Oh help me, Techi Wan Kenobi, You're My Only Hope

[m31andy]

I'm a bad fiancée. After spending a few months talking about doing something to cuvalwen's incredibly old computer (and not doing anything about it), I finally got round to transferring a lot of files off it (no room on the 20Gb hard drive) and defragging it. This should've made the thing a little faster at least, except there was no virus software on the computer beforehand and so I loaded up Avast.

Suffice to say the computer is now running *slower* and I'm definitely not flavour of the month.

[Yes, I did know this was an issue with Avast beforehand - and AVG, for that matter, but it was that or let the two trojans we found carry on, unabated...]

So, my wonderful *techie* friendslist, please to be helping. I'm in dire need of decent (preferably free, but not necessarily) virus software which doesn't make the machine run like molasses on a cold day. Is there such a thing?

Also - any tips or encouragement to get the damn thing running a little faster / better would be incredibly wonderful as well.

(To let you know what I'm dealing with, the vital statistics are: AMD processor, 600MHz, 386Mb RAM, 20Gb hard drive, Windows XP Home, Service Pack 3. Slower than a turtle on dope.)

You are all utterly wonderful!

Comments

[gmh.livejournal.com]

More RAM if at all possible. XP likes >512MB.

Mind you, a 600MHz AMD has to be ~10 years old? - one of the first-generation Athlons or so.

[bob]

spend ~300 quid and buy a new machine.

[ian-wyrdness.livejournal.com]

Don't throw money at it on upgrades. New computers (even laptops) are dirt cheap now. You can find some great bargains, like this, for example, on Ebay.


I'd either replace it with a new computer that will be way faster, or ditch Windows and put Linux on it.

[dracothelizard.livejournal.com]

NOT NORTON ANTIVIRUS. It slowed down my computer like something crazy.

[dancesontrains.livejournal.com]

Malware Bites or Spybot + more RAM.

[dakfinv.livejournal.com]

I don't know how much it is (I got my copy free when I worked at Best Buy) but I LOVE Kaspersky. I never even notice it's running and when it works great when it does spot a virus.

[rosiedoes.livejournal.com]

I really like PCTools Spyware Doctor, and you could also try the new Windows one.

[cuvalwen.livejournal.com]

Honey, you are NOT not flavour of the month. You very definitly my flavour of every month.
U haz a flavor!
(Sorry.)

I think comments to the effect of a new computer are valid, but I'm used to it running at the rate of continental drift anyway. And it's just the start-up that being noticably slow.

X

[lunrwolf.livejournal.com]

More RAM will help. A complete reinstall will help, though will drive you demented. I favour AVG over Avast, but it's largely a matter of preference.

I have a slightly newer machine going begging, but I suspect that's more or less rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic!