[geekmyownpc]

Some of the listings under startup I do not recognize. How do I know which ones to leave on? Thanks.

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Some of the listings under startup I do not recognize. How do I know which ones to leave on? Thanks.

Google would be a good start...

[Amst3rDamag3]

Some of the listings under startup I do not recognize. How do I know which ones to leave on? Thanks.

Google would be a good start...

[John Bull]

I like this thread. It gives most of the basic guidance that ordinary users need without going into any advanced and complicated issues.

Almost all of the suggestions made are highly recommended to PC footsloggers who just want a safe machine.
My own package is :- Windows 2002 XP Home, SP3, Firefox, AVG 2011 Free, Sandboxie Free, ZoneAlarm, SpywareBlaster,
NoScript, Adblock Plus, KeyScrambler, RIP, WOT with a number of offline programs as optional support and convenience.

I have not had a single infection for ages, cannot even remember the last time. Not even a tracking cookie. I have visited all the sites you can imagine - the Good, the bad and the very ugly. Tramped all over the web with impunity and come through t all without a scratch.

I attribute 99% of my impenetrable armor to Sandboxie, with AVG 2011 and ZA as solid defenders. There is a mountain of information about security on the web, many Forums are saturated with it and I have read most of it. My verdict ? Sandboxie is the most remarkable program to offer almost complete security protection in existence today. Returnil is very good, but probably more complicated than Sandboxie which is very user friendly. In my opinion Sandboxie is untouchable.

There are many so-called geeks that take great delight in pointing out Sandboxie`s very few weaknesses. Well, you always get a handful of people devoted to destroying the very best of things, they get some personal satisfaction out of it, but my advice to any Sandboxie user or potential user is - just configure the program properly and forget these extremists.

Cleaning ? I only carry out minor maintenance and have no time for drastic measures. For this I use ATF every day at shutdown - this is an excellent little program and has never given any trouble - everybody should have it. As secondary more thorough checking I use CCleaner and BleachBit, but I only clean my own selected items, kind of trimming really. I have never hit the button on any massive clean-up in my life and do not intend to. My Temp. files amount to a lot of MB, but it does not keep me awake at night. When it does, I will take notice.

I treat any Registry cleaning with great apprehension and generally leave it alone apart from obvious rubbish and program residue.
General policy ? If it works OK, don`t fix it !

Defrag ? Without a shadow of doubt - Auslogics and Piriform Defraggler - they both work quick and have never caused any problems. I mostly use Auslogics, every other day just before shutdown.

The point about slow response ? Your hint is correct. 9 out of 10 times it is due to other causes within a users particular set-up. Again, too many programs at Start-up is a prime cause and cutting some of these out as suggested by the OP is desirable and can result in improvement. Slow behaviour is seldom due to any virus or malware, which is an erroneous conclusion often suggested. Regular scans of your system will dispense with this issue. My system has been consistently clean for a very long time.

I myself have a great many programs on my desktop and in folders and YES it takes a while to start up, but I tolerate that in order to have these programs loaded and ready for use during any given session. It is my choice and not everybody's.

John

Edited by John Bull, 27 September 2011 - 02:42 PM.

[sari]

Cleaning ? I only carry out minor maintenance and have no time for drastic measures. For this I use ATF every day at shutdown - this is an excellent little program and has never given any trouble - everybody should have it.

Unfortunately, the developer of this program has removed the download link from his site, and I don't think it's being maintained any longer. We recommend TFC now. It's written by OldTimer, who also writes OTL and other tools we use. The advantage of this tool is that the developer is onsite and available for questions, if needed.

[donnag35044]

sorry but this didnt work on my computer
is there anything else i can try my computer keeps saying warning running low on virtual memory and keeps freezing up computer says it dont need defraging i remove most of the programs i've added in the past my ram is susposed to be 512 mb but its only showing 447 rams no matter what i remove or how much that number aint changing i'm currently in panic mode here can you help before my computer completely crashes

[donnag35044]

i also installed avg antivirus on my computer and scanned it it found 2 trogens

[rshaffer61]

i also installed avg antivirus on my computer and scanned it it found 2 trogens

I suspect that you have some malware on your computer causing issues that we are not able to solve through means we can use here in the Tech Forums. I suggest you read the 'Start Here' topic found HERE. With these self-help tools you have a high chance of fixing the problems on your own. If you are still having problems after following Step 3 of the guide, continue with Step 4 and 5 and post in the Malware Forum. If you are unable to run any programs, Please create a topic stating what you have tried so far and that you are unable to run any programs. Also, Please do NOT post the logs in this thread.

If you are still having issues after the malware expert gives you a clean bill of health, Please return to THIS thread and we will pursue other options to help you solve your current problem(s).
Add a link to this topic so that malware tech can see what steps have been taken here

[catpoop]

What free ant-virus protector can you recommend I use with Google Chrome for my XP that doesn`t chew up alot of memory?

[rshaffer61]

MSE, Avast or Avira are the three we recommend the most.
Personally I would recommend Avast or MSE as I have Avast on my system and MSE on my wife's system. Both do a very good job and are very easy on system resources.

[catpoop]

Thanx! Do you have that download link?
Thanx

[rshaffer61]

MSE

[catpoop]

One says Microsoft & another says Avast.I have the microsoft right now & AVG does not like my computer.

[rshaffer61]

MSE is Microsoft and the Avast link is in my signature below or you can get it from the following. You should not have more then one active running AV as it can cause false positives to be reported.
Please download Avast from my signature below. Please make sure you do the registration as it is good for a year or more. When it is due simply just reregister it.
Avast in my opinion is better because:

It's FREE to the Home User
It Updates it's Definitions daily
You can scan Individual Files, Folders and Drives
No buying new versions every year

http://www.avast.com...avast-home.html

[sari]

Catpoop,

When you say AVG doesn't like your computer, is that what you currently have installed? If so, you should uninstall AVG prior to installing either MSE or Avast. Never have twwo antivirus programs installed at once.

Sari

[Macboatmaster]

catpoop

It is, really a question of which you find, amongst the high regarded ones, is most suitable to YOU.

As you have been advised, NEVER run more than one, in real time protection.
You MAY find reports, on the various forums, relating a particular product, that it can safely run with others.

Our advice in relation to anti-virus programs running in real-time would be to ignore those suggestions..

For further information on various products - you may find this link helpful
http://www.geekstogo...yware-software/

You will have seen that my colleague rshaffer61 uses Microsoft Security Essentials on ONE computer and Avast on another.

I tried AVAST and went back to MSE - BUT do not let that influence you - as I said it is your choice.

Microsoft Security Essentials
1. FREE

2.On Custom scan - you can also scan individual drives, folders



3. It updates its definitions and on scheduled scan, you can configure it to check for updates before scanning.
OR you can if you do NOT use scheduled scanning which I do NOT, as I prefer to scan when I wish to - simply click on Updates on the main window. It will then report either Your definitions are Up to Date or it will check for updates.

4. By right clicking on any folder or file - you can scan that individual file - from the right click without going through the MSE user interface. - for instance on your new download before installation.


As rshaffer61 has said, these also apply of course to AVAST.

I prefer Microsoft Security Essentials - as I said at the start of my post, it is which you find suits you BEST.