Help me build a better system for a slow computer

2 GHz Celeron, 2 GB, Windows XP Home SP3

Not going with a LUA, Full Admin Rights

Online Banking, Shopping, Low Risk Surfer, Extremely Ignorant User

Computer is Physically Secure


Currently Have

Linksys Hardware Firewall
Windows Firewall On

Avira Free
SafeOnline Facebook
Winpatrol Free
Hostsman with MVPS File
OpenDNS
CCleaner

Firefox 3.6
Adblock Plus EasyPrivacy + EasyList, Malware Domains
BetterPrivacy
Certificate Patrol
CS Lite
Flashblock
FlagFox
Ghostery
Keyscrambler Personal
No Script (All Allow - Too Difficult)

Opera 10.51

On Demand

SuperAntiSpyWare

Need Backup Solution, 40 GB primary HD has 7 GB free, 1 TB External

Have Macrium Reflect Free, but dont think I can install from External, though I have an Image there...Please Clarify

Revo Uninstaller but system is pretty whacked from years of use by the woefully computer unskilled. Though it runs OK. Not going to rebuild from scratch.

Ask Questions if you need more info...

 

If this system goes slow due to security SW installed, that means you either gone really over the board with your setup or you are using SW that sucks. Whatever, my ultralight setup of the day:

XP SP3, LUA/SRP/SuRun
AV: Avast Free (all shields on)
FW: Look'n'Stop
Other: Sandboxie (Paid), Keyscrambler Premium, SRWare Iron browser, Secunia PSI

On-demand is pretty much irrelevant wrt performance, nothing will go wrong w/ MBAM, SAS, perhaps Hitman Pro but whatever you like.

Some additional light tips: ClamAV for Windows/Immunet Protect, PriwateFirewall

Some notes:

• You don't need XP firewall w/ Linksys HW FW in place, you need an outboud FW if anything.

• You really should go the LUA/SRP way with "extremely ignorant user" in place. It's free, much more secure, uses no resources and is very much usable when complemented w/ SuRun.

• SafeOnline FB - you could keep that instead of the Keyscrambler thingy.

• MSVP hosts/OpenDNS - well, don't use those personally, doesn't add anything significant to security, large hosts file comes w/ performance penalty for a lot of people, OpenDNS is a broken DNS implementation (no proper NXDOMAIN, Google hijack)

• NoScript: remove it, extremely unproductive extension for even an avarage user, let alone an "extremely ignorant" one.

• Uninstaller - well, that won't save the day w/ system already cluttered by several years of usage.

• Backup: Shrug; whatever fits you. Karen's Replicator + Macrium Reflect here. Yes, it can restore stuff from network and external media.

 

Thanks for your advice.

Well, the Computer isnt that slow.

LUA is not an option.

So its not that critical to lower the resource usage....but rather to build a more effective system without going hog wild....for an extremely ignorant user. Which means, very little user querries/input. Best to run in backround and make its own decisions.

 

Could you elaborate on reasons for this? I always wonder...

Yeah, avoiding needless resource hogs is always a good practice, I just wanted to make clear that this box should have enough steam to run pretty much any security SW out there. 2GiB is pretty much optimal amount of RAM for XP, anything more will more or less go to waste. Plus there's not really anything wrong w/ the CPU wrt normal daily usage. Granted, gaming etc. are a different story here, but... this performance hunt has gone crazy lately, people mostly don't need faster boxes for the kind of things they normally do on their boxes (exceptions would be the gaming I already mentioned plus some video editing/conversions etc.) but otherwise they are pretty much fine w/ a several years old machines.

Well, pretty much avoid any sort of HIPS whatsoever. Even with the least chatty ones, similar users will just allow about anything they get prompted about. Completely useless for them.

 

Your RAM amount is fine for your OS, see if you can get a good processor for your socket, at least C2D. Shouldn't cost a big lot these days with a proper one. Take the 7000-8000 series if possible. A Q6600 might also be an alternative if you multi-task a lot. If you don't play games, you shouldn't need to think about a new graphics card. Say that the CPU will cost you about 100-150 bucks. It's def. worth it, especially if you get something like the Corsair Water cooler and overclock about 1GHz. In that case you should go with the 6600 IMO.

 

edited below >>

Linksys Hardware Firewall
Windows Firewall On

Avira Free
SafeOnline Facebook
Winpatrol Free
Hostsman with MVPS File
OpenDNS
CCleaner

Firefox 3.6
Adblock Plus EasyPrivacy + EasyList, Malware Domains
BetterPrivacy
Certificate Patrol
CS Lite
Flashblock
FlagFox
Ghostery
Keyscrambler Personal
No Script (All Allow - Too Difficult)

You may add sandboxie

 

Senior Citizens are grumpy and grouchy and set in their ways. No LUA.

