Uninstall internet explorer?

[ellissmith]

We have a laptop with windows 7 which runs very slowly and are thinking of getting a tablet for internet, photos, music etc. .We would like to use the laptop just for running Word, Excel and Publisher for our business. We would like to know if we should uninstall / disable Internet explorer, I tunes, Java, or any other programs which may slow down the laptop as we will not need the internet for updating our files on Word, Excel and Publisher. Is this possible or are there other programs which may slow the laptop down which we could uninstall? Thanks, Rob

[Jelly Bean]

Hello and welcome.

 

This may not be your laptops fault.It may just need a good clean up.I would leave IE there.

You can uninstall old programs like iTunes if you no longer use it.

I would recommend a good cleanup of your system if you want help with this we can give you instructions.Temp files can often add up and slow a machine down.

 

What is the speed of your internet?

 

Click the little arrow here: http://www.speedtest.net/

 

Let it run then post results here.

 

Download ccleaner

 

Once installed open it up.

 

Highlight cleaner button top left.

Click analyze button bottom middle,when that finished hit Run Cleaner button bottom right.

Do not mess with any other buttons or settings.

 

The tools button is good for getting rid of difficult to uninstall software.

 

What antivirus software do you use?

Some are known to slow a machine.

 

Did you know viruses can slow a laptop down,you may have some and wouldnt know it.

 

JB.

[KenB]

Hi and welcome to ExTS

 

Please take note of J-B's advice.

 

We would like to know if we should uninstall / disable Internet explorer,

Windows comes with Internet Explorer as an integral part of the Operating System and you cannot delete it.

( you can delete updated versions but the system will resort to the original installed version once you do.)

[ellissmith]

Thanks very much for your advice. We will not uninstall or disable IE. We will try the other options and clean up the laptop according to your instructions. Our internet is from Virgin media and is broadband 20mb speed. The antivirus is Norton.

[Jelly Bean]

Your internet is fine and I do love Virginemedia they usally have great speeds.

 

Try the methods and see how it goes.

 

Is it possible your computer may have a virus?

 

If you want a health check I am sure the guys in security section can help you out.

 

JB.

[ellissmith]

I don't think we have a virus as the virus checker frequently performs scans

[Jelly Bean]

Even the best of antiviral and firewall can still allow a virus to get past it. Simply receiving a file that's from a friend could give you an infection. How many in your house use Facebook?

One of the largest gathered viruses and hackers all in one place. Clicking like to the wrong picture can get you infected and hacked.

 

I myself got caught with "Web cake" but I knew how to fix it. And I am computer savvy. We all get caught out.

 

It was just a suggestion you may wish to try it can not hurt.

[ellissmith]

Thanks again, I'll look into the possibility of a virus

[Jelly Bean]

Here is a quick scanner for you: MWB

 

Well its not quick really.Download and install the FREE version.

 

Then once installed open it and choose FULL system scan.

 

Depending on how many files you have on your computer it could take some time if you have a few gigs worth.

 

Let it run,once the scan has finished please copy and paste the results into your next comment.

 

The Security Team can then look at it and see if you need further help.

 

I am not Security Team and couldnt help you with viruse infections but for your own peice of mind it is an idea to do.

 

Or you can follow these instructions HERE

 

I recommend a health check,a virus can destroy more than a few files.It could crash your computer and steal your personal information.Its better to be safe than sorry.

 

Did you try what I posted?

 

JB,

[ellissmith]

I've done the clean up and it may have helped a little. Not installed a different virus checker yet, would I have to disable Norton first? I'm not sure how to do that. Also I was wondering if it's possible to use Disk D to run Microsoft office from there and if that may help it to run faster. Disk D is 100 % free and I'm not sure whether we could use that to speed up the programs we use for our business. All programs and files are on Disk C.

[KenB]

Hi

 

Is this possible or are there other programs which may slow the laptop down

What you have installed shouldn't really slow the machine down ...... apart ( possibly ) from Norton.

 

What is the size of the hard drive on C: ?

How much free space is there ?

Start > Right click on C: > Properties.

 

Is Norton paid for - or is it the "Free" pre-installed option ?

It may be worth removing it and installing Microsoft Security Essentials ( free )

We can advise on this.

 

Did you run Malwarebytes ?

If so - did it find anything ?

[ellissmith]

Disk C has 144 gb capacity, 57gb is free. We pay an annual fee for Norton but haven't run MWB as I don't know if I'll have to uninstall or disable Norton first and if it's safe to do that with so many viruses around.

[KenB]

Hi - it is quite safe to have MBAM on your system as well as Norton.

 

Let's just check with MBAM and see if there is anything there slowing your system down.

If you have MBAM already open it > update > run it ( it is important to update )

It will produce a log.

Copy this and post it here please.

 

If you don't have it - download from here:

click here

(You want the FREE version)

 

Run a quick scan - not the full one.

 

I will be around all day - so check back regularly :)

 

 

===========

 

Quick edit:

Disk C has 144 gb capacity, 57gb is free.

Your free space is fine - when this gets to below 10% of the total disk space Windows starts to struggle.

[ellissmith]

Thanks, I'll get back about this later