What slows Windows down?

Sounds about right, I was a little surprised about Kaspersky but very nice read thanx.

Very interesting thread...makes you wonder how they keep selling Norton at the prices they do...when you can get the likes of AVG on a free download!!

Kaspersky rules

I use Kaspersky internet Security 6 and it works just fine...
Norton is crap indeed !! It took me some time to erase it from my computer and eventually I had to reinstall the OS...

Hey Guys,

I use Avast and it's great. It's light on the Windows XP and it does not slow down the computer. What's better is that it has strong network shields!! I recommend it strongly!

http://avast.com

Windows Slowdown

Until lately, I have had good success using BOOTVIS to speed up my PC loading....but lately it hasn't been so good...dunno rhy...I think it is a Microsoft program...Do a Google search to find it...Hope this helps.....

I often wonder, what Peter Norton thinks, as to what Symatech did to his baby?

I use EZ-Armor suite from Computer Associates, I find it awsome and works well to keep attackers and spyware out and also viruses

I use Kaspersky too and have no problems at all.

Wasn't a suprise about Nasty Norton though, back a while ago I tried it out and when Nort was uninstalled and Kaspersky was reinstalled it found around 20 virus fragments on the system all left out by Norton.

Detection is terrible and the report now proves it. That would explain why Norton is always so popular: its cheap to get hold of, the computer stores cut knock-off deals with the companies and tricks consumers into thinking Norton is the best.

Bah.

Your're Right!

Norton is crap. i have McAfee on my computer and I like it all right. When I got a hold of a list of files that McAfee overlooks and Norton doesn't (However, that is all it will find) I decided to install Norton on, too. Then i started getting all these messages that i had all these viruses, not just PUPs, but viruses. then i started getting things from McAfee saying the same thing and i had unplugged internet. then both Norton and McAfee were saying that they were missing necessary files. then Microsoft started saying that necessary files were missing. See whats happening here? :unch: Long story short I started a war between them and I had to re-install XP on my computer.

That's nice, thanks for the links

I only have about 4-5 of the items on that list ( Photoshop, DX9, WinRAR and DivX ) and I have about 40 fonts but I boot windows XP in about 25-30 seconds so I guess im special or something ( I done ALOT of modding & Tweaking to my PC so I guess that's why? )

so the PC slowing down is not of the capacity of my PC. like I have a 37.2GB Hard Disk space and have used more than 60%, makeing it around 15GB free space. I thought that the more used space on hard disk is used the slower my PC gets. is this correct?

and do I have to reformate my PC for it to act faster or can i just uninstall the programms?

The low amount of available free space on your hdd(s) only contribute some tiny amount to the overall lag/slowness of a PC.

Some other factors that would contribute to a slow PC are mentioned above, but i will list it here in short form:

- Crap/outdated technology, not enough system resources available when needed for your PC's level of use and work (eg RAM etc), as well as slow types of technology to start with (eg 5200RPM HDDs)
- wrong BIOS settings, incorrect/outdated/generic drivers used
- HDD/IDE adapters set to PIO instead of DMA
- Installed programs, fonts, startup apps, background apps running, list goes on..
- Spyware, malware and the likes
- HDD not defragged, or cleaned up/maintained or HDD failure eminent

To answer your question, yes a reformat will solve all your problems (not relating to hardware) since you will possibly kill whatever is causing it in the first place in one fell swoop, but you won't know in the end what was causing it in the first place, and whether its avoidable or not.

Have a read of this to help speed things up: http://www.techspot.com/vb/topic53669.html

No surprise with Norton. It alters the system in such way that 70% of the times it even doesn't fully uninstall. Yeah, it has a lot of features, but what's the use. 90% of computers with norton I have to fix have their load of Virusses, Spyware & Spam.

I use avast as antivirus solution, it's free, and works well.
As for spyware, spybot+adaware, when needed.

Norton froze my brand-new computer the first time it was ever started up. It was also a SOB trying to uninstall it. I'd rather have spyware on my computer than Norton, honestly.

Seeing as though norton uses rootkits, it pretty much IS Spyware Definately malware in any case. I am surprised about Kaspersky though. I wonder where NOD32 ranks on that list.

ok my 1st post

commenting on the title of this room lol everything makes windows xp slow. It isnt very hospitable to anything but itself that includes its own microsoft products.

About the anti virus stuff cmon anyone who thinks norton anti is good needs drowning very slowly and then hangin out to dry. If you want a proven reliable and resource light anti program go with

Grisoft's - AVG free - i say free cos the paid ones are not as good full of problems with the updates ect. so FREE is better

Norton does its job

I know everyone here likes to pick on Norton for being at the top of the list, but nobody can say it's not doing its job. If you didn't have Norton running, all those free resources would just be hogged up by the spyware and viruses on your system. By using all your resources, Norton is stop the malware from using them. :approve:

Hello and welcome to Techspot.

Unfortunately, that just isn`t true.

I spend most of my time here, cleaning peoples systems of malware. I have to say, I tend to see systems with more malware, that are running Symantec/Norton crapware, than any other security software.

We all know it`s a resource hog, but as well as that, I really don`t think it`s that good at detecting or killing infections. Add to that the other problems such as system crashes that I`ve seen as a direct result of Symantec/Norton and I wouldn`t touch it with a barge pole.

Regards Howard :wave: :wave:

I have been helping Howard with HJT logs and i agree with his above post %100. Norton is that bad that i wouldn't recommend it to my worst enemy.

@howard_hopkinso: I believe this post was a joke. :haha:

Norton/Symantec is junk. If anyone is running it they should simply uninstall it and throw it away. I'm sorry if anyone reading this has paid for it, but that is the awful truth of the matter.