Dell laptop less than 6 months old started running very slowly. The mouse would freeze ever few seconds and then continue

First step was to connect via remote control. Since that took so long to connect, I opted for kicking off a disk check and then reconnecting after an hour or so.

• Start .. Run
• Type "cmd" and press [Enter]
• Type "chkdsk /r" and press [Enter]
• Answer "Y" for yes to scan drive during next reboot
• Reboot system normally (Start .. Shutdown .. Restart)
• Chkdsk should run 5 tests on the hard drive over the next hour or so

System came up, but blue screen stop error 0x000000F4 came up. In researching this error, I found a handy article and one not so handy. The handy one comes first:
Windows XP Crashed? Here's Help A salvage mission into the depths of Windows XP, explained by a non-geek
Solved: BSOD...0x000000F4...Please Help

Luckily, after rebooting once more, the system came up fine and continued to work without any trouble. I just thought that detailed guide was nicely explained and wanted to provide a link to it in case anyone may need it in the future.

 

 

( 0xF4 F4 )

Twice now, I've seen trouble using Cingular and Sierra Wireless AirCards. The first time, the Cingular software kept inserting a strange dll file that stopped all internet traffic. We were able to use LSPfix to remove the item, but it was a large hassle for the customer and sometimes happened more than once a day. This last time some trusted sites wouldn't open or take form data properly.

Both times I fixed the problem by removing the Cingular software and using software and drivers directly from Sierra's website. The call manager/monitor program looks different, but works much better.

This is the exact information from the card:
Sierra Wireless AirCard 3G Adapter 860

 

 

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How much fun can you have when a single domain controller goes offline? Well, I'm hoping to enlighten you as I finish this article ..

Þ Event ID: 5719

Þ Global Catalog (GC)

Þ How to create or move a global catalog in Windows Server 2003, Windows 2000, or Small Business Server 2000

Þ How to view and transfer FSMO roles in Windows Server 2003

Þ FSMO RID problems

Þ Using Ntdsutil.exe to transfer or seize FSMO roles to a domain controller

Þ Event ID 16650: The account-identifier allocator failed to initialize in Windows 2000 and in Windows Server 2003

Þ How NOT to decommission a Active Domain Controller

Þ seized schema master, domain, RID, PDC, infrastructure and I'm done 'adprep'

Þ How can I forcibly transfer (seize) some or all of the FSMO Roles from one DC to another? could this be it ?!

Þ How can I determine who are the current FSMO Roles holders in my domain/forest?

Þ DCDIAG /FIX IPCONFIG /REGISTERDNS

Þ Troubleshooting - A domain controller is not functioning correctly?

Þ

After 6 hours on the phone with Microsoft Active Directory and DNS support technicians, the ISA firewall client was identified and removed as the cause of the trouble.

 

 

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