Is there a good free antivirus?

johng_uk

Thank you, downloaded that, managed to get rid of the Avast, installed AVG, computer is still going slow!

I think it might be time for a new computer, if only I could afford one!

Claire,

These tips may help you to speed the computer up.

1) Run the full antivirus scan.
2) Go to Control Panel, Internet Options and delete your entire browsing history, cookies etc.
3) Download Spybot and Ad-Aware. These delete any dodgy cookies and things that sites leave on your system. These run in the background and slow your system down. Borth these can be found free.
4) Delete any old programs and things that you don't use.
5) Run a system 'defrag' through windows. This sorts all the file clusters which are randomly scattered around your hard drive into the same location for each programme. This allows your computer to access the data quicker rather than search around for it!

Hope this helps!

Millionaire

ClaireLR wrote: »

Thank you, downloaded that, managed to get rid of the Avast, installed AVG, computer is still going slow!

I think it might be time for a new computer, if only I could afford one!

Whats the spec of the PC? What Operating System is it running?

ClaireLR

Millionaire wrote: »

Whats the spec of the PC? What Operating System is it running?

I haven't got a clue

Is there somewhere I can find this info out? I'm really not very good with computers at all, and this one was given to me!

Thanks you Johng I will try all of those things, can you help me out with number 5? What do I need to do to do that?

I've got so many files/folders/programs on here I dont know what I have to keep and what I can delete to be honest must have a bit of a spring clean more often methinks!!

Millionaire

ClaireLR wrote: »

I haven't got a clue

Is there somewhere I can find this info out? I'm really not very good with computers at all, and this one was given to me.

Right -click "My Computer" and then select properties. Should tell you in there.

johng_uk

Thanks you Johng I will try all of those things, can you help me out with number 5? What do I need to do to do that?

Its np Claire.

God defrag used to be easy to find on Windows XP. I now use Windows Vist.

Just go to the start menu and click in the search box. Type in disk defrag and it should loacte the programme.

This is simple as you just set it to run on your C: drive. It may take some time, depending on the size of your hard drive, but is worth doing every week or so (depending how much your on the comp).

Failing all, before you buy a new computer, maybe you should get someone to wipe your hard drive in total and start again. This eliminates everything from your drive so back up waht you want to keep and get rid of the rest. This should cure any software speed issues.

johng_uk

To find out which version of Windows you are running, go to start - control panel - system.

spakkker

Try and get Ccleaner a free prog. This will tell you which progs run at startup-you have to use the tools option-close down as many of these as you can. Also look at the progs in the uninstall list and delete any you don't use.

ClaireLR

I've checked the computer, it says

Intel Pentium III processor
863MHz
256MB of RAM

Does this mean anything to anyone (probably means my computers rubbish I would imagine!)

ClaireLR

spakker I did the ccleaner thing earlier today and deleted everything, it bought up loads of stuff hundreds of cookies etc, deleted the lot, it's still not going any faster now though despite doing that and also uninstalling loads of programs and installing new antivirus which I've run!

johng_uk

Wow Claire your computer is old!

Pentium 3's are no longer made, an 863ghz processor is very slow and 256gb of RAM isn't even entry level nowadays. Sorry to sound so harsh!!

What exactlyl are you trying to use the computer for? I would probably advise you to buy a new one, depending what you need it for (if you could afford it of course)!