Norton is complete garbage. Anyway, one quick thing to try to see if it is extra processes slowing down your computer is running a clean boot. Open Run, type msconfig, open it. Will look something like this.
First go to services, hide all Microsoft services and click disable all, then go over to startup and disable all. Then click apply. Close. Reboot. This should stop all background processes and allow you to run the computer like normal and find out what is bogging your computer down.
(NOTE TO ALL THOSE WHO USE AUTODESK SOFTWARE! If you do a clean boot it doesn't let the registration process run, so if you try to run their software it will give you an error and tell you to reinstall, do not panic go back to msconfig, search for something with registration or autodesk in its name, reactivate and reboot)
As for an AntiVirus. I use eTrust EZ Antivirus, I don't really connect to the Internet much only connect to play online games, CD, or AIM, not a virus yet. Main reason why I use it is because it is completely free for one year, no credit card required. Just sign up and let the year full access trial begin. PM me if you want more details. From what I found on their webpage they lowered it from a year to 30 days yet if you go through something else you can still get 1 year. PM me for details.
If all else fails, bust out the Ubuntu live CD.
