Expert: Lorry - 10/16/2006

Question
Hi,
 Have an Emachine, 2.70GHz processor, 40GB hard drive, 256MB DDR SDRAM with
MS Windows XP Home Edition, all about two years old.

Have Norton Antivirus, Ad-Aware6, and Spybot-Search and Destroy.

Connect speed (dial up) varies from 36-44 Kbps.

Disk defrag window says disk cap: 37.26GB with 26.75GB free space (70%)

Problems:
 [Had a virus with a previous comp that crashed the system. No connection to this one but I have seen what they can do.]
 How do I know whether or not I have a virus or trojan now, that Norton didn't catch?
 Comp. appears to be running noticeably slower over the past month. When changing screens, present partially remains as next one partially appears, instead of, as previously, new totally replacing previous.
 If more than 6-10 IE windows are opened at once, they all suddenly close. Previously I could work with 15 windows open plus email, photoshop and MS word also open.
 CDRW-DVD drive D, and external DVD drive also have suddenly stopped working.

Thank you,  

Answer
Hi Mel,

Make sure that you have the latest updates for Norton, new protection came out today, run LiveUpdate. To verify that a virus didn't stop Norton from working, go their home site and run a free scan.

http://security.symantec.com/sscv6/default.asp?langid=ie&venid=sym

Click the GO button, then under Virus Detection, click Start. You might be told that you need to download and install ActiveX Controls for the scan to work, answer Yes.

Write down exactly anything it finds, then go to: http://www.symantec.com/search/  and do a search for what was found. Symantec usually has a removal tool and/or directions for removing manually. Make sure that you follow the instructions for removal, step by step, especially the part regarding disabling System Restore.

Before running a scan with Spybot, do you check for updates? I would suggest updating Ad-aware 6 to the SE version, also free.

http://www.download.com/3000-2144-10045910.html

Like Spybot, check for updates before running a scan.

Considering that you only have 256MB DDR SDRAM, having that many windows at one time is pretty good. Most computers today have at least 500 or even better 1G of memory.

Try cleaning up the computer by going to Start, Accessories, System Tools, Disk Cleanup. You might want to run Defrag also.

Hope this helps!
Lorry