My computer is slowing down. I cannot afford most of the anti-virus programs out now...?

Question

I don't know what to do, as this is the only computer I have. Is there ANYTHING I can download or w/e to fix this?

(i.e. browser [Firefox] is slow, windows don't minimize when I click them to do so...)

Answer 1

Hi

You can start off by shutting down some startup programs by using msconfig:

1. Press the Start button on your desktop.
2. Press Run
3. Type in msconfig
4. Go to the Startup tab and uncheck the startup items you do not want to start.

If you are unsure about what to shut down, research the name of the startup item before you shut it down. If you shut down programs using msconfig, you will need to restart your computer so the changes will take effect.

Another problem you could be having is viruses and spyware. If that is that case, I suggest that you download some free anti-spyware and anti-virus programs (Use only ONE anti-virus program for your computer) such as:

Super Anti-Spyware:
http://www.superantispyware.com/index.html

Ad-Aware 2007 Free:
http://www.lavasoft.com/products/ad_aware_free.php?PHPSESSID=4f05e3e8395b47d9b000cea8632d8f39

Spybot:
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/spybotsd/index.html

Avast Anti-Virus:
http://www.avast.com/eng/download-avast-home.html

Here are some free rootkit detection programs:

Sophos Anti-Rootkit
http://www.sophos.com/products/free-tools/sophos-anti-rootkit.html

AVG Anti-Rootkit
http://www.grisoft.com/doc/download-free-anti-rootkit/us/crp/0

These are some tools that will help you determine if a website is legitimate:

Calling ID:
http://www.callingid.com/Default.aspx

If you don't have a firewall installed try Comodo:
http://www.personalfirewall.comodo.com/download_firewall.html?currency=USD®ion=North%20America&country=US

You could also try a free Registry cleaner and registry defragment program:

CCleaner (Also cleans hard drive):
http://www.ccleaner.com/

Eusing:
http://www.eusing.com/free_registry_cleaner/registry_cleaner.htm

Auslogics Registry Defrag:
http://www.auslogics.com/registry-defrag/index.php

Backup the registry before you make any changes to it. CCleaner and Eusing have functions that allow you to do this.

You can also uninstall programs that you no longer use, and you could get rid of files that you no longer use, such as music, videos, documents, pictures, etc.

If you are interested in more programs for your computer, go to http://www.download.com/

I hope this helps you.

Answer 2

download ccleaner at ccleaner.com

Run it and remove uneeded junk files and doe the registry run as well. dont worry about saving registry changes. It has never messed my windows and I have used many many times

then restart your computer.

Then download spybot search and destroy

type in spybot under google. It is the first one to come up

Run the updates then scan and remove what is there.

Answer 3

go to your control panel and go to add or remove programs and clear things you don't know and then you can buy cheep hard drive space

Answer 4

Comodo antivirus is free forever.

Http://www.comodo.com