1 Open the task Manger, right click on an empty area down by the clock, when the window opens click start task manger, click the process tab in there you will see all the programs running and how much RAM is being used by each. How mush is too much I don't know.

2 If you don't like Spybot then by all means uninstall it. Replace it with Malwarebytes a much more effective scanner, and it does not run in the background.

3 Remove the folders for spywareblaster if your not going to use it.

SuperAntiSpyware does not run in the background unless it was the paid version. My opinion you don't need it installed anyway, if you think at some down the road you want to scan with it you can download it and run it then.

I think I would have kept Spywareblaster as it also does not run in the background and can prevent malware from installing.

That Norton program looks pretty good, looks like Norton has slimmed down a bit and that's good news. I was surprised it did not include a firewall. I do question the windows firewall in XP though, I would consider a third party firewall at some point.

Hi Zep516,

Thank you for the info on how to find out about the resources by going to the task manager. I appreciate it very much.

Replace it with Malwarebytes a much more effective scanner, and it does not run in the background.

They left Spybot Search And Destroy, Malwarebytes and Auslogics. Of course they left Norton alone.

As you can see I already wrote that I have Malwarebytes, but that's ok, since I had written so much it would be easy to overlook.

I think I would have kept Spywareblaster as it also does not run in the background and can prevent malware from installing.

It wasn't my idea to remove it, they did that on their own. If it were me I would not have deleted it. They are good for doing things like this and I don't agree. I am still thinking about reinstalling it but, want to see how this computer runs before I do so. Should I leave the folders there and download it or get rid of the folders that I found in my search and just start over if I do put it back into my computer?

That Norton program looks pretty good, looks like Norton has slimmed down a bit and that's good news. I was surprised it did not include a firewall. I do question the windows firewall in XP though, I would consider a third party firewall at some point.

Yes, Norton has done some pretty neat things with their program. Even though it doesn't say it has a firewall it has Intrusion Prevention Auto Block, Email, Browser Protection and Sonar Protection. AutoBlock blocks all traffic between your computer and attacking computers for a set amount of time.

At one time I had ZoneAlarm as my third party firewall on this Windows XP computer but it caused a lot of problems, I believe with Norton and I had to remove it.
I read a review about ZoneAlarm and they say it isn't nearly as good as it use to be and I would be afraid to even try it again after all of the problems that I had with it. Not sure which firewall would be the best. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Have a great day.

thirdfrt!!!

I am amazed that someone as knowledgeable as yourself and willing to learn about computers would actually pay to have the computer cleaned or replace the CD player. If cleaning means removing dust a $3 can of compressed air fixes that pronto. If cleaning means removing programs (including those you wanted kept) then the simple Add/Remove feature does that for you.

Replacing a CD player is a simple task also, even for those who have not tried before. You simply remove the old and reverse the sequence to install the new.

There is nothing wrong with Spybot S&D it has just been demoted by the newer Malwarebytes and Superantispyware.

Your Norton appears to be an all-in-one program and does in fact include a firewall. Basically you need nothing beyond Norton but of course we all like to add another layer or two and that is fine.

Never heard of Cookie Wall but Ccleaner is a very good addition.

Auslogics should not be there as it is an anti virus which will conflict with Norton.

How much is enough or too much is a personal thing. The nervous over compensate, the brash run almost naked.

SAS is a quality application and has historically removed an occasional bug that MB can't. I would leave it on the system, but make sure it is not in the Startup. Also, if you do update or run SAS be sure to exit out of it by clicking on the icon in the System Tray/Notification Area.

SB is now only a second tier application. I keep it on the system just for followup action and recommend to others that if they have SB to rely on it only after MB and SAS.

CC is an excellent free application. Just be sure to use it only at the default settings and unless your knowledgable do not use the registry utility.

