Any tips/advice on how to protect laptop from virus and make internet run fast?

I am a full-time university student and I received a free DELL laptop computer from a loaner company through my sponsor in 2006. Unfortunately, the computer broke down about a month ago due to motherboard problem. The loaner is loaning me another free laptop computer.





I was wondering if there is any advice on how to protect my laptop from any malicious viruses and prevent the motherboard problem like I encountered last time? Also, how can I run the internet faster? The internet on my old computer was fast initially, but got slow in the last few months and sometimes even stalled. Is there any specific programs that I should install that could solve this problem? Thanks.Any tips/advice on how to protect laptop from virus and make internet run fast?
Hardware problems can be lessened by making sure you don't drop/jar your laptop too much. As far as software goes, if you don't require a whole lot of other applications, look into removing windows and installing Ubuntu (or some other flavor of Linux). Open Office works pretty good for most everything you'd need to do in a word processor, the internet works great, and it's more secure than any other OS.Any tips/advice on how to protect laptop from virus and make internet run fast?
Has your laptop always been this slow? If it's considerably slower it may have a virus or significant amount of pop-ups lurking (from using limewire or other file sharing websites).


If it has always been that slow, or depreiciated a little, then try CCleaner ( a program that can improve performance). Or upgrade your internet connection giving it more Mbps. As for virus protection, you could use McAfee or Norton, but there is a free alternative which is just as good-AVG.


Hope I helped, and have fun!
you can try avg=)











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Get AVG antivirus...


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Get a Broadband ^^ / Cable
install anti virus and spyware software


and get a broadband connection
I too need a free laptop please.Say where can I get such free laptops.