Laptop very slow

Susan1942

Update I refreshed my Firefox and things seem to have improved and running more smoothly Thank everyone once again for all the advice given Sue

AndyPix

Laz123 wrote: »

some programs or utilities even after requesting they do not start up will countermand that without you knowing .

The only possible way for them to do that is by registrty keys, which will be removed by ADW cleaner.
Please try to keep up

Laz123

AndyPix wrote: »

The only possible way for them to do that is by registrty keys, which will be removed by ADW cleaner.
Please try to keep up

Yes your majesty.

Strider590

Susan1942 wrote: »

I am using Windows 7 and use Norton Security I have carried out full scan use optimise and tube up etc Seems to make no difference carried out a speed test
Will try your suggestion Many thanks
Sue

Problem identified.

Norton is a system hog, it's absolutely terrible for slowing down PCs and Laptops alike. It opens and scans every single file your PC tries to open, in the case of a web browser that could be 100 files per second.
To put that into perspective, imagine reading a book, you get to the end of a page, but you have to wait for someone else to read the next page before you are allowed to read it yourself.

My PC and 3 laptops don't have anti-virus at all, 16 years without it and no infections, common sense is the best anti-virus.
These days you don't see many actual viruses as it's more profitable to create malware/spyware. I wouldn't recommend going AV free for the average user, but it's certainly worth trying a different product.

Strider590

AndyPix wrote: »

The only possible way for them to do that is by registrty keys, which will be removed by ADW cleaner.
Please try to keep up

Actually they can do it via the registry, they can change the registry key that starts explorer (windows) to point to their malicious file, which then in turn starts explorer after doing whatever it wants to do. If you remove the key or the malicious file it's stops explorer running and bricks your machine (won't even run in safe mode).

I experienced this on a refurb machine I was cleaning up for my parents, I knew something was up as the machine kept trying to access the empty floppy drive every 20 seconds, the Norton AV had been disabled (presumably by malware), when it was turned back on again it found the registry entry and the file, it removed both and bricked the PC after the next restart.