DA

"Norton AntiVirus and other Norton products lack the premium services offered in Norton Internet Security 2010. These include a firewall, parental controls, Wi-Fi protection for unsecured hot spots, and identity protection including antiphishing tools and browser search result authentication for Internet Explorer and Firefox."

The user has Norton Anti Virus / with Spyware It does not include a Firewall. That's why the tech enabled the windows firewall.

Auslogics I think this is the disk defrag and clean up program. Not the Auslogics Anti Virus Program. I am sure the techs would have caught that.

So we really need clarification of the products installed.

XP firewall is one way so it should definitely be replaced by a two way.

DA

Zep the second sentence in the second paragraph of Thirdfrt's post says "....and I have Norton Antivirus 2010 with Antispyware". Googling that brings the first link where the second item in the 'Core protection' category states it includes a firewall. Being of simple mind as I am wont to be I tended to believe the statement. Perhaps you are right but as we are both attempting to offer assistance there really is no need for you to shout. I may be old but I can read normal font satisfactorily.

I try not to assume what the techs might think, I am puzzled that they feel empowered to remove safety programs without a 'by your leave'. Perhaps Thirdfrt will enlighten us on whether Auslogics is and anti virus or disk cleaner.

Looks like your right. Wonder why they the techs turned on windows the fire wall.

Hi everyone,

I was unable to post because I couldn't log in. Apparently the cookie that it takes to get here was not there, so I emailed the forum and when I got back home walla I was able to log in and here I am. "Smiles"

To answer the question is Auslogics an antivirus or a defrag program. It is a defrag program and is not an antivirus. I didn't know they had an antivirus. "LOL"

I listened to the same thing you did about Norton and it definately has something in it which appears to be a firewall because it blocks things out and protects you like a firewall. I think the reason they made sure that the Windows firewall is on is because they aren't sure themselves. When I access a program Norton pops up and tells me it is safe to run. It happened earlier today but I can't remember what it was I was doing. I was in a hurry to do some things on this computer that I know they didn't do.

I am a little nervous about CCleaner and I called them and one of the guys told me to take the check marks out of advanced so I did. I have never used CCleaner and it would be nice if I had more information on it. Can you all explain this program to me and what to look for, so that I won't delete something and my computer won't go boom? "LOL"

Owbist you said this:
I am amazed that someone as knowledgeable as yourself and willing to learn about computers would actually pay to have the computer cleaned or replace the CD player. If cleaning means removing dust a $3 can of compressed air fixes that pronto. If cleaning means removing programs (including those you wanted kept) then the simple Add/Remove feature does that for you.
Replacing a CD player is a simple task also, even for those who have not tried before. You simply remove the old and reverse the sequence to install the new.

The only reason that I took the computer in was because I have my grandchildren around 3 days a week and sometimes a little more because they love us. Ha!

It is difficult for me to have the time to play by trying to install something and little ones that are 3 and 8 years of age want to play on the computer not watch me fix it. "LOL"

Now when I got this computer back, it was running slow again and instead of calling them I did a scan disk and used Auslogics Defrag and walla it is running like a charm. I think they got lazy and didn't do it. I really like the Auslogics Defrag it is so fast and puts things back where they belong. They did check the hard drive to see if it was Ok and it is. This computer is going on 6 years old and I guess I haven't done to bad after all my very first computer I crashed several times but, that was ages ago. Remember the first packard bell computers? I had the 3.1 and then they sent me the CD for Windows 95. Well I learned fast that you can't put old on top of new because then it would crash. I still have that old computer and I need to get rid of it, I never get on it at all, it is just sitting there collecting dust. Ha!

If there is someone here who has CCleaner I would appreciate a lesson on how to use it correctly.

Thank You damccoy, zep516 and owbist, for your help and for your info.

thirdfrt!!!

Ccleaner at the default settings on install is a very good, safe program to use. The issues start when folks decide to change settings perhaps. A good time to run it is just before you do your defrag so all the junk is removed beforehand.

