Computer software?

Question

My pc at home is getting old and I realize I need to buy a new one. It has 256 mb ram, 7 gb hard drive, windows 2000, 466 mhz processor. I have tried adding a lot of software to it but that seems to have slowed it down considerably. I bought counter spy anti-spyware, mailwashe anti-spam, avg anti-virus, zone alarm firewall and registry mechanic. Booting up with all these is a very slow, painful process.

i recently bought a router which has a firewall in it.

1) do i really need a router with a firewall AND Zone alarm software firewall?

2) exactly what security-related software do i need?

3) what software do i need in startup? it takes 10 minutes now to boot up

Answer 1

You are right on the MONEY if you stick with Windows 2000 and the 256MB of RAM. Here are some tips:

1. Yes, I would use Zone Alarm as well as your router's firewall. It just makes sense to have protection on the INSIDE as well as the OUTSIDE.

2. You also need an Anti-virus program. An older version of Norton Anti-virus would do the trick, but avoid the ALL IN ONE, or Internet Security versions of any of these. You also need anti-spyware cleaners like Ad-aware and SpyBot Search & Destroy. Get the free versions from http://www.download.com

3. Just about ALL of your startup programs can be deleted. Actually, you can get a copy of MSCONFIG.EXE from someone else's Windows XP and copy that into your WINDOWS folder. Then you can use MSCONFIG to experiment and TURN OFF some of the startup options.

At this point, you should have 3GB of FREE SPACE on your hard drive. If you have less than that, you might consider deleting and uninstalling stuff. You might get by with just 2GB. But if you have less than 1GB, you are DOOMED.

Use Disk Cleanup from the SYSTEM TOOLS section. Everything GOES, so check all of the boxes that appear.

Open My Computer and RIGHT CLICK on the C drive and pick PROPERTIES. Go to the TOOLS section and click on CHECK NOW. Check both tests, then restart and run a FULL CHECK of your C drive.

After that, you should be able to run DEFRAG. This might take a while, but as soon is it is done, RUN IT AGAIN.

I also recommend that you try NOT to turn off your computer too much. If you could keep it down to once or twice a day, it would work better and require less maintenance. Be sure to keep doing your backups. If your RIG is 7 years old, it could DIE a final death at any moment. If you get 9 years out of it, you are lucky.

Good luck and Happy Computing!

Answer 2

I would seriously consider if the PC is currently meeting your needs as is. If so, then additional memory will improve your performance... somewhat.
Litterally, the software you are using will slow down an XP maching too.
AS a rule I do not have more additional services running than absolutely necessary. If you bring up the windows task manager and look at the processes tab at the bottom left you will see a little pane that says: processes then a number.
If its higher than 45, you have way too much running.
if overall you do not like your pc then up date it.
I prefer 2 firewalls, but 1 all you need. Find a computer guy to make sure it is setup correctly though.
Have him change the default password on firewall/router and give it to you to keep in your wallet.

note: you will see a performance improvement by adding memory up to a total of 1 gig of ram.

Answer 3

You definitely need a new computer! With all the anti virus, spyware, firewall software we all need to have running thesedays - not to mention everything else, your PC is just not "big" enough to cope with it all!

Can I just check.....you do do a regular defrag don't you? If you don't then that needs doing asap! And theres lots of other little things which all helps to speed things up - for instance lots of unused icons on your desktop can slow things down (especially on older computers) and if your hard drive doesn't have much empty space on it, that also slows things down (transfer everything you have "saved" on your HD...like in My Documents to disc or a flash drive and uninstall any unused programs....it all helps.)

Answer 4

ALL YOU NEED IS THE MINIMUM OF 512 MB OF RAM AND AT LEAST 60 GB HARD DRIVE AND YOU ARE ALL SET BECAUSE WHEN YOU GO TO THE FOLLOWING WEBSITE http://computersguide.blogspot.com/2007/01/install-computers.html YOU"LL BE SHOCKED HOW EASY IT IS TO MAKE YOUR COMPUTER WORK FAST!!!

and AVG is not a bad security software

Answer 5

I just use a router, no firewall junk for me.
I also use counter spy, its a great program, but I think it is
a resource hog,
I just like mcafee starting with windows, and a few other things that have to start for mine.

Anything else I will start, and close myself.

Answer 6

Just get a new computer.