Slow internet and Microsoft word

[grandvizier1006]

my computer is a bit worse for wear, but honestly, I think it can still be used. I hate the idea of "planned obsolescence."

Lately, whenever I open up Microsoft word to type up so,ething, it will say, "Microsoft word has stopped working, and let me restart the program. Each time the document I was working on recovers itself, but only to my last save so I lose a few sentences.

A few months before I had to disable my bing bar add-on because for some reason my computer decided it could no longer handle two Internet tabs at once, when it normally could before.

I know it's probably either a virus or too many unneeded files slowing things down. I know that I can clear out files without buying some program, but I know that anti-virus stuff has to be purchased. What should I use? I had mcafee, but I am technologically ignorant and don't know how to pay for more protection, plus I don't like having to do it every month.

 

[paul1149]

McAfee is a computer killer. You sound like you have too many things running. Either clean them up or do a Reset of the system.

 

[football5680]

http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner
http://www.piriform.com/defraggler
https://www.malwarebytes.org/

These links are to 3 programs I think could possibly help you. CCleaner will get rid of unnecessary files, Defraggler will defragment your files which might make your computer run faster, and Malwarebytes will scan your computer and remove any malicious software that might be affecting it. Your computer already has a disk cleaner and a disk defragmenter but I think these two programs are better. All of these programs are free.

If you have a Windows computer, it should have Windows defender on it which is the free, default anti-virus program which is sufficient. You may just have to enable it because sometimes if you are using a different anti-virus program like McAfee, that program disables it. Once you enable Windows defender you can uninstall McAfee because it is just a waste of space and money.

 

[Wookiee]

I would strongly suggest uninstalling McAfee and going through your programs list and uninstalling anything you don't use. Free anti-virus programs you can use include AVG, Avast and Avira and they do a fairly good job.

There's also every chance your hard drive may be failing. I would suggest running SeaTools, and if it fails the test you need to backup all of your data immediately and get the drive replaced.
http://www.seagate.com/au/en/support/downloads/item/seatools-win-master/

It'll take a while and require a lot of resources, so I suggest running it overnight.

 

[grandvizier1006]

Thanks. So far my computer seems a bit better. It might be the fact that I'm still using Internet explorer, as well as that the Internet here is a bit slow.

Regardless, I did a disc cleanup (it was an option on the computer so I didn't have to download anything). So far everything seems fine and Microsoft word hasn't stopped since. Not sure about the Internet, though, but I could just use a different browser.

I don't know about uninstalling Mcafee, though. Even though I don't want to pay for more protection when I could get it for free, I know that Mcafee warns me if a site in a list of search results is dangerous. (Like a place that claims you can download something for free when it just gives a virus). I have the free trial version of malware bytes, and that detects viruses well (like I said, I have none right now).

 

[Murby]

Perform a check disk on your system to check for bad disc sectors.
Run Services.msc and turn off junk that's not needed.. (don't mess with this if you don't know what you're doing)
Get a copy of AVAST antivirus software and install it. Uninstall all others.
Find a program to clean up your registry files.
Disable unneeded programs in the startup routine.
When all is complete, defrag your hard drive.

 

[paul1149]

I've had very good results with Panda Free AV, and it has a site warning function as you've described. I would use a utility to completely remove McAfee, because it leaves a lot of garbage behind.

Disk cleanup is good, but it doesn't come close to turning off autoruns. CCleaner, on its Tools tab, is good for that.

 

[MoonofIsaiah]

I've had very good results with Panda Free AV, and it has a site warning function as you've described. I would use a utility to completely remove McAfee, because it leaves a lot of garbage behind.

Disk cleanup is good, but it doesn't come close to turning off autoruns. CCleaner, on its Tools tab, is good for that.

Computer newbie here. What do I have to do in order to turn off 'autoruns' on CCleaner? What's an autorun?
Thanks for your help.
I'm also hoping to find a superior antivirus so as to stop using the Norton that came with.
Suggestions appreciated.

 

[Wookiee]

Computer newbie here. What do I have to do in order to turn off 'autoruns' on CCleaner? What's an autorun?

An autorun refers to a program that starts automatically when the computer starts up (e.g. Norton, a few things iTunes likes to start up so it can start quicker, etc.). I haven't used CCleaner in a number of years, so I'm not sure how it handles it, but I would probably avoid fiddling with that particular section if you don't know what you're doing (and I'm pretty wary about the registry cleaning side, but I won't get into that argument).

I'm also hoping to find a superior antivirus so as to stop using the Norton that came with.
Suggestions appreciated.

I prefer AVG since it's free and fairly straight forward to work with. Other good free ones are Avira and Avast.

 

[MoonofIsaiah]

An autorun refers to a program that starts automatically when the computer starts up (e.g. Norton, a few things iTunes likes to start up so it can start quicker, etc.). I haven't used CCleaner in a number of years, so I'm not sure how it handles it, but I would probably avoid fiddling with that particular section if you don't know what you're doing (and I'm pretty wary about the registry cleaning side, but I won't get into that argument).



I prefer AVG since it's free and fairly straight forward to work with. Other good free ones are Avira and Avast.

OK thank you. Yes, I don't want to muck up something by not knowing what I'm fiddling with.

Oh, meant to ask, do those AV's you recommend also offer real time protection in the free version?

 

[paul1149]

Computer newbie here. What do I have to do in order to turn off 'autoruns' on CCleaner? What's an autorun?
Thanks for your help.
I'm also hoping to find a superior antivirus so as to stop using the Norton that came with.
Suggestions appreciated.

I would use Wise program uninstaller to get rid of Norton. It will do it quite cleanly. Then I would go with Panda.

CCleaner is quite safe regarding turning off autoruns. You can proceed with a bit of caution, then go back again and do more. I would create a Restore Point before starting, to be very safe. But there's no need to worry.

 

[freezerman2000]

I would use Wise program uninstaller to get rid of Norton. It will do it quite cleanly. Then I would go with Panda.

CCleaner is quite safe regarding turning off autoruns. You can proceed with a bit of caution, then go back again and do more. I would create a Restore Point before starting, to be very safe. But there's no need to worry.

About the uninstaller..I use IOBIT's uninstaller..it has a "power uninstall"that shreds any and all residual files...and it's free

 

[paul1149]

I wouldn't use anything from IOBit, especially their uninstaller. It pretends to act like a portable, but embeds itself deeply in the system, and it leaves a lot of things behind when it itself is uninstalled, including an advertising service. The company itself was (apparently - I'm not a lawyer) shown to be stealing intellectual property from another anti-malware group.

 

[freezerman2000]

it works for me.