AVG is total shite when it comes to AV software, nortons is leagues ahead..

as for spyware, i find a combo of spybot search and destroy, ad aware and the micro$oft spyware programs works extremely well and will usually get rid of 99% of spyware, unless its that shithouse morthphing stuff which takes a bit to get rid of..

and av software i use nortons and trend products on nearly all ym sites, and it works well, avg blows, it was a free product, and you pay for what you get..

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Jesus Built my car, Its a love affair, Mainly Jesus and my hotrod

Backup all ur stuff.

Format, reinstall windows.

Install norton and adaware pro.

Run an adaware full system scan every few weeks, and defrag your hdd every month or so.

When you install new programs make sure that it isn't installing other bullshit spyware crap along with it.
Eg: msn plus gives you the option to install some other crap by ticking a certain box, this is actually spayware and will fill you pc with shitty toolbars etc etc. This is common among many other programs.

Use firefox as you web browser rather than internet explorer.

Be mindful of what programs are starting up when you switch on your pc, keeping these to a minimum will speed up the startup process.

Dont go to dodgy pr0n sites or install dodgy shit.

You shouln't have many issues with viruses and the like if you do all of the above!

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-Eliot

lots of spyware in your computer! reformat it and it will perform like new.

norton corporate edition is the best if ya can get a copy of it :P

1) Click Start > Run > Msconfig > Click Startup Tab > Uncheck those you dont need > Reboot

2) Install Spybot / Adaware / Xoftspy Get it from the net. Im using Xoftspy, the best around, Run them, it cleans all trojans and spyware.

3) If you are an advance user Start > Run > Regedit
Copy those lines from MSconfig Startup Tab that says Location.
Look it inside Regedit for them and remove those that you dont need or you think its junk

4) I dont run Antivirus, as I am NEVER infected. To be safe, run a antivirus, all kinds of antivirus works fine.

5) Install Spam Inspector, google it. It protects you from spam emails IF you are using Outlook/MS Outlook

6) Install Google Toolbar, it prevents popups that contains malicious codes.

7) Lastly, Control Panel > Add/Remove Programs > Uninstaill those you dont need.

Too many programs running in your background also may slow down your pc.
Antivirus also will slow your pc down. Thats the main reason I do not use them.
If you dont want antivirus, http://housecall.trendmicro.com works superb. Online scanner/cleaner

No need to reinstall windows. Mine works fine

If some programs and spam or trojan cant be removed. Google it. There are ALOT of information that will help you remove them without reinstalling.
Its a hassle to reinstal. Ive gone through alot of shit like you. But I manage to fix them without reinstalling.

If you prefer to reinstall, I suggest you backup. Reinstall and once you are happy with everything. Set a RESTORE point. Everytime you install something or save a setting, SET another RESTORE point.

A Restore helps delete and elliminate anything that is new to date.

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Andrew

2008 Ferrari F430 Scuderia
2013 Audi A6 Hybrid
2013 Toyota Vellfire

windows is shit operating system it needs to be reformated every 6 months. use linux and u wont have any dramas :P

Exactly

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Andrew

2008 Ferrari F430 Scuderia
2013 Audi A6 Hybrid
2013 Toyota Vellfire

or run you operating system as a limited account and when ya need to install use the run as command and you will never have any viruses because u need to be a power use or anything with higher permissions in order to install and add processors to the windows system that is the otherway and you will not need a antivirus :P thats what i do and its best way to go about it.

we use trend here it is by far the best, i just can't handle the performance hit systems take running that norton rubbish. never really had a problem running avg at home, i wouldn't use it as a business setup though. I've always found mcaffee to be pretty middle of the road.

as denver said, use all three programs, (AdAware, Spybot S&D, MS Spyware beta) as i and others have found that they all miss something, but generally running all 3 is the best option. I've been more than happy with Norton, especially as i have my companys offsite lic'd version =)

As also has been mentioned, are you using firefox ? there are other alternative browsers out their which are quicker & safer than Internet Explorer too but their names escape me.. Opera is one of the other good ones. Also, try get another email client rather than outlook express, ie Mozilla Thunderbird, Eudora, the full version of Outlook etc

do a quick delete of things you dont need (once again, as mentioned above) and give your computer a good hard defragging. If you can get your hands on a copy of O&O defrag, its much better than the built in windows one


but yeah, most of the suggestions listed in this thread are good, and if all else fails .. format & reinstall windows

When your downloading these programs, make sure you get them from a trusted download site, or preferably the properhome page, as if you just do a google search and pick any old site, you may end up with a copy of adaware that has been reversed engineered and has more spyware in it

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MY93 Impreza GX 1.8L, 0hp, 0nm