A computer security question

Although I try hard to keep my computer free of gremlins, they get in
somehow. The system is fairly old (Win98SE, Intel P3/550, Intel VC820
motherboard). I have a broadband connection and use the following free
programs: AVG, Zone Alarm, Ad-Aware, Spybot, Diskeeper Lite, and of
course Windows updates. All my definitons are kept up to date and I
have a weekly cleanup routine which involves clearing out cookies and
temp files and running Ad-Aware, Spybot and Diskeeper Lite. But still
I have to keep doing fdisk, format c about every 9 months or so because
it just slows down too much. I cant afford to buy a new computer, so
am wondering whether it would help if I worked through a proxy server
program such as "Ultimate Anonymity" to help keep things clean.

So my questions are: 1) would this help 2) how much would it slow
down my internet speed ? Any advice much appreciated.

 

A proxy like like is to make you anonymous. People use these things to troll
usenet, for example. It won't keep things clean, just hiode your IP.

A bit.

Upgrade OS. XP at least, or linux. Or get a mac.

I do nothing to keep this PC clean except use a current OS. Straight
mandrake with a router firewall. Easy.

 

BIG NO

there is something you are missing, I have not rebuilt my w2k system for 6 years
and its still good.

 

Try a registry cleaner or upgrade to XP