What free antivirus doesn't slow down your PC?

I'm looking to replace an Avast antivirus that I had installed in my PC equipped with Windows XP. My PC was a real mess with Avast loaded in it. I had problems with another PC that had Avast in it too. So I replaced Avast with Microsoft Security Essentials and the switch worked out fine. I tried using Microsoft Security Essentials in my other PC though and due to some kind of glitch I can't install it. And even if I could, Microsoft is including a note now with their antivirus, reading that sometime in April their antivirus will not support Windows XP anymore So I'd really like to find an antivirus that won't slow down my PC. I did give AVG a shot already and was unhappy with its performance. So now what's my best when it comes to choosing a free antivirus? I'm well aware of all the others, I just want to find a good one asap instead of searching for a needle in a haystack. :major

 

Windows XP is a ticking time bomb. You really, really don't want to be on it after April.

 

Why is April the deadline for Windows XP, especially if I switch from Microsoft Security Essentials to another antivirus?

 

Because that is when XP support stops, and Microsoft will stop application support for it on the same day.

 

:cry If that's the case how can I switch to another Windows program without breaking the bank? Right now I am thinking about taking my chances with Linnux even though it's completely foreign to me.

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...STMATCH&Description=windows+7&N=-1&isNodeId=1

Otherwise, yeah...GNU/Linux isn't a bad idea.

 

I am wondering if I did switch over to Linux, would it be compatible with all my Windows files? For example could I store documents from Microsoft Office on it? Also could I store my Apple i tunes library to it too?

 

Yes, although depending on the Office files, there might be some glitches here and there. There are office suites gfor GNU/Linux that recognize Office file formats though.

As for iTunes, that should be pretty straightforward too. It uses .m4a files, which quite a few media players read. Otherwise, you can convert them to mp3.

 

Both Libre Office and Open Office support MS Office documents. The only issue you might have with your iTunes library will be anything you purchased that is protected by Apple DRM.

 

I'm looking at this link http://www.wikihow.com/Move-from-Windows-to-Linux and from what I see it appears I can use both a Linux and Windows program on my PC at the same time. :drool If that's the case I'd like get my hands Linux and run it with Windows XP at first and then uninstall Windows XP. Now I'm wondering where I can download Linux at? I did a search and found there's so many sites to download Linux on I don't know where to begin here? http://www.google.com/webhp?nord=1#nord=1&q=download+linux

 

Apple hasn't used DRM in years. What they do is tag your Apple ID to the media files, so that a leaker can be tracked.

http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2009/01/06Changes-Coming-to-the-iTunes-Store.html

 

Well I did find a way to download Microsoft Security Essentials on to the PC that was giving me problems with downloading it. I suppose it's just a temporary fix anyhow since its operating system is Windows XP. In fact I own 3 PC's and they're all equipped with Windows XP.

 

Their movies still have DRM and I still have a few Pepsi cap code tunes from back in the day that I never upgraded to DRM free files. I'm just covering all bases.

 

If your computer(s) can handle it, an upgrade to Win 7 is only about $90.

 

For each computer.

 

Since that's the case I'm going to test Linux out first on one of my PC's before I waste anymore $$$ on Microtrash.

 

Try this if you are not too promiscuous on the net....
Do an image nightly, save a week and month old.
DO NOT RUN ACTIVE ANTIVIRUS at all, nada, nothing.
Scan with MalwareBytes weekly. Scan all downloads, even updates with MalwareBytes.

My two older computers are run this way and other than trojans from trial downloads no malware has been found. The trojans never ran so no virus or other malware was installed.