[DocStrange]

it seems that whenever Windows checks for Windows Updates (wuauclt.exe), my computer gets very sluggish - Firefox takes forever to change tabs, Winamp freezes, I can open the start menu and wuauclt.exe and svchost.exe hog all my memory.

I installed MSE a few days ago to replace Avast, which I had a problem with. Is MSE causing interference with Windows Update? Furthermore, I had Windows Update automatically look for updates at 3:00AM everyday, these updates come randomly during the day instead (like at 2:30PM). I set them to Every Saturday at 4:00AM instead, but I suspect they'll keep coming whenever they want.

The problems mostly go away when the Windows Update shield finally appears in my system tray after about 45 minutes telling me about updates I have to run (I always do custom install just to see what those updates it downloaded are).

Is Microsoft Security Essentials causing this? Or is it something else? Scanning with MSE gives my system a clean bill of health, so that's why I suspected the antivirus.

The Automatic Updates menu tells me that the preselected "Automatic Updates" option will download and install these updates, so why do I even get the Windows Update shield in my system tray which I have to click on to install the updates?

[DocStrange]

if its MSE, i'm getting really tired of antivirus programs that do more harm to my computer than good. Avast! made my internet nigh unusable, AVG pretty much ruined an older computer, Mcafee created registry errors.

[Synysterblk]

try downloading and running a program called Dial-a-Fix

Dial-a-Fix Download: http://www.softpedia.com/progDownloa...oad-27328.html

There is a file called secedit.exe included in the download. If you choose to try this, you will copy and paste that into WINDOWS\system32.

Run Dial-a-Fix as follows




This may help.

[DocStrange]

i'm not going to mess with system32, anyone else?

Whether or not MSE is the culprit will depend on whether or not I install it on my brand new laptop (Computer #2 in my Specs, this is happening with Computer #1). Could this be MSE? Has anyone had Update interference with MSE? I don't think that a Microsoft program would cause problems with a Microsoft operation on a Microsoft OS, but this is Microsoft we're talking about.

[surferdude2]

I have been running without AV protection for over a year - no problems but I'm pretty hep on how to avoid the gremlins. My bootup time is always less than 45 seconds from POST to full Desktop and network support components fully loaded.

Now, when I read up on MSE, it sounded so good I thought I'd give it a whirl. Not so much for my own use but for those people that I guru for. It sounded like an excellent program since it removed the user responsibility for updating and scanning. My people aren't easily trained so I was eager to find something that covered for their neglect.

I tested MSE for a full week. First downside, it jumped my bootup time to 1 min. 30 seconds. I can live with that, especially if it's on someone else's computer. Next downside, it evidently doesn't play well with Windows Defender since it turned it off repeatedly. I finally uninstalled Windows Defender thinking it might allow MSE to perform better. Not so, I now noticed that when booting up, MSE hogged the stage and wouldn't allow my Acronis True Image program to complete its work. Normally TI runs in less than four minutes. I waited over twenty minutes and still no image created. During that period of time, my system was very unresponsive and aggravating to use. I tried to open MSE and see what it claimed to be doing. It wouldn't allow it. I opened Task Manager and it became obvious what was hogging the processor time and had it pinned on 100%. The memory usage was also high for the service it used.

To add insult to injury, it turned my automatic updates back on without advising me. In case you think the updates were probably causing all my problems, think again. I checked and eliminated that possibility early on.

I uninstalled MSE yesterday and it's like getting a new computer. MSE won't be going on any system I maintain unless it has super speed and memory. None do yet.

I don't mean to slate MSE unduly, perhaps it works well on some computers but it certainly isn't for mine.

For me, the best AV protection is sitting in front of the monitor. Operate wisely and keep a full year's worth of backup images. YMMV

@ synysterblk, Dial-A-Fix is a very useful tool but it won't make MSE work any better. I sometimes use DAF for fixing obscure problems that are otherwise beyond understanding. It has proven very useful in those situations and has never harmed any system that I have used it on.

[DocStrange]

ok then, what do you think I should run? I'm sure i'd need an antivirus. Should I go back to AVG Free? My cable company provides McAfee Security Center, but i'm slightly distrustful of McAfee.

I uninstalled MSE, btw.

[Synysterblk]

I use a ******* version of malwarebytes anti-malware. Full version has flash scan and real-time scanner protection. The free version of it is just as good, minus real-time protection.

[surferdude2]

I have my tribe on Avira. I used AVG for years but they "improved" it so much that it didn't work well after ver. 7.

[Synysterblk]

That's malwarebytes. Extremely lite, low resources, quick and effective. My system is always 100% clean, even before I DMZ'ed.

[DocStrange]

I was recommended Avira, but went towards MSE because Avira had a bunch of low CNET ratings from people who claimed the ads were intrusive.

I have Malwarebytes, but I don't consider it to be an Antivirus.

Originally Posted by Synysterblk

I use a ******* version of malwarebytes anti-malware. Full version has flash scan and real-time scanner protection. The free version of it is just as good, minus real-time protection.

what was the word you had there between "a" and "version"? and why is it asterisked?

[Synysterblk]

Suit yourself.

[DocStrange]

you still haven't told me the deal with the asterisks

[Synysterblk]

They're my special helpers.

[DocStrange]

The stuff i've heard about Avira that were negative were
1. scans are slow
2. The nagging ad every 24 hours
3. updates take too long
4. uninstalling it is nigh on impossible.

the McAfee that our cable company provides did not stop a virus that came onto my dad's computer and even after he eradicated it, he can't install anything on his system anymore.

I just want a good free, unintrusive antivirus, and apparently they don't make those anymore.

[Synysterblk]

like I said, malwarebytes anti-malware full version.