Does spybot slow down PC?

absfabs

First post on here, so please be gentle:

PC has been really slow last couple of weeks, wondering why. We use AVG, and every so often an adaware scan, also spybot.

Recently we get a lot of spybot malicious source warnings, even when just browsing on amazon. Maybe we accidentally changed the settings for it?

Have turned spybot off now, and system seems a little bit more responsive.

Any help or suggestion, please ?

Keep it simple, if you can, technophobe here

chuckley

the latest 1 has kyna slowed down mines. but ma pcs old anyways.

GunJack

abs - I would do this:

1. get the free version of spyware doctor from majorgeeks.com
2. get ccleaner from filehippo.com
3. run ccleaner registry scan and delete any issues
4. run ccleaner cleaner and delete all (you'll be suprised how many MBs)
5. do a full avg scan, delete anything it finds
6. do a full scan with spyware doctor
7. create a new system restore point.
8. open my computer, right-click properties for your hard drive
9. do a disk cleanup, remembering to also go to the more options tab and clicking to clean up System Restore
10. De-frag your hard drive (twice !!)

If that lot doesn't make a difference, I'll eat my...something or other..just finished doing it to mine 'coz the kids invaded it earlier

..oh, and I never use the tea-timer/system protection settings on SpyBot, always seem to slow you down.

If you need help, just ask

PROLIANT

First of all here is some factual information for everybody, Spybot S&D is a very good program, it does NOT slow down your PC, it does it's job better than some of the latter mentioned, I use this software in my day job and also in my evening work to (All IT related), I have used this software since 2003 and it has captured many unwanted malware and trapped unwanted system registry entries. Just to set the record straight if your computer is running slow it is because there is another application taking up system resources, possibly malware or a faulty software installation, the could go on but investigate the matter further and find out the root cause of the problem, I have installed Spybot on hundreds of different Computers from Laptops, Desktops to Server's, no problems to date, so if you would like further assistance please post any material that will help your problem and I am sure you will get the problem sorted on here.

gooner045

Having tea timer on in spybot will use more resources. Personally I turn that off and run frequent scans manually.

TonyLisaP

What operating system are you running and what is the spec of your PC?

IE I am running Vista with SP1 on a E6600 (2.4GHz) with 4GB RAM

Try running your performance monitor for a while to see what programs are running and what is hammering your machine. Goto start, run and type in perfmon. A less detailed way of doing this is your task manager, right click on your start menu bar and select task manager, select the processes tab and sort by CPU usage 1st.

PROLIANT

Tea timer uses 4.994MB (approx) of RAM and 0% CPU time unless it traps malware etc, at worst I have seen it at 2% CPU time, so the point that it uses more rescources is probably valid on an old slower system.

absfabs

Thanks for all the advice, not much CPU usage on task manager, so nothing else running or scanning.

It's windows XP, 5-6 yrs old.

AVG firewall and regular scans, regularly updated.

Kids have been over Easter, roughly the time when things slowed to crawling.
We tried to uninstall additional programmes/games last night, also un- and then re-installed spybot. No difference so far.

How do I turn of tea-timer? Have noticed this at times when looking at task manager.

Not disregarding your advice, Gunjack, just looking for a simple quick-fix if at all possible, before trying to get my head round all the stuff on your list.

espresso

Follow the instructions in the Malware/Spyware removal Sticky. You don't want to disable Spybots's Tea Timer as it is giving you active protection.

absfabs

espresso wrote: »

Follow the instructions in the Malware/Spyware removal Sticky. You don't want to disable Spybots's Tea Timer as it is giving you active protection.

I looked at that last night, for someone like me that's a mountain to climb! Will do if there is no easier alternative.

OH says let's buy a new computer :cool: , but that's really out of the question, got enough debt as it is :rolleyes: . Was meant to be a joke, I hope!

Having watched task manager without doing anything, it seems iexplore.exe is taking up 10-30% of CPU, which seems a lot, when I'm not actually searching for anything.

Another question re back up (never been my strong point ), lots of photos I really don't want to loose, what's the quickest and cheapest way? It took weeks, okay, lots of hours, to upload to an on-line photo album in the past. Thinking of USB key, someone recommended this, where do I get this cheap, what does it look like, where does is plug in?

Sorry to be so thick!

TonyLisaP

10-30% is quite a lot if it is constant. What version of internet explorer are you running and what is the spec of your pc? CPU speed and RAM Please. Have you considered using mozilla firefox or opera as your web browser?