Spyware, viruses, & security : Any way to slow McAfee download?
- 5/25/07 6:16 AM
Any way to slow McAfee download?
by Dave Konkel [Moderator] - 5/25/07 6:16 AM
Hi, All.
I have a new Dell 710 dual processor machine that I love -- except for the McAfee Internet Security Suite. At bootup for the first time each day, it downloads the latest antivirus and malware definitions. No problem -- I want that done. However, I don't want to have it demand so many system resources that it takes five minutes before the system can be used productively, even though I have 2 GB of RAM! Is there any way to tell it not to consume so many resources? I can't find any in the fairly limited McAfee configuration menu.
Thanks -- Dave K.
Yes. but probably not exactly what you would prefer...
by Edward ODaniel - 5/25/07 12:26 PM In reply to: Any way to slow McAfee download? by Dave Konkel [Moderator]
to do.
Open your Task Manager and locate the specific process that is using the system resources. Right click on that process and select Set Priority... then set it to LOW.
You might also set the affinity to one of the processors rather than both.
I don't use McAfee so I am not sure but I really doubt (strongly so) that it allows any priority setting.
Try doing as I suggested and if you are satisfied with it get back to me and I will point you to a couple of microsoft tools that will make the settings permanent rather than something you have to do every time you start the computer. (Permanent until you change them back that is)
Actually you could look up Imagecfg for setting affinity and you can make good use of the START command in a batch file (or registry) for setting priority ('start /low [program.exe]').
Thanks, Ed, I'll try that.
by Dave Konkel [Moderator] - 5/25/07 1:42 PM
In reply to: Yes. but probably not exactly what you would prefer... by Edward ODaniel
But my guess is that I don't need to set it to low, just "normal" -- from the way it behaves, it's set now to "high" or maybe even "absolute," if such a thing there be!
Have a great, LONG weekend. -- Dave K.
Virus & Security
by roberto.stoppa - 6/4/07 6:49 AM In reply to: Any way to slow McAfee download? by Dave Konkel [Moderator]
In order to speed up your PC at start-up I suggest to use "NOD32 antivirus"(cost approx Euro 50.= per year). Very valid software
At start-up it needs 30 seconds to update virus database, and during the day it can update again if necessary
I have Pentium 4 - 2.80gHz - 512 MB Ram, Windows XP SP2
McAfee settings
by bonniebeth - 6/4/07 10:54 AM In reply to: Any way to slow McAfee download? by Dave Konkel [Moderator]
I use the business version of the McAfee product so I'm not sure if it's exactly the same, but: you should be able to right click the VirusScan icon in the system tray and select VirusScan Console. Right click your scan job and select Properties. On the Advanced tab there is a slider for the System Utilization. It defaults to 100%. I usually lower mine to 50. Also click the Schedule button on the right and select the Schedule tab and if you have selected "At Startup" or "At logon" there should be a section where it says "Delay Task by" and it allows you set the timer for how long you want the delay to be. That gives your PC a chance to get "situated" before the scan starts. Hope that helps!
Bonniebeth, Retail and Enterprise Versions Are Entirely..
by Grif Thomas - 6/4/07 11:10 AM
In reply to: McAfee settings by bonniebeth
...different user interfaces.. The McAfee icon in the lower right corner doesn't even look the same. Likewise, the VirusScan Console isn't the same either.
In addition, the procedure about the scan scheduler you've mentioned only helps with system utilization during a manual scan. I DOESN'T help with the system utilization during an UPDATE which was the topic of this thread.. The system freeze during an update is frequently apparent on both the retail Internet Security products and the corporate 8.5i versions. (There's a patch for the 8.5i corporate versio which helps.) There hasn't been a real problem recently with this issue on the previous 8.0i Enterprise version.
The "Delay missed task by" option is designed to allow the system to adjust for those times when the system hasn't been updated for long periods of time, such as a weekend or vacation period.. Normally, that particular setting isn't used on a daily basis because the machine should automatically update daily.. Most corporate folks should set their "AutoUpdate" settings during a period of non-use such as a lunch period where any slow-down by the computer isn't used..
Hope this helps.
Grif
One possible solution
by indy2001 - 6/4/07 4:33 PM In reply to: Any way to slow McAfee download? by Dave Konkel [Moderator]
Perhaps you could get in the habit of turning off the Automatic LiveUpdate just before you shut down. Then when your computer boots each morning, that part of the AV protection won't start up until you manually turn it back on again. I have Norton Internet Security 2007 on my newish HP desktop PC with dual-core processors and I haven't noticed enough of a slow startup to make this necessary, but it depends how much other stuff you have starting with your system.
Process Tamer
by santuccie - 6/5/07 4:31 PM In reply to: Any way to slow McAfee download? by Dave Konkel [Moderator]
My recommendation is Process Tamer. It does for you what Edward ODaniel suggested you do, but it does this automatically, with any process that wants to hog your CPU cycles. Get it here: http://www.donationcoder.com/Software/Mouser/proctamer/
The software and membership at DonationCoder are free, but you will have to renew your free license twice before it becomes permanent. First one expires after six months, second one expires after six months, third time's a charm. 
Small price to pay for the "thawing" of your computer, IMO. 
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