#&$*! Computers!

[the_gneech]

A month or so ago, McAfee informed me that, because I hadn't shoved them any money lately, my anti-virus program had "expired" and that I needed to buy the new version. This of course was protection-fraud BS, but my choice was to do that or shell out money for Norton instead, so I said "okay you pestulant bastards" and did it.

Since then, attempting to do anything on my computer has been a living hell of fighting with McAfee to get anything done. It's forever "updating," forever throwing "Important alerts!" in my face while I'm trying to do something else, forever making my hard drive go CHURN CHURN CHURN without actually doing anything.

Then, last week, there was some kind of Windows update which, combined with the ADHD behavior of McAfee, has got my computer slowed to a crawl. Double-click an icon, and you might as well go get some coffee because the program might be up by the time you get back. Type a URL into your browser window, hum the 1812 Overture, and then see your desired webpage. Oh, the performance of N-n-n-neeeeverwi-wi-wi-wiwint-int-inter N-n-n-ights is so choppy that it's like being on two computers ago. If the old program is like this, I can only imagine what the new one will be like whenever I finally upgrade the video card.

So I'm trying to figure out what to do. I've gone into McAfee and turned off half of the most intrusive things, but a) it was only half, and b) now it throws pop-ups screaming at me "YOUR COMPUTER ISN'T PROTECTED! MCAFEE IS ONLY HALF-TURNED-ON! WE'RE ALL GONNA DIE!!!" I spent a large chunk of yesterday trying to do as much system maintenance as I could to improve performance, including searching for malware, but it was all a drop in the bucket.

I wouldn't put it past Micro$oft to put out an update that had the express purpose of eating up memory just before Christmas so that everybody would think, "Dang, this computer's slow -- better go buy a new one!" Even if that wasn't it, tho, I'm not about to replace this thing. It was much faster than this when it was new, I've just got to figure out what the heck is in there causing all the trouble.

-The Gneech

PS: Oh yeah, Outlook doesn't completely shut down any more, for no readily apparent reason, which I'm sure isn't helping. *muttergrumble*

Comments

[c-eagle.livejournal.com]

This is a MAJOR repetetive complaint I encounter in the biz...
Happens with both Norton AND McAfee... The Molasses Malingering.

I recommend uninstalling completely at some point, and using Grisoft AVG. It's written by the ubergeex and ubergurus, and doesn't drag you through the tar pits. I've been using it for almost two years, no probs.

Be sure to include a good anti malware (AdAware and AdWatch) and firewall (windows built-in or Zone Alarm) too.

[athelind.livejournal.com]

I use AVG and Ad-Aware for... three or four years, easily, and I've had no problems, either. Free is Good.

[kyhwana.livejournal.com]

2nded!
I just uninstalled Norton on my mums laptop, which only had 256mbs of ram and was swapping just from booting up. Threw AVG on there and enabled windows firewall. Problem solved.

From the shadows

[helljack.livejournal.com]

Howdy,

First off, I'm a right and proper fan of yours, Mr. Gneech sir. I dig your work, and have for some time now.

Ok, with that out of the way. I'm stepping from the lurker shadow to let you know a buddy of mine needed the same sort of help just a few days ago (http://helljack.livejournal.com/171395.html).

There is one Comment on the entry form the guy what turned me onto the program, explaining how best to use it.

It works great, and has never let me down. It takes up very little disk space, very little system resources, and works darn good.

And, it's free.

Anyway, back to my lurker post amigo. Thanks for all the hard work and the such.

Hurdy Gur,

The HellJack...back and to the left.

Re: From the shadows

[the-gneech.livejournal.com]

I dig your work, and have for some time now.

Thanks! :) Sorry for the late response, 'tis been hectic. :)

-TG

[bjbuttons.livejournal.com]

I will also say go to AVG. I have been running it for a very long time and there is no noticeable affect on performance, and the best part, the basic version which is basically all you need is free :)

[jim-lane.livejournal.com]

Gotta totally agree with "c_eagle" on this, John. After buying two successive non-functioning versions of McAfee for my office machine, I gave up and used Norton---until it got so intrusive and "boggy" that I finally gave up and went with AVG on my office box (paid version), as well as both home units (freebie version).

I've not regretted it in the slightest, and I've NOT been bugged by viruses AT ALL. Dump McAfee (and avoid Norton) and give AVG a try. It'll shock you how much better everything works.

