I have a two-part question but feel it should be in this area because protection for my pc is utmost, duh! I am on wireless but my pc still runs slow at times(maybe just the network)but also, I want to make sure my pc is secure. I have McAfee, Spybot S&D,Zonealarm and Ad-aware. It was all recommended and confuses the hell out of me:( Then before I had WinXP Pro installed I had WinXP home edition. It went bonkers, Im certain, because of what someone in the house did. Anyway, they supposedly did me a huge favor by installing WIN XP Pro. But they backed all my files up to what they called a "new" drive(D)and copying them over to C. Now my question is how the hell do I clean out all the unnecessary "extra" file copies without ditching something maybe I need?

Some one is going to tell me this is over my head and you are right. I know how to drive a car but can't change my own oil. I guess I am hoping for a simple way to find out if there are things I can get rid of now, and still make sure my pc is safe and sound?

denise
PS There's not even a 1/4 of the "pie" chart being used on my C drive by the way so it's not like my pc is full but I don't like extra "junk" on the pc.

I suspect it runs slow because of McAfee. It's a major resource hog.
You can start with "cleanup" Will post the link here shortly.

I suspect it runs slow because of McAfee. It's a major resource hog.
You can start with "cleanup" Will post the link here shortly.
http://www.stevengould.org/index.ph...

Thank you per, as dumb as I am about this I suspect you are right. The numbskull who fiddled with my computer when I wasn't home(my friends son who crashed his pc so used mine to get his back up and running)put McAfee on there with the WinXP PRO since he knew he'd screwed up my WinXP H.E.

Thank you again, I'll watch for further instructions. My email is nwgrown@gmail.com if you want to write me there directly. denise

I agree with per about McAfee, as it is indeed a resource hog. I also believe that "zone alarm' will also slow down your web browsing but unless you are protected through a solid hardware firewall ( as some routers protect you)then leave zone alarm on.

To find the duplicate files on your computer use this free application...
http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/fi...

It will search for all duplicate files on all drives and partitions.

In The Matters Of Style,
swim with the current;
in matters of principle,
Stand Like A Rock

"People demand freedom of speech to make up for the
freedom of thought which they avoid."

I'd be inclined to dump (as in remove MacAfee) and install something like Avast (avast.com) or AVG - both freebies. My preference is Avast - runs nicely in the background; auto-update seemlessly - and is no resource hog...

ZoneAlarm (or something similar) would be wise to retain as I have read that it does also control of outgoing info. This can mean that anything nasty on your system as is which tries to send out info... "may" be blocked/prevented from doing so...?

Perhaps too, be "sure" you do have copies - off the system entirely (optical media or another external hard-drive) of all those important (personal etc.) files before you go about deleting anything that appears a duplicate file on the current hard-drive. And ideally verify those copies can be accesed by the system you have, and if possible one other? Safer than sorrier...

And keep regular fresh/updated copies of all data - off the system; that way again you have the security of knowing they're safe in event of disasters on the actual PC...

nwgrown

You shouldn't post your email out in the open like that, you may end up receiving more spam.

FYI you can edit any of your responses in this forum other than the initial post. I suggest you go back and remove the email address.

This forum is meant to be a help for all that view, so for that reason email responses are not the best method.

Secure Your Computer For Free