Firefox or Internet Explorer or WHAT???

[PattiChati]

I keep having problems with the speed of my computer. I have windows xp,
avg virus protection, several adware and spyware programs. 1 gb of ram and
pentium 4.
I was having problems opening websites and mail and switched from IE to
Firefox. Firefox ran like a speed demon for a couple of weeks and now it is
down to a crawl just like IE was. I feel like something else is going on,
like something is building up, or registries are screwed up or something. I
keep using Ccleaner and QuickCleanXP and defrag when necessary, but it
doesn't do much help.
What are the common things that can slow down a computer on a regular basis.
I have followed Windows steps for "speeding up your computer".
Also, what is your recommendation for a good faster browser? Firefox, IE or
another one?
I sure would appreciat help because this is getting frustrating. Thanks.

 

[xfile]

Hi,

Just share with you,

I consistently delete temporary internet files including all offline
contents. Carefully not to install any add-ons to the browser and killed
(disabled) all those installed without my knowledge such as Yahoo messenger
and so on.

Clean temp files left under temp folder of documents and settings/user and
those locate under Windows\temp and prefetch.

Scan with ad-aware and Spybot every 2-3 days and delete all tracking cookies
and almost everything found.

Certainly I installed anti-virus and personal firewall. I guess the above
should help a bit.

Good luck.

 

[M and D]

"What are the common things that can slow down a computer on a regular basis."

1. Viruses and spyware - the most common cause.

2. Too many programs are starting with Windows - second most common cause.

3. User has damaged Windows - third most common cause. I'd stay away from so-called registry cleaners and similar garbage programs that can cause you no end of trouble.

Steven

 

[ChrisC]

Hi, not that firefox will provide you with anymore protection or indeed is
any 'better' than IE,
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/SupportCD/FirefoxMyths.html
ChrisC
"What are the common things that can slow down a computer on a regular
basis."

1. Viruses and spyware - the most common cause.

2. Too many programs are starting with Windows - second most common cause.

3. User has damaged Windows - third most common cause. I'd stay away from
so-called registry cleaners and similar garbage programs that can cause you
no end of trouble.

Steven

 

[robertharvey]

I keep having problems with the speed of my computer.

I have this problem. When I built this machine I optimised the
hardware around silence and speed. It booted from cold to the XPhome
desktop in 12 seconds.

Now it is more like 35. I have stripped things out of the 'run' key in
the registry, defragged and cleaned up old registry entries, checked
running processes, switched from Norton to AVG anti-virus (that helped
a bit) got rid of fast find and office toolbar, scanned for spyware
with 3 products including the microsoft one, and it still takes a long
time.

So I put a scrap disk in and installed the original disk. 15 seconds
(it's not a raid disk). Added SP2 and all the updates recommened my
microsoft.com. 33 seconds.

I have recently installed suse linux 10, and switched from init to
initng, and can get to the gnome desktop on the same hardware in 8
seconds. OK, I had to strip loads of services out of the startup, and
recompile the kernel. But at least I /can/. My XP installation
sometimes freezes at the point where the first graphic screen ought to
be drawing the green progress bar, and nowhere have I found out what it
is trying to do at that point or been able to find out why.

Also, what is your recommendation for a good faster browser? Firefox, IE or
another one?

After lots of testing on lots of machines, I have concluded that the
fastest browser at page rendering is Opera, but it does take about 5
seconds to open the first time, which is annoying if you hvae clicked
on a url in a non-browser programme. Opera 8 is the fastest renderer I
have ever seen. Firefox loads quickest and renders faster than IE,
especially if you keep clear of too many extensions.