[katayamma.livejournal.com]

IM me and I'll send you the total-removal tools for McCrappy and Nawton!

Once they're off your system, give BitDefender AV Plus a try. They give you a 30 day trial and you should take advantage of it.

Personally, I'd stay away from Norton unless you own a Cray supercomputer as it's bloated to the point that it makes ME look anorexic! McCrappy is just that -- crappy.

Cheers

[hallan.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't mind the total-removal tools for Norton and McAfee, too. Link?

Hallan

[mouser.livejournal.com]

Odds are you've got BOTH versions of McAfee running - the current one and a crippled version of the old one. (Our version at work is SUPPOSED to uninstall old versions of itself when it updates. It's only got a 80% sucess rate.

Uninstall McAfee (current version). Restart.

Reload the OLD version. Restart.

Uninstall the old version. Restart.

Install the new version. Restart and pray.

You might have to hunt down and delete the McAfee directories after uninstalls.

Last possible hope is to do a wipe/install but we all know what a pain THAT is!

[wbwolf.livejournal.com]

As a former Norton phone tech, I would echo this advice. From the sound of things, the old version did not uninstall cleanly (which is frightfully common for both Norton and McAfee) and now is causing the slow down. Uninstalling the new version and doing a manual uninstall (which can be a royal pain sometimes, especially if you have to start messing with registry keys...) should clear you out. Then you can decide if you want to reinstall the new version or go with AVG as advised.

[doodlesthegreat.livejournal.com]

Remoce McAfee NOW. Install either AVG or Kapersky. You will be so damned grateful when you do.

[dhlawrence.livejournal.com]

I concur about AVG. I installed it on my great-uncle's computer and found about ninety viruses in one scan!

[canisrufus-uk.livejournal.com]

I've been using AVG for a couple of years now since Norton's subscription ran out, it's been a far better programme.

When I changed my mothers computer to AVG the PC ran faster, with fewer crashes and it even picked up two viruses on there that Norton had missed.


-Canis Rufus

[cyberhorn.livejournal.com]

avg is excelent and isnt a virus target like MCafup and NErton ive seen hacker sites that post regular updates about holes and weak spots in their systems

only issue is avg is going pay only as of jan 07

as for uninstalling MCafry you ay want to go into msconfig and then startup uncheck all the mcaf items to turn it off completely its a pain to uninstall when its playing the chugachuga then use bears uninstaller software

[bjbuttons.livejournal.com]

go back and re read that page. They are stopping support for AVG 7.1 Free in January. They WILL BE supporting 7.5 Free past January

here is a URL to a forum post on there website
http://forum.grisoft.cz/freeforum/read.php?7,36882,36905

[athelind.livejournal.com]

Yup. I've been running 7.5 since that announcement; it's even smoother than 7.1.

[cyberhorn.livejournal.com]

LOL anouncement? i got this huge popup at a restart from the avg consol
aghhh your avg isnt gona work after jan 07 i was like oh thats just great what am i gona use then "rolls eyes"

thank you both for the info on the 7.5 (have to install on kyrins pc as well)

[cyberhorn.livejournal.com]

cool i like the program its saved this dragons armored rear end from viral attacks more than id like to count

and it does it simply cleanly and witout the bloat

[confusedoo.livejournal.com]

I use Antivir myself. It's free, works just as well as Mcaffee and Norton (which is to say, not 100%, but nothing is.) It doesn't noticably slow down the computer. The only nagging is a popup ad to buy the full version when it does the routine virus definition update, but that's less obnoxious than Mcaffee. One click every three days and it's gone.

[drfgeek.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't touch McAfee, or Norton with a remote robotic stick 50 miles behind a blast shield. Both are just inches away from being virus programs in the first place considering how invasive they are in their installations, not to mention both have been the target of viruses in the first place. Personally, I use Bit Defender (http://www.bitdefender.com/); very non-invasive, and only scans and protects what YOU tell it too, and doesn't eat up your processor in doing it.

[the-lizard-rat.livejournal.com]

*downloads Bit Defender and watches it make his computer go all foamy*

Then again, my computer is so screwed up it deserves to be taken out back, forced on its knees execution style, and shot in the back of the head.

Lizard Rat out.
Watching his computer spin in circles in Albany NY

[galadrion.livejournal.com]

I've been pretty happy with Avast for a few years now. Free, updates on a regular basis, and I haven't seen anything get past their team for long.