After this thread...
I have just ordered a new laptop:
http://www.acerdirect.co.uk/Acer_Aspire_7750_Core_i5_Laptop_LX.RN802.025/version.asp?PID=384
and I want to make sure that when I get it, I do the right things to it, to get it running properly.
So far I have found this list:
1. Create Recovery disks - THE MOST IMPORTANT STEP.
2. Start to remove all the crapware/ bloatware your system came with.
3. Update all the drivers.
4. Install all your necessary software.
I also found a link to a program called decrapifier that gets rid of all the unnecessary gumpf that comes loaded onto the computer. Is this a good idea to use?
I was going to ditch Norton that I currently use, as everything I read says that is really slows things down. Is this also a good idea? I have seen good things said of MSE & Avast, so was going to install one of these.
I take it I also need a firewall? I have seen Comodo firewall mentioned as being a good one to use.
Any recommnedations or tips? Is Norton really such a bad choice? I noticed a couple of years ago it did seem really slow, but seems to have got better with the last couple of editions.
Anything else that I should be doing? Any advice would be gratefully received! 🙂
I also found a link to a program called decrapifier that gets rid of all the unnecessary gumpf that comes loaded onto the computer. Is this a good idea to use?
I'd suggest doing it manually then you know what's being removed.
I was going to ditch Norton that I currently use, as everything I read says that is really slows things down. Is this also a good idea? I have seen good things said of MSE & Avast, so was going to install one of these.
Yep. MSE is Cougar-approved.
I take it I also need a firewall?
I see little point in having a personal firewall on a modern home ADSL connection behind a hardware router (despite what personal firewall vendors will tell you).
Is Norton really such a bad choice?
Not if it's set up correctly. Most people don't touch the uber-aggressive default config, which is why (IMHO) it has such a poor reputation.
Anything else that I should be doing?
Make sure you're running the latest versions of Flash and Java (or uninstall them). Vulnerabilities in old versions of these are currently the single biggest cause of drive-by infections on Windows platforms, by a very long way.
No point bothering with Norton, just use MSE.
Agree with Cougar on the firewall to, unless you're hosting something then NAT gives you most that a home user wants. If you're really paranoid then a firewall working on outbound traffic can help stop malware communicating stuff back over the Internet but they can be a PITA to live with.
Thanks for the replies....
Cougar - this decrapifier program lets you choose what to remove, I think. It scans what is on the drive & compares it to a list of known manufacturer bloatware. You can then choose what to get rid of and what not to get rid of....
But, I'll see how much stuff it has on it and perhaps uninstall it myself. I don't remember my parents' Acer having too much on it.
MSE better than Avast or much of a muchness? I have fiddled with Norton a bit, which helped stop it going OTT, but it does seem to cause my current computer to chug a bit on start-up for the first 10 mins or so & I reckon it's slowed my OH's laptop down quite a lot too. I think I will uninstall it from her laptop & put MSE on that too....
I will leave off the firewall. We are using a wireless router.
I will look into Flash & Java....
Apparently it's been dispatched. Should be arriving tomorrow so I'm not sure how romantic Valentine's day will be! HA HA!!