Computer problems - Help needed

[Leazes1986]

I'm currently trying to speed up a computer which has been left open to all sorts of damage for 4-5 years. I've deleted nearly all of the shit on it like music and any sort of documents (although them weren't the cause of the problem), and I've uninstalled a shitload of programs which don't get used. The problem is though the computer has had Windows Firewall turned off, has had no sort of protection and has all sorts of programs installed and running on it including shit like Kazaa, Imesh etc. Now I've basically deleted anything I can find which isn't in use and it has speeded the computer up a little because there isnt so many programs trying to start up when the computer is turned on. It is still running very slow though and you can imagine the damage that has been done to it after all this time with no anti-virus protection. I would like to just re-start the whole system from scratch but the CD for this is lost so it doesn't seem an option.

 

I am gonna look for some good protection now so I need to find some decent programs online. I would prefer them to be free so I think AVG would be a good place to start. I have turned Windows Firewall on as well. I have also installed the latest Windows updates. Can anyone recommend me any other free applications which will protect the computer or give me some tips on how I might be able to speed it up?

 

One of the things which pop up on start up is a problem with 'C:\WINDOWS/system32\swykkhdx.dll'. I don't want to mess about with stuff I'm not sure about though because its not my computer.

 

Any help appreciated.

[Haz]

Spybot to get rid of all the shit.  Then get a try out trojan remover.  Leave spybot running. Then get a registry cleaner followed by a disc optimiser (if there are none free then use WIndows defragger)  That should help.

[Dave]

Download and install Windows 7 RC instead.

[Guest Lazlo]

Run Malware bytes in safe mode

Clean up registry etc with ccleaner

Do a defrag.

 

basically what haz said.

 

[Leazes1986]

So far I've downloaded Spybot and I done one scan. It found quite a few problems which it fixed (well all but one), then I downloaded a trial trojan remover but the computer was going a bit slow so I've restarted it and Spybot has started up again scanning everything to make sure it didn't miss anything first time around. Once thats done I'll use the trojan remover and get ccleaner then defrag. Cheers for the help, I'll let you know if its worked.

[Leazes1986]

Right I run most of the programs recommended to me in this thread and thye did clean the shit but the computer still wasn't running good enough. Luckily enough wor lasses brother had a Windows XP disc and her Product Key is on the computer so I've been able to wipe the whole system after all. Everythings brand new again now but cheers for the help.

 

While I'm here I might as well ask, is there any other security stuff you lot reckon I should install other than AVG? I don't want to install loads of stuff cos its not the fastest computer with it being 5 year old, but she does download shit so it could do with being as secure as possible.

[Haz]

I'd recommend running SPYBOT all the time and constantly update it (at least once a week).

 

Crap cleaner is excellent also.

 

Firewall essential. (Zone alarm does a free version but there are many)

[Willow]

What I use is Avira, Windows Firewall and MS Bitdefender. Using Spybot and keeping your stuff updated with Windows Update should be all you need.

 

Also use Adblock Plus with Firefox and you'll not need to worry again.