Using it you can protect any cookies you want saved. Open Cclenaer, click the Options button, click Cookies and drag any you want to save over from the left pane to the right pane. It saves having to log in everywhere after each cleaning

Also if you Google "Ccleaner Instructions" you will find a few sites that provide very good instructions with pictures.

I've used CCleaner for many years. Its a simple, good program for cleaning up. You can just leave it at the default. Its simple to use, just click analyze and after it shows what it collects, just click 'clean.' I don't even look at what it collects, I've never had a problem. I do use its registry cleaner on the default setting and always save before letting it clean. Never had a problem with that either.

Completely trustworthy. I have it on 5 computers. My oldest machine is almost 7 yrs.

Jane

Here is one of the best guides I have seen written on Ccleaner. See link.

Here is a link that might be useful: Ccleaner

If I can use it you can. LOL I just install it and use as is. When I click the icon it opens to the tab...windows and I click run at the bottom. Next I click applications and click run at the bottom. It deletes all it finds and it has never done any harm. You have an option to save cookies so you don't have to log in at forums like this. I really like that feature.

Thank you owbist, zep516 and Jane for all of your information.

Jane, thank you for the information about the analyze part of CCleaner. I checked it out and now I know where it is at.

zep, wow it is going to take me some time to read that information but I will do so. It looks very though and the pictures will help me out a lot. Thanks a bunch! "Smiles"

owbist, You must be reading my mind "LOL", I was wondering if there was a way to control those cookies and that would have probably been my next question. When I had Cookie Wall it was similar except you could place a cookie in the middle to hold and it wouldn't delete it but, if you wanted to get rid of one you could just place it in the delete side of it. It had three options 1. delete, temporaily save, and save. Now I know I can do it on CCleaner too, it doesn't have the temporary on it but I can still remove it if I want to. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Now I have to go in and do my homework for the info zep sent me. You all are the best. "Smiles"

thirdfrt!!!

Hi Maime,

If I can use it you can. LOL

Gee, you must have posted just before I sent my post in.
Ok, if you say so then it must be so. "LOL" I'm with you. If I go down does that mean you follow? "LOL" Just Kidding.

thirdfrt!!!

I do not recommend the use of any type of registry cleaner there is just such a risk with using them that the general user does not have the knowledge to deal with, ccleaner does make a backup should something go terribly wrong but really I see no reason to use one at all on any of the versions of windows from xp forward, it just is not necessary and in relation to the risk involved just not one to take.

Using ccleaner in default for the part you are needing but just stay away from the registry cleaner part is my suggestion. It does a good job that way.

another option for a very good cleaner we suggest often on the security forums is ATF cleaner
ATF-Cleaner

I have spywareblaster and superantispyware along with malwarebytes on every one of my windows computers and I would be highly upset if anyone took them off with out my approval for any reason. The only time any of them use any resources is when you are actively doing a scan, other wise they are totally inactive. Spywareblaster sits in the background protecting you but does not use any resources to be concerned with, you do of course have to remember to hit the update button and enable all protection on it once a week or so, no reason to eliminate it.

Hi ravencajun,

Using ccleaner in default for the part you are needing but just stay away from the registry cleaner part is my suggestion. It does a good job that way.

Don't worry about me clicking on the registry part of it, I stay away from anything that has to do with the registry. They also told me to take the checkmarks out of the Advanced part of CCleaner, so I did.

They removed the search thing that I had downloaded onto my computer and I wanted that gone. It gave me nothing but problems and I couldn't find it to remove it. I wasn't sure what it was listed under. The only one that I didn't want removed was Spyware Blaster and I will put that back in when I get the time. I think SuperAntispyware was conflicting with my new Norton Antivirus 2010 since it has an Antispyware program in it. The reason I say that is because, Norton got rid of 3 things and when I went into the log file it had SuperAntispyware listed that it denied it access. I still have Malwarebytes, Spybot Search and Destroy and Auslogics Disk Defragger.

thirdfrt!!!