Re: Slow Task Switching

Hi Elle,

The tools and pages we all linked to are ones we ourselves all use precisely
because they are the least system intrusive. Most, like adaware, can be
started and simply allowed to run while you do other things in your life -
no technician required. They are fairly self explanatory and do not require
that the user have any extensive computer knowledge.

To check the firewall, right click your connection and check properties. You
should find the settings on the advanced tab. As Malke has pointed out, an
unfirewalled system will become infected in no time at all.

Once running smoothly, with windows update set to automatic, properly
firewalled, and with a self-updating antivirus program (avg from
www.grisoft.com is free and will do this), there is little that requires
intervention on the part of the user other than using common sense about
email, attachments, and downloads.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

"Elle" <honda.lioness@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:S52Mf.5046$UN.2666@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
No idea about the firewall. I'll research that.

You say all the computer may need is a tuneup. But you listed about six
software packages to download for virus protection etc. Downloading and
running all these seems as time intensive. Plus don't these packages
monkey with my basic Windows XP settings, potentially causing more
problems (albeit presumably fixing the virus problems)?

Can you (or anyone) tell me what sort of routine they now follow to keep
their (brand new mobo/cpu/hard drive, with Win XP SP2) computer running
well? Must one who wants to "do it one's self" become resigned to
expending significant labor each week (or each day??) to computer software
maintenance? Is that where the technology (with viruses) is at these days?

For the last two years, I have pointedly kept things very simple with my
computer: Word processing, spreadsheets, Usenet, email, a bit of photo
edition, a bit of web site building, a lot of internet searching (but when
downloading, it's almost exclusively only PDF files). I keep things simple
to minimize aggravation. Is that a mistaken philosophy these days?

I need a strategy, or I need to know whether, well, one is simply screwed
these days with a computer used a lot for the internet. Having only a
small bank account, and preferring to give my extra money to charity etc.,
I can't hire a technician (shudder the thought) to daily check my
computer.

Thanks again for trying to help.

"Rick "Nutcase" Rogers" <rick@xxxxxxxx> wrote
Hi Elle,

Even modem connected systems are being targeted, hopefully your firewall
is still up? As XP is the most commonly found version of Windows out
there right now, the bugs hit it pretty heavily. A format/clean install
would knock out any bugs provided they are not in the boot sector, but to
me that's like replacing the motor when all you need's a tune-up.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

"Elle" <honda.lioness@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:hG1Mf.777$6I.189@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Plus, my old computer doesn't have virus protection software and it's
still way faster. Surely Win XP isn't more prone to catching viruses
than my antiquated Win ME, is it?

Thanks Rick, Malke, and Ken (among others) for taking the time to help.

"Elle" <honda.lioness@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote

Call me naive, but before I download any virus protection software,
what do you think of doing a reformat and re-install of Win XP on my
hard drive first? Shouldn't that eliminate any viruses? Then I'd
compare.

Another question: Are viruses popping up on computer systems connected
strictly via modems and with email protection features? (I don't
download any attachments from email, anyway.)








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