Well... I've had enough of those blue screens from win98, so I made a dual boot system with win98 and xp now. XP is still fast at the beginning, but after installing zonealarm, avg and ms antispyware, my computer becomes very slow. What are the lightest (so, with lowest cpu usage) programs to install when I want:
- Virus defense
- Spyware defense
- Firewall (plz don't say windows firewall!!! :ranting:)

And second, is it recommendable to install any service packs? I heard it makes my pc slower... Note, we're still talking about the 350 (:cry:) mhz machine...

I would say you've already got the best software. I use AVG and Zone Alarm and they've never affected my system performance at all. I would guess your problem is with something else, not your antivirus and firewall.

EDIT: I use spybot s&d for spyware but I don't think there's a great deal to choose between anti-spyware software. My computer goes through periods of running really slow and it nearly always turns out to be adware or spyware that has slipped through the defences!

Firewall's better to go with Kerio's Personal Firewall, although I've heard alot of good things 'bout ZoneAlarm too. For Anti-spyware, you're best off with Ad-Aware. Something with Ms in front of its name when it comes to spyware... got my doubts 'bout that. Anyways, another matter that makes it run so slow, is that your comp's 350MHz. Dad's comp's got 400MHz and runs XP too. It goes fine when it's got nothing to do (although it starts rattling at random moments), but the moment it's got to multitask, it craps its pants. XP is designed to consume more resources than those systems can give, I'm afraid.

2.6 ghz here, and xp still clogs up the cpu at times...

Virus Defense: AntiVir is a really light program and there's a free version out, heard great reviews for it, second choice I would pick is AVG, again another free version.

Spyware Defense: Spywareguard is a really good program to use stops spyware from getting in or calling out, you could also try spybot's tea timer, essentially the same thing

Firewall: I'd go with Kerio Personel Firewall or Look n Stop, if you get Kerio though get version 2.15, the 4x verisons are very bloated and full of many bugs that are still getting sorted out, you really don't have to worry about the older version, if you do use kerio, it is rule based so it takes some time to get used to, if you don't know much about rule based firewalls, here's a link for a rulebased set that's really good, I highly recommend it if you use 2.15. Scroll down the page and grab the file called:

"Downloas the Final Version of this Default Replacement"

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/rema...3708~mode=flat

BlitzenZeus over there made the ruleset and is well known for his knowledge on Kerio, there's also a link in the forum for a version of 2.15

The trick with XP is really to have a ridiculously high memory. Something along 256 megs rams or similar would be the minimum if you don't want any problems/slowdown. 500ish + would be best.

1024 here.
-beams with pride-

Yeah, I have 1GB too.

The only thing I have in my taskbar is Norton Anti-Virus. The 2002 version should be good for Windows 98. As for anti-spyware, use firefox instead of explorer. Firewall, you don't really need one unless you do high risk muck or leave your computer on all day. Zone Alarm sucks, slows everything down.

It's always good to have a firewall, although not so much if you have dialup when you got broadband it's a good idea since your online as soon as you start up the comp, it's always good to see if a program is calling out, and that your firewall can stop it, prevents some spyware from updating itself, ditto with worms, firewalls can stop the ones that scan on the net, like the ms blaster.