Slow performance using security suites

[Guest]

When I install a security suite my computer performance drops to unusable
speeds.
I have a Gateway computer with 512 mb ram with a 1.1 GHz processor. It is 4
years old.

When I bought it it did not have a security suite installed. I installed
the then current version of Norton. That slowed the system performance very
badly.

I uninstalled Norton and installed McAffee, same thing happened.

I uninstalled McAffee, and installed Verizon, same thing happened.

I uninstalled Verizon and installed F-Secure, same thing happened.

Currently I have uninstalled F-secure.

Without a security suite the system starts up and shuts down slowly (4-5
minutes) but operates quickly when switching screens, connecting to the
internet or checking e-mail etc.

With a security suite installed it starts up and shuts down even slower, it
takes about a minute to switch screens, connecting to the internet or
checking e-mail. It also locks ups occasionally and when shutting down I
have to force quite.

While checking the taskmanger screen I can see that the CPU spikes to and
stays at 100% for long periods of time and the available memory drops, but
never to zero.

I have tried:

running chkdsk - no bad sectors found

double checking the program files to be sure there are no other security
programs installed. One portion of a Verizon file is still installed and the
remove program file will not remove it because it says it can't find the
file. I am not confident that none of the programs installed do not contain
hidden security programs (like the Yahoo tool bar).

Clearing the startup menu to be sure that nothing is running that doesn't
have to be.

Checking the available memory with various programs running. With the 5
programs I typically use running along with F-Secure available memory drops
to 65 MB. After deleting F-secure over 188 mb are available.

Disk space available is 6 mb of 19 mb on the installed C drive and 167 mb of
169 mb on a new Gateqay external hard drive.

I upgraded RAM fro 128 to 512 mb.

I defragmented and cleaned up the drives.

I removed the temporary files.

I ran an antivirus and an anti spyware check (F-Secure). None were found
although 12 files were skipped, whatever that means.

I don't know what else to do. I would greatly appreciate any suggestions
you may have. I am getting so desperate that I may actually take this thing
into my local computer store!

Thanks for your help.

 

[JS]

It's a common problem shared with a number of security products. In my case
I disabled some of the less important options, you need to decide what you
can a can not live with. My PC's processor is slower than yours and I have
no issues except when burning a DVD (CD burning is not a problem).

Some of the products you mentioned may have more or less control over what
you can disable, so there may be some trial and error on your part until you
can find a happy medium.

JS

 

[Daave]

Without a security suite the system starts up and shuts down slowly
(4-5 minutes) but operates quickly when switching screens, connecting
to the internet or checking e-mail etc.

This would indicate malware and/or too many apps/processes running in
the background.

[snip]

Clearing the startup menu to be sure that nothing is running that
doesn't have to be.

In addition to the startup menu, there are other places where "startup"
programs load. You can find them using msconfig or Startup Control
panel:

http://www.mlin.net/StartupCPL.shtml

Checking the available memory with various programs running. With
the 5 programs I typically use running along with F-Secure available
memory drops to 65 MB. After deleting F-secure over 188 mb are
available.

Are any of these five programs that you typically use memory hogs?

What happens when you run in Safe Mode?

Do you have a firewall, and is it configured properly? If not, your PC
might be have become a zombified bot, sending out loads of spam. See:

http://netsecurity.about.com/od/frequentlyaskedquestions/qt/pr_bot.htm

Disk space available is 6 mb of 19 mb on the installed C drive and
167 mb of 169 mb on a new Gateqay external hard drive.

I upgraded RAM fro 128 to 512 mb.

Good! 128 MB is *dreadfully* low for XP. You should perhaps double-check
to see that the memory cards are seated properly; if not, you might as
well be using only 128 MB of RAM (which would explain the sluggishness).

I defragmented and cleaned up the drives.

I removed the temporary files.

Hmmm... You're supposed to defrag *after* deleting temp files!

I don't know what else to do. I would greatly appreciate any
suggestions you may have. I am getting so desperate that I may
actually take this thing into my local computer store!

See the suggestions at http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/slowcom.htm

Especially steps 5 (removing spyware/adware), and 7-9 (cleaning and
defragging). Also pay special attention to step 6 (perform Windows
Memory Diagnostic).

An easy way to delete different types of files is by installing/using
Ccleaner:

http://www.ccleaner.com/

Finally, you may consider running Hijack This and posting the log in the
appropriate forum:

http://tomcoyote.com/hjt/

You will then get a number or replies hopefully containing very useful
suggestions.

Good luck.

 

[Guest]

Thanks Daave. Your suggestions were very helpful. The Ccleaner.com tool
allowed me to deleted a Verizon security suite file that the Windows
add/romove tool did not.

That immediately solved the problem.

Thanks again.

Have a great day.
--
Bruce

Without a security suite the system starts up and shuts down slowly
(4-5 minutes) but operates quickly when switching screens, connecting
to the internet or checking e-mail etc.

This would indicate malware and/or too many apps/processes running in
the background.

[snip]

Clearing the startup menu to be sure that nothing is running that
doesn't have to be.

In addition to the startup menu, there are other places where "startup"
programs load. You can find them using msconfig or Startup Control
panel:

http://www.mlin.net/StartupCPL.shtml

Checking the available memory with various programs running. With
the 5 programs I typically use running along with F-Secure available
memory drops to 65 MB. After deleting F-secure over 188 mb are
available.

Are any of these five programs that you typically use memory hogs?

What happens when you run in Safe Mode?

Do you have a firewall, and is it configured properly? If not, your PC
might be have become a zombified bot, sending out loads of spam. See:

http://netsecurity.about.com/od/frequentlyaskedquestions/qt/pr_bot.htm

Disk space available is 6 mb of 19 mb on the installed C drive and
167 mb of 169 mb on a new Gateqay external hard drive.

I upgraded RAM fro 128 to 512 mb.

Good! 128 MB is *dreadfully* low for XP. You should perhaps double-check
to see that the memory cards are seated properly; if not, you might as
well be using only 128 MB of RAM (which would explain the sluggishness).

I defragmented and cleaned up the drives.

I removed the temporary files.

Hmmm... You're supposed to defrag *after* deleting temp files!

I don't know what else to do. I would greatly appreciate any
suggestions you may have. I am getting so desperate that I may
actually take this thing into my local computer store!

See the suggestions at http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/slowcom.htm

Especially steps 5 (removing spyware/adware), and 7-9 (cleaning and
defragging). Also pay special attention to step 6 (perform Windows
Memory Diagnostic).

An easy way to delete different types of files is by installing/using
Ccleaner:

http://www.ccleaner.com/

Finally, you may consider running Hijack This and posting the log in the
appropriate forum:

http://tomcoyote.com/hjt/

You will then get a number or replies hopefully containing very useful
suggestions.

Good luck.

 

[Daave]

Thanks Daave. Your suggestions were very helpful. The Ccleaner.com
tool allowed me to deleted a Verizon security suite file that the
Windows add/romove tool did not.

That immediately solved the problem.

Thanks again.

You're welcome.