to log onto my resnet at school i had to uninstall everything i had on my computer along the lines of antivirus software and install mcafee. well mcafee sucks and my computer is already really really old and has small everything... space, memory you name it. well im wondering if i need it. can i get rid of it. will it still do its job if i at least ask it not to start when windows starts? im also wondering if spybot search and destroy and adaware are enough or i need something other than these 2 programs. the computer came with norton, but its only as good as its last definition update and its not free so i havent done that in 6 years... yea this is 6 years old. anyways. can i get rid of mcafee and keep just the 2 programs? is s & d and adaware not antivirus software? mcafee seems to be a h eavy program. i dont like it. not sure what to do. will take any advice. thanks.

"will it still do its job if i at least ask it not to start when windows starts?"
No. Anti-virus software (generally) monitors your Email utility, and any files you interact with while working on your system. If you don't load the AV at system start up, you won't get any warnings about potentially dangerous files containing virus varients, which may have "got in" from downloads, program installs, etc. You ~can~ run without it, but it's not recommended.

"to log onto my resnet at school i had to uninstall everything i had on my computer along the lines of antivirus software and install mcafee."
If this means you can't log on unless McAfee is loaded then you're stuck with it.

Your firewall (you ~do~ run one don't you?) will stop junk from entering your system ports while connected to the Net, unless you instruct it otherwise. This too is recommended.

"im also wondering if spybot search and destroy and adaware are enough or i need something other than these 2 programs."
SB S&D and AdAware SE are good. I also run;

SpywareBlaster
http://www.majorgeeks.com/SpywareBlaster_d2859.html

and CWShredder. (Cool Web Shredder).
http://www.intermute.com/spysubtract..._download.html

These four programs are what (I consider) the least you should run. I use (only) these four and have never had a problem.

"... is s & d and adaware not antivirus software?"
No. The above mentioned programs are NOT Anti-Virus related. They are for spyware/malware ONLY.

" the computer came with norton..." & "6 years"
Norton (Symantec).... IMHO, Dump it. It's bloated, problematic, and a resource HOG. To be FULLY rid of it can be a task. The Symantec site used to have (another) "program" to rid your system of it. (It gets buried deep into the registry.) I don't know if they've cleaned up their act on the uninstall aspects, it's been so long since I touched it. (16 bit)

Please post back with any results, updates, or questions.