Malwarebytes.

[derekpara]

My laptop has Microsoft Essentials and I've added Malwarebytes. There are no other anti-virus programmes etc. installed.

The machine is very slow to load up and I'm looking for possible causes, so my question is; Do I need Malwarebytes ? Any advice welcome.

Cheers. D

[Khandro]

Have you cleared the cache recently if not it can slow things down.

[derekpara]

Swift response, K !
Afraid I'm a tech numpty - could you explain how I do what you suggest, please ?

Thanks.

[CrapAtCryptics]

2 of the main reasons for slow running are a hard disk thats nearly full and insufficient RAM for the machines needs.

[derekpara]

Thanks, CaC. There's plenty of memory space remaining ( about 75%), but I'll check both those storages again.

[Khandro]

I'm no expert myself, Chris may come along soon, but to clear cache in Windows 10; Click on the 3 dots top right of screen, in the drop down click 'settings', - 'privacy & security'- check (make a blue tick) on 'clear browning data' and ' Browsing history & cached files'.
(I tend to leave the 'cookies' option, the middle one, alone.)
Set it for 'all time' & click 'clear data'

This will remove a lot of stuff you don't need, clogging up your computer.

[AuntPollyGrey]

Did you not get Microsoft Defender in with your Microsoft Essentials? If not, I would delete Malwarebytes and download Defender from the Microsoft site.
https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows/comprehensive-security

[youngmafbog]

Windows is now so big that you need a fair bit of RAM (to stop paging) and preferably a SSD. Changing the 'hard drive' for a SSD is an amazing difference, I have only used SSD's for years now apart from the NAS, even some of my home network storage on the Internet side is SSD.

One thing you can do is remove any bloatware from Windows, but be careful, always lookup what a program does. Some of the things for Cortina can soak the CPU. Use the task manager to see what your machine is doing. Go into Windows and switch off anything you dont use.

Another useful tool is ccleaner (free version). You can clear down the caches safely and repair the registry which always seems to get broken links after an upgrade.

[Old_Geezer]

Malwarebytes is not an anti-virus nor is it a replacement for one. Essentials should be ok though.

You don't need Malwarebytes but without it you risk getting malware installed, which is software not destructive enough to be considered a "virus" and it's ilk but a pain nevertheless. Worth having and ought not be slowing anything down, especially if you have the free version that only runs when you explicitly start it.

Were I you I'd check what resources the PC has. Disk space, memory, etc..

Also use task manager to see what is running both now and at start up. Make adjustments to anything you think is causing the issue.

[derekpara]

Thanks to you all. Plenty of homework for me to do now.

Cheers,

D

[Buenchico]

Which operating system are you using, Derek?

Your reference to Microsoft Essentials suggests that it might be Windows 7 (because Windows' built-in security was renamed to Windows Defender in Windows 8 and to Windows Security in Window 10) but you were posting at the beginning of last year about having upgraded to Windows 10.

So I'm a bit lost!

[derekpara]

You're a candidate for Field Officer, Chris !
I'm using my pc right now and can't remember the op system on my laptop, which is downstairs - and i am almost ready for some kip, so I'll get back to you tomorrow. However, you're correct as usual (hence my F.O. ref) I have got W10 with Windows Security.
Thanks, Chris.

Bacl tomorrow.

Cheers. D

[Peter Pedant]

RBS gives a fwee copy to all its account holders so they deffo do
I use ESET for another machine
and yes I think they are necessary

[derekpara]

Morning Chris.

Windows 10 (x64) Installed 2019. Acer laptop Intel Core i5.

Plenty of memory remaining.

Don't worry if your'e busy.

Cheers. D

[AuntPollyGrey]

If you have Windows 10 you will automatically have Windows Security. You do not need malware bites and it's probably this App that is slowing down your laptop.

[derekpara]

Thanks, Aunt.

[Buenchico]

Unlike APG, I wouldn't trust Windows Defender to block all malware. Indeed, I know that it doesn't (because using third-party software frequently detects nasties that have got past Windows Defender).

However I will agree that the 'full' version of Malwarebytes has been known to slow some computers down. (That's the version that a user has either paid for gets by default for a trial period when they only want the free product anyway). That's why I generally recommend AdwCleaner, instead of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, these days. It's 'out of the same stable', so it works with the same database of malware, but it doesn't require installing; you simply run the downloaded program. (As it's not 'running in the background', or periodically updating itself, it can't slow a computer down. Yo just download and run the latest version whenever you want to carry out a malware scan):
https://www.malwarebytes.com/adwcleaner/

Historically though, one of the most common causes of computers being slow to load/run has been Microsoft's own anti-virus software 'getting stuck in a loop'. It was a program component called MsMpEng.exe that was behind the problem, as it pulled vast amounts of a machine's resources when it continually tried to update the anti-virus program. That problem persisted across Windows 95, 98, Me, XP and 7. (All written from experience! It was probably there with Windows 8 too but I've never used a Windows 8 machine). It's possible that something similar might be going on with your Windows 10 machine, so it could be worth giving third-party software a go instead, to see if it makes any difference. Try Avast: https://www.avast.com/en-gb/index#pc

Also check which apps run automatically on your laptop at Start-up. Type 'startup' into the Windows search box and click on 'Startup Apps'. Disable anything you don't need.

If all else fails, reset your PC (which reinstalls Windows), taking great care to select the option which retains all your files:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/recovery-options-in-windows-10-31ce2444-7de3-818c-d626-e3b5a3024da5#bkmk_section2

[Khandro]

Resetting your PC is not for the faint-hearted IMO :0)

[derekpara]

Thanks again, Chris - and K.