updated the software and assured me all is well. NOT!
Mike Hutchinson
A: The most likely cause is that the video stream is not being delivered fast enough to keep up with the picture. When that happens, the screen can freeze or the DVD player may be forced to grab another helping of data before the streaming can continue. You didn't say if this is a new problem, or whether things have always been this way. If things once worked just fine, then it's possible that -- for whatever reason -- the average speed of your Internet connection from AT&T has dropped. Or there may be problems with your wireless router -- maybe something as simple as a change in where it's located or even how the antennas on it are oriented.
If, on the other hand, you've always had this problem then you may need to buy higher speed service from your Internet provider. At a minimum you should have a 1.5 MBPS connection and I find that 2.5 MBPS or faster is desirable. There's a speed test on this Web page: www.speakeasy.net. Check it a few times over a two or three day period, write down the results and average them. If the Internet connection you're getting is substantially lower than what's promised, contact AT&T for help. If the delivered speed is as promised, but lower than 1.5 MBPS you probably should change to a faster DSL service.
Q: When I'm typing along, composing emails, sometimes the letters "pause" on the screen. I have to wait as long as 10 seconds for the letters/words to start appearing again and catch up with what I was typing. What can I do about this?
Joanne Ries
A: That's an incredibly long time to wait. Unfortunately there are loads of reasons why a computer could do what you are describing. Here are some of them. Adware or spyware can slow a computer down. And to make things worse they use your Internet connection to communicate back to the person who created them. If you're not using an anti-spyware/adware program, you ought to try that. There also was a problem with some earlier versions of Microsoft Outlook that created that problem. If you're using Outlook make sure you have the latest version.
If none of that helps, try to think back to the time this problem started. Sometimes we create the problem ourselves when we install a new program that conflicts with other programs, update a program, add a printer, etc. So think back to any changes you made around the time this started.
Another thing to try is System Restore -- a Windows feature that returns the computer to the state it was in on an earlier date. It will remove any software you have added, or any changes you've made to software, since that date. If you don't know how to use it, you can hit the big Windows start button and type in the words -- system restore -- in the search box for the Windows help menu.
Q: I recently downloaded the AVG anti-virus software and it shutdown my Internet connection. Have you heard of this before and if so, what gives?
Craig Tindall
A: Is it possible that you are running more than one anti-virus program? Doing that can create all sorts of problems. Many security suites contain a combination of programs including both anti-spyware protection as well as an anti-virus program. It's possible for a person to end up with two anti-virus programs without knowing it. Meantime, why not uninstall AVG and see if that helps -- it would at least confirm or deny your belief that AVG is the cause of the problem.
