Expert: James Filmer - 11/10/2011

Question
QUESTION: I have DSL and Windows XP and 2 browsers: Internet Explorer and Firefox.  I have Symantec Endpoint Protection and Advanced System Care 3 and Malwarebytes Anti-Malware. Might there be a conflict with these that is causing my system to run so slow?

ANSWER: It's possible. Does Malwarebytes run automatically when your system starts up? Symantec of course starts automatically and consumes resources in the process. If they both start and run at the same time, Yes, definitely could be some conflict. Has the system been slow for a while, or just started recently? Any configuration changes or new programs added recently? Any additional security programs running in the background?

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Yes, the Symantec is new.  I doubt I've made configuration changes since I don't know what that means and no new programs added although I have updated things when I get messages to update.  How can I tell if something is running in the background? (I inherited this computer so don't know everything about it and I'm not too tech educated...but willing to learn) If it is the Symantec, should I get rid of that or the Malware?  The Symantec was put on after removing NOD 32.

Answer
Open Malwarebytes settings.

1) Make sure you have the latest critical security updates successfully downloaded and installed from Windows Update using IE. Restart.

See the site - http://windows.about.com/od/maintainandfix/a/8ways2speedup.htm

Don't uninstall/reinstall system, and #1 really doesn't apply in this case, but everything else, click the link (2-8) and follow the instructions/steps.

2. Download and install CCleaner -  don't include any addons that come with the installation file (it's free) and click the boxes Update automatically and Icon on desktop (only these boxes) as the final install step.

Read the help section and, so you don't delete passwords and Form data, make sure those are unchecked. Don't check any Advanced setting boxes. Default deleting of temporary files begin with files 3 days old. Remove temp files. It may be a lot so it might take some time.
http://www.filehippo.com/download_ccleaner (download link upper right hand side)

There's a registry cleaner with it, too. Find that and clean the registry. You're prompted to make a backup of removed registry items. Save to desktop. Run. Restart. If every thing is working properly after a couple of restarts, you can delete that Backup.

Also, download and install http://www.filehippo.com/updatechecker and use it to check for application updates system wide, but don't download Beta versions updates or whatever you're sure you're not going to use. Save all installation packages to desktop and open from there. After successfully updating, delete/Recycle Bin the desktop icons.

3. Is Malwarebytes the free or paid version? If it's the free version, it doesn't start up with the system so it's likely not an issue. The Pro/paid version has a Realtime Proactive Protection Module that runs in the background. Disable it if that's what you're using.

If you have a problem with any of the above, just let me know.