Still struggling with windows 8.1 set up ---slow

I have an All-In-One Aspire Z3-605 with an Intel1.80 ghz Intel Core i5-3337u processor. I am not a gamer, use the computer for piddling with genealogy and general use. Had to reset the computer from 8.0 to 8.1 after the problems with the August 2014 system updates. The computer was running FINE with 8.0 in terms of speed so I know it is a problem with the 8.1 setup. I only had to upgrade because of the problems with the Aug-Sep 2014 MS security updates The 8.1 upgrade has slowed the system to a snail's crawl. I run avast1 and ASC pro to maintain the system and regularly run Belarc Advisor to ensure there are not problems. I do use Firefox rather than IE as my primary browser BUT I have always use FF. IE is installed and up-to-date for those sites that require it for access

All my system updates are in place, I have checked drivers and updated those that needed updating [I guess]. I do not know if it is an older software instalation for driver[s] but I went to: us.acer.com.ac/en/US/content/drivers and copied off lists of drivers with dates [that I assume are the latest updates]. So, now I check each one to make sure it has the latest available driver?

One of my other thoughts about the speed is all the stuff that may be starting up when the starts. I uninstalled McAfee, Norton, etc that came with Acer as well as all the games. BelArc analysis provides me with approximate time frames for usage of different programs so I am ASSUMING I can disable the little used ones and that would provide a little more speed. I looked at all the processes running but I could not identify a lot of them in terms of specific programs so am a little leery of doing much with this.

I would appreciate any suggestions--obviously I have not a clue as to what to do. I have been messing with this for over 5 weeks now and am about to lose it. I do have an offsite backup [Mozy] plus an external hard drive so I am not losing files but I cannot get anything done--trying to do online genealogy is a joke and it was lightning fast with 8.0 [I have a DSL line which is pretty reliable and speedy for the rural area where we live].

Accepted answers

IronFly

would you try to uninstall Avast, reboot and check overall speed?

All comments

IronFly

Daisypearl wrote:
I run avast1 and ASC pro to maintain the system and regularly run Belarc Advisor to ensure there are not problems. I uninstalled McAfee, Norton, etc that came with Acer as well as all the games.

You uninstalled McAfee but there are still too much heavy antivirus on the background and 2 other programs that you don't need (see bold).

uninstall

Avast

ASC PRo

Belarc advisor

you don't need it.

as antivirus use the windows 8.x integrated antivirus (MSE), it's light and it works.

Daisypearl

I appreciate your message but all these programs work well with the 8.0 set up. There is something inherently flawed with the way 8.1 is set up. Belarc is just a small utility program that analyzed the current status of my hard drive--it does not do anything other than provide information. Avast is my only anti-virus program [you cannot concurrently run Windows Defender or any other such program].

IronFly

would you try to uninstall Avast, reboot and check overall speed?

Daisypearl

I am so embarrassed for being so hard headed; I have always used Avast so I "Knew" that could not be the problem. I have piddled with a gazillion other fixes since your messaga and finally tried getting rid of Avast==YOU WERE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT!!! I thank you ever so much and will never think that I know what I am doing more than someone who does know what he is doing.