memory?

[Jerry]

I'm running a dell dual core with 2 gb of memory and a 200 gig hard drive,
with Mozilla Firefox. In the past I have been able to peruse perhaps 15-20
web pages, reduced in size and it hasn't slowed down at all. All of a
sudden after four or five windows accrue the computer comes to nearly a stop
and it takes forever to load that last page. I have to wait a long time
before I can even close the windows.

I have cleared all the temp files and cache, removed cookies and cleaned
everything up but it doesn't seem to help. I have no idea of why this
rather suddenly changed.

Any suggestions or comments would be appreciated

Thanks,

Jerry
(e-mail address removed)

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I'm running a dell dual core with 2 gb of memory and a 200 gig hard drive,
with Mozilla Firefox. In the past I have been able to peruse perhaps 15-20
web pages, reduced in size and it hasn't slowed down at all. All of a
sudden after four or five windows accrue the computer comes to nearly a stop
and it takes forever to load that last page. I have to wait a long time
before I can even close the windows.

I have cleared all the temp files and cache, removed cookies and cleaned
everything up but it doesn't seem to help. I have no idea of why this
rather suddenly changed.

Any suggestions or comments would be appreciated

No certainty, of course, but any time you see a sudden lowering of
performance, it's highly likely that it's the result of malware
infection.

What anti-virus and anti-spyware programs do you run? Are they kept up
to date?

 

[Jerry]

I have Norton and the Dell Malwarebytes, plus windows defender. They are
alll up to date and all say there is no virus or malware on my computer. I
believe it because if I don't open a lot of windows it is fast and reliable.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I have Norton

Norton Anti-virus? In my view, and that of many of us here, Norton
Anti-virus is the *worst* antivirus program available. I recommend
NOD32 if you are willing to pay for anti-virus software, or Avast if
you want a freeware product. Either one is considerably better than
Norton Anti-virus.

and the Dell Malwarebytes,

Dell Malwarebytes? I have no idea what that is. As far as I know, Dell
makes no such product. MalwareBytes is the name of a company, and they
make one of the two best anti-spyware programs available--MalwareBytes
AntiMalware; SuperAntiSpyware is the other. Note that no anti-spyware
program is anywhere near perfect and good protection requires that you
run at least two. I recommend running both of these.

...plus windows defender.

Not one of the better anti-spyware programs, but it certainly doesn't
hurt to use it too.

They are alll up to date

Good!


and all say there is no virus or malware on my computer.

The word "malware" is nothing but a shortening of the phrase
"malicious software," and includes *all* kinds of malicious
software--viruses, trojans, worms, rootkits, spyware, etc.

Its meaning is *not* limited to spyware, even though a substantial
number of people misuse it only to mean spyware. So, since a virus is
a form of malware, it makes no sense to say "virus or malware."

If the programs you run say you are not infected, that reduces the
chances that there is infection, but it does not guarantee it.


I

 

[Ian D]

Norton Anti-virus? In my view, and that of many of us here, Norton
Anti-virus is the *worst* antivirus program available. I recommend
NOD32 if you are willing to pay for anti-virus software, or Avast if
you want a freeware product. Either one is considerably better than
Norton Anti-virus.

The 2010 version of Norton Internet Security is the best. It even
edges out the ESET (NOD) internet security. Details here:

http://www.passmark.com/ftp/antivirus_10-performance-testing-ed1.pdf

As a matter of interest, I've been using NIS 2009 for about a year,
and it is light on resources, fast, and unobtrusive. I agree that
NAV and NIS, 2008 and earlier were pigs, but starting with 2009,
they have a good product.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

The 2010 version of Norton Internet Security is the best. It even
edges out the ESET (NOD) internet security. Details here:

http://www.passmark.com/ftp/antivirus_10-performance-testing-ed1.pdf

As a matter of interest, I've been using NIS 2009 for about a year,
and it is light on resources, fast, and unobtrusive. I agree that
NAV and NIS, 2008 and earlier were pigs, but starting with 2009,
they have a good product.

I also have heard good things about the 2009 product. Clearly it's a
improvement over earlier versions. But as far as I'm concerned, they
are a company with such a poor record that I am not yet ready to place
any trust in them. I may change my mind in the future, but we'll see.

