Does this sound like a virus

[#noided]

When you visit a webpage, its data is stored in the cache so that the website will load faster the next time you visit it. If you've never visited a site, the will be no data cached.

[Keyeto]

Why would it only slow down website I've visited and not websites I haven't visited if the cache wasn't stored somewhere? How does it slow down only websites I've visited?

It shouldn't slow down the ones you haven't visited. When you visit a website, the page information is stored on your computer, and that's basically the cache. This helps speed up the process when revisiting those sites, as the page information is already on your computer. When the cache is cleared, you no longer have that information anymore, and will have to fully load the page again, when revisiting them for the first time. This makes it seem slower. Because the cache is only information of sites you've visited, it won't have any effect on those you haven't. When I said it could slow things down, I meant it in a general sense. If there's too much information on a computer that isn't being used, it can slow it down, and the cache can start to do that if left unattended for too long.

[Birdbrain]

Why would it only slow down website I've visited and not websites I haven't visited if the cache wasn't stored somewhere? How does it slow down only websites I've visited?

It shouldn't slow down the ones you haven't visited. When you visit a website, the page information is stored on your computer, and that's basically the cache. This helps speed up the process when revisiting those sites, as the page information is already on your computer. When the cache is cleared, you no longer have that information anymore, and will have to fully load the page again, when revisiting them for the first time. This makes it seem slower. Because the cache is only information of sites you've visited, it won't have any effect on those you haven't. When I said it could slow things down, I meant it in a general sense. If there's too much information on a computer that isn't being used, it can slow it down, and the cache can start to do that if left unattended for too long.

ah. I see

[Wally]

If you are still having to do a repair every time you boot, try doing a windows restore, picking a restore point before the first trouble download happened.
It will effectively uninstall any programs that you may have installed since.

I also recommend Microsoft security essentials. It's great, free, and uses the same virus definitions that are used for their fully fledged corporate package Microsoft forefront.
(Which is great!)

CCleaner (otherwise known as crap cleaner) is also fantastic. Highly recommend this also.

If for some reason you are still having major issues, there is a little program that is devastatingly brutal at removing virus' but I won't mention it yet until it is necessary, as to avoid further issues. It will severely hammer your computer, removing anything that may be suspect, but often removing some good stuff in the process.

Please pm me if you need this as I'd hate you to hamper your progress by running this program unnecessarily.

[Birdbrain]

If you are still having to do a repair every time you boot, try doing a windows restore, picking a restore point before the first trouble download happened.
It will effectively uninstall any programs that you may have installed since.

I also recommend Microsoft security essentials. It's great, free, and uses the same virus definitions that are used for their fully fledged corporate package Microsoft forefront.
(Which is great!)

CCleaner (otherwise known as crap cleaner) is also fantastic. Highly recommend this also.

If for some reason you are still having major issues, there is a little program that is devastatingly brutal at removing virus' but I won't mention it yet until it is necessary, as to avoid further issues. It will severely hammer your computer, removing anything that may be suspect, but often removing some good stuff in the process.

Please pm me if you need this as I'd hate you to hamper your progress by running this program unnecessarily.

i did the restore and it didn't work. I had to backup all my files and reset my computer...

[#noided]

What exactly were you downloading in the first place?

[Birdbrain]

I was trying to download a super mario editor so I could make my own mario game