Best AV+firewall for an old Win98 PC?

  • Thread starter Thread starter sebt
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sebt

Hi

what do you think is the best AV+firewall product for my PC?

It's so old that it's not just outside but well over the horizon from
the kind of PCs the latest software is designed for:

Win 98 SE
PII 300 MHz
224Mb RAM

Now this setup runs like lightning - and I've got old versions of
Office, Soundforge, Cubase etc that do everything I want. I've just
tried Norton Internet Security 2005, though....
how to turn an old but well-matched PC/OS into something that does a
good impression of a Sinclair ZX81...

AVG AV+Firewall looks better - but after my Norton experience I'm
suspicious of their "compatible with Win95/Win98" claim...

has anyone run recent AV software on this kind of setup?

cheers


Seb
 
sebt said:
what do you think is the best AV+firewall product for my PC?
Win 98 SE
PII 300 MHz
224Mb RAM
Click to expand...

Firewall: You don't need one. If you connect to the internet with a
DSL or cable modem, then spend $50-$60 for a NAT router. Like this
one:

http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?product_code=273755&pfp=cat3

Linksys BEFSR41

AV software: Before you install any av software, you need to download
and install these:

1) MVP hosts file
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm

2) Spybot Search and Destroy
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download2471.html

3) AdAware
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download506.html

4) Spyware Blaster
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download2859.html

All of the above will impose NO performance or resource hit on your
computer, but their use will give you quite a bit of protection while
surfing the web.

If you have or can find an old verison of Norton Anti-Virus or Norton
System Works (preferrably 2001 or 2002 version) then you can install
that and do an on-line update. Those old products can be updated to
use the most current virus detection capability available from
Norton. They don't use much system resources or affect system
performance as much as newer versions.
 
AVG Free runs just fine on older PC's. An older copy of Zone Alarm free will work just fine as a
firewall.

: Hi
:
: what do you think is the best AV+firewall product for my PC?
:
: It's so old that it's not just outside but well over the horizon from
: the kind of PCs the latest software is designed for:
:
: Win 98 SE
: PII 300 MHz
: 224Mb RAM
:
: Now this setup runs like lightning - and I've got old versions of
: Office, Soundforge, Cubase etc that do everything I want. I've just
: tried Norton Internet Security 2005, though....
: how to turn an old but well-matched PC/OS into something that does a
: good impression of a Sinclair ZX81...
:
: AVG AV+Firewall looks better - but after my Norton experience I'm
: suspicious of their "compatible with Win95/Win98" claim...
:
: has anyone run recent AV software on this kind of setup?
:
: cheers
:
:
: Seb
:
 
Hi

what do you think is the best AV+firewall product for my PC?

It's so old that it's not just outside but well over the horizon from
the kind of PCs the latest software is designed for:

Win 98 SE
PII 300 MHz
224Mb RAM

Now this setup runs like lightning - and I've got old versions of
Office, Soundforge, Cubase etc that do everything I want. I've just
tried Norton Internet Security 2005, though....
how to turn an old but well-matched PC/OS into something that does a
good impression of a Sinclair ZX81...

AVG AV+Firewall looks better - but after my Norton experience I'm
suspicious of their "compatible with Win95/Win98" claim...

has anyone run recent AV software on this kind of setup?

cheers


Seb
Click to expand...
Seb, try Sygate Personal Firewall (free)v5.6. D/L at:
http://dl23.sygatetech.com/pub/bws/bws_49/spf.exe
Symanteic bought Sygate, inc but v5.6 is still
alive, well, and available. Check out the Unofficial
Sygate Help page:
http://bellsouthpwp.net/i/k/ikpe/SygateBasics.html
This is good set-up how-to information.
There are two parts to this page--Click the center
button Sygate Basic Part No.1 or 2 to get the other
half.

I have run Sygate on my Win98 box for about 5-yrs.
Its one of the best; does a good job; and has never
given any trouble.
Casey
 
sebt said:
Hi

what do you think is the best AV+firewall product for my PC?

It's so old that it's not just outside but well over the horizon from
the kind of PCs the latest software is designed for:

Win 98 SE
PII 300 MHz
224Mb RAM

Now this setup runs like lightning - and I've got old versions of
Office, Soundforge, Cubase etc that do everything I want. I've just
tried Norton Internet Security 2005, though....
how to turn an old but well-matched PC/OS into something that does a
good impression of a Sinclair ZX81...

AVG AV+Firewall looks better - but after my Norton experience I'm
suspicious of their "compatible with Win95/Win98" claim...

has anyone run recent AV software on this kind of setup?
Seb
Click to expand...

I run mostly Win98SE systems and I have a 400MHz and several 500MHz PCs.
I run behind a Linkysys NAT firewall/router but on occasion, I launch
Kerio 2.15 Personal Firewall. It's a free program that you can still
probably find by doing a web search. It has about the smallest footprint
of any firewall and even though it's several years old, it's still
functional.

Chas.
 
So much information! Thanks guys.

Well, I've now got rid of the virus I had on my system (Norton Internet
Security 2005. Symptoms: your system runs like a snail on Valium, and
still manages to crash constantly even at that speed). Only took 2
HOURS for the Uninstall progress bar to reach completion. CPU maxed
out at 100%.... NIS2005 isn't just slow, it's bad-mannered: gives you a
normal mouse-pointer when in fact it's still hogging every resource in
sight, and the appropriate cursor would be an hourglass the size of the
screen. I just checked the sys reqs on symantec's website again,
thinking I must have misread, but no - here they are:

Win 98 (I'm running 98SE, check)
133Mhz (300 MHz, check)
96Mb RAM (224Mb, check)

You have to wonder whether they actually test these figures, especially
for older OSs, or whether someone from marketing produces them by
applying an arcane and closely-guarded algorithm to a random selection
of car licence-plate numbers from the pub carpark...

Downloaded the trialware AVG+Firewall, which installed in just 3
minutes. For just £31 for 2 years, compared with NIS's £50 for 1
year, I might well stick with it if it's still behaving after a month.
Right now the machine is back to what that kind of machine should be
running Win98: blindingly fast.

I'll check out your other suggestions when I get home tonight. Except
for the HOSTS file link (thanks VirusGuy), which I've already looked
at. Now that is the most beautiful solution to Web ads I can imagine.
Effectively saying to them "You're looking for the server to download
your annoying rotating ad/flashing image/popup for your tacky sex-site?
Immediately Sir. If you would step this way..." and ushering them
through the door to the elevator-shaft!

thanks again


Seb
 
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