 

[Victek]

I'm running a dell dual core with 2 gb of memory and a 200 gig hard

drive, with Mozilla Firefox. In the past I have been able to peruse
perhaps 15-20 web pages, reduced in size and it hasn't slowed down at all.
All of a sudden after four or five windows accrue the computer comes to
nearly a stop and it takes forever to load that last page. I have to wait
a long time before I can even close the windows.

I have cleared all the temp files and cache, removed cookies and cleaned
everything up but it doesn't seem to help. I have no idea of why this
rather suddenly changed.

Any suggestions or comments would be appreciated

..
Did you check available free space on the hard drive? If you're low on
space you can delete accumulated Restore Points and Shadow Copies.

 

[GrahamH]

I also have heard good things about the 2009 product. Clearly it's a
improvement over earlier versions. But as far as I'm concerned, they
are a company with such a poor record that I am not yet ready to place
any trust in them. I may change my mind in the future, but we'll see.

I agree Norton used to be highly recommended and i for one remember the
Norton utilities for Dos.!!!! for being the best.
However the windows versions turned into bloatware that severly slowed up
the pc with all kinds of issues and was a problem when trying to uninstall
it.
I like many others got fed up with the companies efforts to rectify these
problems. As already stated the newer version seem to have better reviews
but there are many alternatives.
I have been testing AVG v8.5 and i think this is a good one with low system
resources it makes my pc more responsive, and its good value.
Graham... ex comms eng. tech.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I agree Norton used to be highly recommended and i for one remember the
Norton utilities for Dos.!!!! for being the best.

Oh, I remember the same. But those days are long gone.

However the windows versions turned into bloatware that severly slowed up
the pc with all kinds of issues and was a problem when trying to uninstall
it.
I like many others got fed up with the companies efforts to rectify these
problems. As already stated the newer version seem to have better reviews
but there are many alternatives.
I have been testing AVG v8.5 and i think this is a good one with low system
resources it makes my pc more responsive, and its good value.

You might want to try Avast. I think it's better than AVG.

 

[Richard Urban]

Norton Anti-virus? In my view, and that of many of us here, Norton
Anti-virus is the *worst* antivirus program available. I recommend
NOD32 if you are willing to pay for anti-virus software, or Avast if
you want a freeware product. Either one is considerably better than
Norton Anti-virus.





Dell Malwarebytes? I have no idea what that is. As far as I know, Dell
makes no such product. MalwareBytes is the name of a company, and they
make one of the two best anti-spyware programs available--MalwareBytes
AntiMalware; SuperAntiSpyware is the other. Note that no anti-spyware
program is anywhere near perfect and good protection requires that you
run at least two. I recommend running both of these.




Not one of the better anti-spyware programs, but it certainly doesn't
hurt to use it too.




The word "malware" is nothing but a shortening of the phrase
"malicious software," and includes *all* kinds of malicious
software--viruses, trojans, worms, rootkits, spyware, etc.

Its meaning is *not* limited to spyware, even though a substantial
number of people misuse it only to mean spyware. So, since a virus is
a form of malware, it makes no sense to say "virus or malware."

If the programs you run say you are not infected, that reduces the
chances that there is infection, but it does not guarantee it.


I

Hi Ken

MalwareBytes and Super Anti Spyware are two distinct companies.

http://www.malwarebytes.org/products.php

http://www.superantispyware.com/

They are both excellent products.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Hi Ken

MalwareBytes and Super Anti Spyware are two distinct companies.

Yes, of course. I didn't say otherwise, and sorry if my message made
it sound like I did.

They are both excellent products.

Yes, as I said, they are "the two best anti-spyware programs
available."

 

[Richard Urban]

Yes, of course. I didn't say otherwise, and sorry if my message made
it sound like I did.





Yes, as I said, they are "the two best anti-spyware programs
available."

Just went back and reread your statement - and saw a different meaning. (-:

Blame it on me!

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Just went back and reread your statement - and saw a different meaning. (-:

Blame it on me!

LOL! OK, no big deal--mistakes happen.

 

[GrahamH]

uninstall >

You might want to try Avast. I think it's better than AVG.

Ok Ken i will take a look at Avast (thx)
i also use Malwarebytes the free version and its very good, not tried
Superantispyware so will take a gander at that as well.
Regards to all,
Graham.. ex comms eng tech.