VIRUS! - Page 3

Chris Hammond · #21 (**permalink**) 04-01-2003, 15:17

Hi carp angler,

Your posting rings true. My P.C is jam packed with word docs and images e.t.c. I've also managed to pick up a fair bit of unwanted software along the way.

I don't know my way around computers particularly well so please bear with me.

When I check the pie thingy. You know, the one that tells me how much pie I've eaten. It seems to suggest that there's plenty of pie left. Can a P.C still be 'bogged down' when there is this much pie left?
If so what's the most reliable way of backing up stuff I've written? (I'd hate to lose some of it.)
I tend to make a printed hard copy for safety, is this a wise idea?

Sorry but you did offer.

Regards Chris.

#22 (**permalink**) 04-01-2003, 16:43

The amount of space you have on your hard drive (your pie) bears no relation to the speed of your machine.
Things to look for are the amount of processes you have running, your commit charge and your available physical memory.
You can view these by looking at your task manager (Ctrl-Alt-Delete)
One other thing that will severly slow a machine down is the amount of things you have running in your sys tray (the bit next to the clock on the botton tool bar)
Anything running there is using up valuable memory.
A lot of software if installed using default settings will auto load on start up and will be evident in the sys tray.
If the software isn't needed to be permanently available, then stop it from auto loading and get it out of the sys tray.

Chris Hammond · #23 (**permalink**) 04-01-2003, 16:53

Spot on Carp angler,

I've got 11 icons in there and 10 of them are rarely used. I'll try your suggestions.

Thanks for your help, it's much appreciated.

Regards Chris.

#24 (**permalink**) 04-01-2003, 16:55

my pleasure.

You may also want to de-frag your hard drive on a regular basis.

#25 (**permalink**) 04-01-2003, 17:14

norton system works is pretty good at keeping on top of invalid shortcuts/active x controls/defragging etc. windows xp is "meant" to keep on top of them, but after re-installing windows(xp pro) recently i had 108 "medium" errors in windosw!
rather than re-newing norton subs, just buy a new one every year - a little bit more expensive (unless you can get hold of OEM software) but the software gets better year on year. even if you use liveupdate.

#26 (**permalink**) 05-01-2003, 09:47

Chris, you'll find that Norton has an option to remove the icon from the task bar but keep running - make sure you keep it running though. (Please correct me if I'm wrong anyone).

I was wondering as there appear to be a number of p.c. 'eggheads'

on this thread -
does anyone have a preference re virus software?
I've always used Norton as it has been provided. A few years ago someone told me that McVee was better.
Is there any truth?

I must admit I've found Norton quite good. It picked up 'bugbear' for me day before the news broke - I'd just updated.

#27 (**permalink**) 05-01-2003, 10:05

I use webroots windows washer abrill little programme when I first used I freed 1.2Gb of space and another good little programm is the cleaner"MooSoft Development is proud to present The Cleaner ... a unique program that searches out Trojan Horses and cleans them from your system. A Trojan horse is defined as"

Chris Hammond · #28 (**permalink**) 05-01-2003, 10:44

Hi Dave,
Thanks mate.
I have to confess much of this good advice is going 'over my head', maybe I'll take my P.C into one of the shops for a health check.

I've tried finding all the individual programmes running in my task bar (next to clock.) but I'm not sure how to close them. All I seem able to do is shut them and return the icon to the task bar.

Regards Chris.

#29 (**permalink**) 05-01-2003, 11:07

when you right click on the item, there should be an option to configure or open.
Look for boxes marked 'autostart' or 'load on start up' that sort of thing and uncheck the box.

I'm currently using Norton, but when I was heavily into PC security, by far the very best software out there was Dr Solomons.

#30 (**permalink**) 05-01-2003, 18:12

Chris, I'm pretty ignorant about these things. It's a bit like everything else learning as you go along.

Click Norton (not live update option) - click options - now click live update - you should be able to see a box which you can untick which refers to automatic protection icon showing in the tray.

Other programmes you can right click on icon or go to properties when you open the file?

Cheers CA.
Now isn't that typical but in Doors section of Sunday Times today there is an article on virus protection. The guy there reckons currently he's OK with Norton.
For those with BB he recomends you have a firewall & gives some guidance.

Unfortunately I have tried to find the article on their site. Now you have to log in & it appears to want to ask me for money so I can't currently link it for you.