Security advice

[j.m.reid]

Having used Avast for many years , my computer suffered many problems after updating programme a few months back .So much so that I had to remove it and used Microsoft Security Essentials  instead and also installed Online Armor Free .I continued to monitor the forum with regard to fixes for Avast and noticed that the new version seemed to have solved the previous difficulties .I have now removed Microsoft Security Essentials and installed Avast Free Edition which I preferred and so far seems to be working fine .I would just like to add I had no problems with MSE .I also removed Online Armor Free as I had one or two very minor annoyances with the programme and considered what I have on my system was more than adequate for protection . Could some of the more experienced members advise me if the programmes I have installed are adequate or should I need to add to cover  ? Thank you .

[Hermite15]

1 add more RAM
2 turn off Windows Defender (unneeded)
3 upgrade to IE9

[SafeSurf]

1 add more RAM
2 turn off Windows Defender (unneeded)
3 upgrade to IE9

Agree with the above suggestions. 

What are you using for a firewall?  Windows firewall? 

[j.m.reid]

 " What are you using for a firewall?  Windows firewall? " That is correct .Thank you both for help / advice ,appreciated .

[Joe S]

Probably one more gig of ram would be sufficient on a 32 bit system. Much more than that won't be fully recognized.
Joe

[Shiw Liang]

@logos: 2 GB is not enough

[Marc57]

@logos: 2 GB is not enough

My old computer was a Vista 32 bit with 2 GB of Ram with a dual core  and adding another Gig made a pretty good difference.

The computer I'm using now is a Windows 7 64 bit with 8 GB of Ram with a quad core and it flies!!!

As Joe said,any more than 3GB can't be used by a 32 bit OS.


To the OP,

Consider using a program called Spywareblaster, It uses no resources and adds another layer of protection.

http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/index.html

[Shiw Liang]

I thought 2 GB for a 32 bit was already at its optimum speed
I guess 64 bit is way cooler...

[DavidR]

2GB on an XP system is great; 2GB on Vista is about the minimum for any sort of performance as it is a bit of a hog; 2GB on win7 should see better performance compared to Vista, but is still going to benefit from another 1-2GB even in 32bit versions.

It is the 4GB barrier in 32bit oses as it can't give addresses for the memory locations. With 4GB installed, the OS squirrels away a chunk of that and effectively you end up with about 3GB, but if you started with 3GB you would obviously end up with less than that available.

[Shiw Liang]

Yep I noticed that in RAM and in Hard disk memory also

[YoKenny]

Yep I noticed that in RAM and in Hard disk memory also

The amount of RAM has nothing to do with amount of Hard disk memory.
Hard disks can be had now with over a Terabyte of storage space:
http://chillopedia.com/technology/samsung-introduces-4-terabyte-hard-disk-drives

[DavidR]

In a way it does as the 'Lack' of RAM would 'Increase' the use/amount of the Virtual Memory used on the hard disk.

[j.m.reid]

Thanks to all for advice and suggestions .No complaints  with computer performance , will leave as is till system is needing replaced and will uprate then.

[DavidR]

You're welcome.