Internet speed/virus correlation?

Hey all, just had a quick question that maybe someone could shed some light on. I recently got my internet connection hooked up, and im paying for 1.5mbs. I tested my speed on the very first day and was happy to learn it was running about 1.4mbs (close enough for me), however, the following day my speed dropped to barely over dialup. My ISP offered me no explaniation for this, and im thinking maybe it has something to do with a virus hogging all my speed. I didnt have the microsoft update v2 when i first got online, however i did have Norton Antivirus 2003 Professional and updated my definations immediatly. Now Norton willnot/cannot AUTOPROTECT, and i know i have some viruses on my computer. LSASS and a few others that i cannot seem to get rid of. what would you all reccommend? Full reformat? Just my OS's partition? I could use a little advice please. Thanks for taking the time to listen.
-Dave

 

I take it you have cable?? Before you go reformating your comp, make sure your isp is capable of handling 1.5mbs. If they cant give you an explanation find another company. when i first started using broadband cable it was from a mom and pop phone company and they clamped the broadband service at 512k, because broadband internet exploded and everybody wanted it, and they couldn't handle all the new customers, but i only paid 20 bucks a month so i didnt expect much. I am not a supporter of norton so sorry i cant help with that.

 

they're capable. i live in dorms in a military instillation, and lots of people get it, and they get their top speed, only im affected. And i pay about 115 a month for it, cause the company has a monopoly over phone and internet. Anyway i think i isolated the problem, got a firewall upgrade, and apparently its all good for the moment, must have a virus sending too much information out my port for me to get what i want