Minimal user input.

Let me be clear, this box isnt a speed demon and hangs up on the CPU fairly often. So we need to keep it lightish. When I say hangs up means that it locks up (no mouse control or user input) but after a few it will come back, you just have to wait it out.

Main concern is online banking and shopping.

 

This thing isnt worth upgrading. The next move is a new box, when the time comes.

 

Well, then Sandboxie, Keyscrambler, PrevX Safeonline should set you up then in this respect. Keyscrambler and PrevX work together (at least here ), however PrevX doesn't play well with SBIE at all. The sandboxed browser simply doesn't work due to the (IMHO quite sucky) way in which PrevX integrates into the browser. And yeah, no point in spending money on HW upgrades here.

 

How much mon are you ready to spend on a new?

 

Havent given it any thought. Figured Id just look at Slickdeals when the time came.

 

Less, you mean I basically had a good system! No way!

 

looks good enough....but too many firefox addons..

You can try free sandboxie which allows sandbox 1 application at 1 time e.g. firefox...

 

Just curious- did you play around with shutting off unneeded services in XP? It's pretty easy to do and you may see an improvement based on the CPU you are using. The procedure is pretty simple and is spelled out nicely on this excellent site:

http://www.blackviper.com/WinXP/servicecfg.htm

 

Thanks cruelsister, Ill probably do that. How about working on the registry? Any recommendations on that? Good Registry Cleaner, Free or Paid?

 

All this registry cleaner stuff does more harm than good. I'd avoid it. If you want to do anything in that department, download PageDefrag from Sysinternals Suite and let it defragment the registry. That's about it.

 

I was thinking about adding Threatfire or Mamutu behavior blockers.....or one other program like MBAM (or something similar?) resident. Safeonline is a behavior blocker? What would you classify SafeOnline as?

Ill look into SandboxIE in restrictive banking mode. Thanks!

 

Ive done a Puran Defrag on the Hard Drive (took a long long time), I think I did that already. Not sure about the Registry though.

 

If you're looking for freeware products to defrag the hard drive and clean the registry, Auslogics have these at :

http://www.auslogics.com/en/software/

(the defragger is FAST)

 

Well I think Puran Does more than Auslogics, doesnt it? Optimizing and creating space for temp folders on the fast part of the drive, and so on and so forth.

Puran Intelligent Optimizer - PIOZR
Directories Consolidation for speed boost
Optimization by Freeing Space
Automatic Defragmentation for worry free defrag
Boot Time Defragmentation for system files like MFT

http://www.puransoftware.com/Puran-Defrag.html


I tried the Auslogics Defrag, and it was fast, but I felt like Puran was actually doing more. Ill try a boot time defrag soon.

 

use either Returnil or Time Freeze for system virtualization
well configured sandboxie
Avast file system shield + network shield + behavior shield.

untick the checkbox of ff settings in file system shield:
scan documents when opening
scan files when writing

Use SRP if you want.

 

Thanks for the alternative setup recommendations Konata Izumi!

I have Avast running on the other computer, and I noticed it had the Shields that run integrated with the browser and stuff on incoming traffic. Maybe that is a way to go....instead of Avira.

BTW, I can spend some money too, if need be. Dont shy away from the paid products....or recommend upgrades from the Free versions.

Ill look into Returnil.

 

are you asking for small and secure environment or a general setup?

Too much "safety" in firefox - your are not really untraceable!
Marked extensions are not really needed - you should configure CCleaner
better to erase those data. and configure your cookie settings right.
whats not present cant be (ab)used. (eg xy.domain.bla -> deny)
(accept 3rd party cookies until firefox ends - the rest is blocked)

Windows firewall on xp ist just lol - worth nuts - drop that crap!
(was only settled on top some system - not integrated)
winwall was better integrated since vista with the wfp and even better with win7.

the rest is ok from my experience. if you need a small and good firewall
you should a have look at look'n'stop or defensewall hips.

some hint - dont buy cheap - buy usefull

PS sandboxie for isolated and testing purpose will meet your needs too
if you scare about new software.

 

"some hint - dont buy cheap - buy usefull"

Yeah, but it's a bewildering world out there for many. You have to know what is useful to your particular situation in order to make good purchases.

 

2 GHz Celeron, 2 GB, Windows XP Home SP3

My knowledge in this area (and computers in general) is very limited but is this really a slow computer?