So what should I use? I want the lightest on resources free AV solution. I used AVG for years, it has become way to bloated. Avast is getting that way.

By the way Doc - those instructions do not work to disable Javascript in Firefox 24. There is no option under content to disable anything. After a quick Google search it looks like Mozilla has removed the option to disable Javascript.

I really don't know what people have against MSE, I have been using it since it first came out and have never had a virus or anything else on my PC.  It is also the only thing I use, nothing else.

Oh, and the results companies publish about anti-virus software and which is best, well lets just say I don't believe in them.

Agreed.  Some of those 'results' can be subjective not to mention that things change from month-to-month constantly.  While I will concede that certain iterations of the MSE client have been better/worse than others MS keeps updating the client software making it better.  The latest update to the MSE client came out just a few weeks ago.

For 'daily-driver protection' I too use MSE almost exclusively in conjunction with all MS published OS updates, the MS monthly "malware removal tool' as well as system-wide least privilege and only use tools such as my fovourite fast-scan cloud antimalware (Hitman Pro www.surfright.nl) and the heavy-hitting all purpose scanner from Emsisoft (www.emsisoft.com) as needed.

If at all possible can you start with a fresh OS install? It will take some time but install updates one at a time and test. Don't install any other software besides the OS.

Eventually ( if at all ) you will find the culprit. From there, do some research and see what the ramifications of not using that update will bring. I think you may be chasing ghosts if you don't.

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-files/whats-the-best-size-for-the-pagefilesys-gigantic/d6b56634-c68a-47da-b8e8-eaecec820f3e?auth=1

With only 2 gig of RAM I guess I'd set it at 4 gig (4096 in both fields) but that's admittedly not a Win7-educated guess.

This is a fresh install, only a few days old, the only software installed is Firefox, Thunderbird, and iTunes. I guess I will try your suggestion, maybe this weekend.

I did set the paging file to 4 GB, but right now it's only using 1786 MB.

I would think with these numbers this system would be OK...

based upon the windows score of the components, I would suggest turning OFF the windows aero.

harpo

I would think so too, Kona. Something is wrong there.

I might look into turning off Aero. It has a PCI Express slot for a low profile card. I'm just not sure what card to put in there. Any recommendations? Something low end that can handle Aero and cheap?

just about ANY of the pciexpress low profile vga cards should be a significant improvement eg an ati 5450 or geforce 620 would be suitable and give the entire system a boost due to the shared ram buss effect for the onboard videos.

harpo

Yeah but I don't want to buy a PCI Express 2.0 only to find out the slot only takes a 1.0. I need to know what this system can take.

the best advice I could give is to go to the motherboard maufacturer's website and check the motherboard manual. the best ways to find the motherboard brand and model is

1 open the case and look at the motherboard (largest board in the case) for the brand and model,

or

2  download and install CPUZ, then run CPUZ, click on the motherboard tab, and note the brand and model,

or IF you have an itemised invoice from the computer build(assuming it was a custom build), then look in the invoice

hope this helps

harpo

Not quite.

There are two ways:

• From Firefox 24 on, web developers have the option to turn off JavaScript temporarily. Open the Web Console via the menu or the Ctrl-Shift-K shortcut and click on the preferences icon there. Here you find disable JavaScript under advanced settings. This disables it only for the current session though.
• Install the powerful NoScript Security Suite to turn JavaScript off for all sites by default, but with options to turn it on temporarily or permanently for select websites.

Read this article: http://www.ghacks.net/2013/07/30/how-to-disable-javascript-in-firefox/

Firefox 24 might just have "a mind of its own" and turn javascript on willy nilly. 

If you add the NoScript, I believe it should solve the problem of vulnerability through infected javascript applets.

You're stuck between a rock and a hard place: Either a good, proactive security suite (which might not prevent infection as their definitions 'lag'), or the browser option. Or, you could get a more modern machine and ditch Vista/XP (sorry) for a more modern and secure OS:

 "Important notice for users of Windows XP: To continue receiving security updates for Windows, make sure that you're running Windows XP with Service Pack 3 (SP3). The support for Windows XP with Service Pack 3 ends April 8, 2014. If you’re running Windows XP with Service Pack 3 (SP3) after support ends, to ensure that you will receive all important security updates for Windows, you need to upgrade to a later version, such as Windows 8."-MS

Good luck, either way.

You have the system.  Assuming you can read you can locate each and every part make and model...and then Google for specifications.

In 'theory' you are far better placed to solve your own question than anyone else...;)

i was under the impression that all (pcie) cards will fit into the slot. they just won't take advantage of the extra bandwidth.

my motherboard has pcie 1.1 (it's that old...).. and i've stuck a 7770 on it... which is pcie 3.0 (only because i somehow killed the old 5770 when air dusting it or something.... not exactly sure how... wasn't cooled properly? wrong kind of air? XD)

aside from cpuz there's gpuz...  which gives more info gfx-wise... not sure if it only works when a card is in the slot though... because it's reporting what the card is doing, not the slot.

Doc - I'm running Windows 7 Ultimate on the machine. And it turns out I do want javascript enabled, Facebook will not run without it. I will look into turning it off for other websites.

Guys I was under the impression if you use the wrong PCI Express version in the machine that the video will not work and may even fry the machine.

Thanks for all the help guys.

well...

only thing i can say is that i can stick a pcie x16 3.0 card into a pcie x16 1.1 slot. worked fine for a couple or so months so far i think. before that, i think it was a pcie x16 2.1 card into the same slot for a couple of years?

no doubt someone would know more about this. the motherboard i have is a P5N32-E SLI.

not sure about the low profile bit for your machine.. probably easier if you find out your mb model.

Try disabling schockwave/FLASH in IE. It can slow down your IE enormously, even on a high-end computer.

Disable as many addons as you can.

Also disable automatic startup of any programs that start automatically when window starts, like Steam, Openoffice etc. Those programs slow down your startup quite a bit.

Let me ask the obvious. If you stay offline, is the PC slow?

Kona.. really.. there are way too many bullshit answers/suggestions here and you are going to spend 3 times as much time exploring some of them.

The issues started when you ran windows updates and installed them. Your culprit lies there. Did you perform the updates AFTER you installed FF, Thunderbird and iTunes or before? If you installed them after the other software and things slowed down then start there.

Having worked customer support at one point (in other words, a newbie with Google) I forgot the number one troubleshooting step (in other words, keep the customer busy while I Google this). Did you check to make sure the PC is plugged in? 

Well I think I will try it. I'm just afraid the wrong card with fry the motherboard.

My motherboard is a emachines WMCP78M.

I need Shockwave and Flash to be on for Facebook. I'm having issues with the computer stalling when I scroll the Facebook news feed because Facebook has to connect constantly to the web to show more of the news feed. It's never an issue on my quad core machine.

Every unneeded add on has been disabled.

Every program except MSE has been disabled at startup.

Not really. I can easily play Command and Conquer Red Alert 3, listen to iTunes all at the same time with no issues at all. I really think this may just be either a Facebook issue or a IE/Firefox issue.

I installed Windows, then installed updates. The slow down occurred after I installed SP1. I installed the other programs, along with a few games yesterday, after installing Windows updates.

Yeah, it is. I'm typing on it now, LOL!!

And there you have your culprit. No need to chase all these other things around. You'll drive yourself into a frenzy. 

Is this a name brand or home built system. Apologies if I missed that info somewhere.

Phoon...are you suggesting running Windows without the updates and going online? Or, are you suggesting the SP1 update was fouled somehow?