I get a lot of requests from friends for me to 'fix' their Windows PC's. What I explain to people is that Windows starts out small and then grows and gets clogged with all sorts of crap. Like a car it requires regular maintenance, and the more often you do it the quicker you PC will run.
MSCONFIG
The first thing I do is check out what is starting up with their PC, go to Start/Run and type 'msconfig', under the start up tab you will see a long list of programs that launch when Windows starts. Usually there is everything from printers to camera software to java update utilities.
I would disable everything except anti-virus, firewall and spyware programs but be careful you may disable something you need. I figure most other stuff can get launched as you use it.
The fewer programs you have running the better your Windows will run.
Windows 95 and Windows 2000 do not have msconfig but you can download from here for these OS's
Microsoft Updates
You would be surprised how many people are running their Windows machines totally unpatched. Go to Start/Programs and click on Windows Update. If you get the option to install Microsoft Update do so, on older OS's you don't get this option.
Install the required software and set it to update automatically, download and install all updates. You just have to keep Windows fully patched!
AVG Anti-virus
If you do not have anti-virus you are asking for trouble. Download AVG Anti-virus Free Edition from here, install but choose 'NO' to restarting PC when it has completed.
If the AVG Control Panel doesn't start automatically go to Start/Programs/AVG 7.5/ AVG Control Center. On the left hand panel select 'Check for Updates', check the box 'Do not ask....' and select 'Internet'. Then select 'Update'.
Repeat process until no more updates are available, only restart if AVG prompts you to.
Once done restart PC and check AVG Control Center for any more updates.
From the Control Center run a Full scan.
SpywareBlaster
We also need protection from spyware, I use SpywareBlaster, download from here. Install and run the program.
On the left hand panel select 'Updates' and then 'Check for Updates' on the main panel.
After updating has been completed select 'Protection' from the left panel and then 'Enable All Protection' from the main panel.
Spybot
While SpywareBlaster prevents known spyware from installing you need a program to remove any you may already have. Download and install Spybot from here.
Once you have Spybot installed - run the program, check the box not to see the warning again. Don't create registry back-up just click 'Next'.
Click on 'Search for Updates' and then 'Download All Available Updates'. Click on 'Immunize' on the left pane and then the Immunize green cross on the main pane.
Now to run a complete scan, do the 'Update' option, then 'Immunize' and then 'Search & Destroy'- 'Check For Problems'. Remove everything it finds. Sometimes people have so much spyware I am surprised their PC's even run.
CCleaner
Windows collects a lot of useless crap for you, download and install CCleaner from here.
On the Install option page uncheck the following boxes 'Add CCleaner Yahoo!', 'Add Open CCleaner...', 'Add Run CCleaner...', 'Add Start Menu...'. Then click on 'Install'.
Run the program once installed. On the main pane click on 'Advanced' and click 'OK' three times. Now down the right hand bottom corner select 'Run Cleaner'. Check 'Don't Show...' and select 'OK'.
After that in the left hand pane select 'Issues' and down the bottom in the middle select 'Scan for Issues'. Once it has completed select 'Fix Selected Issues', click on 'No' to registry backup and finally 'Fix All Selected Issues' and the 'OK'
Follow this procedure each time you run this program.
Diskeeper Lite
Basically as you use Windows it throws files all over your hard drive, to fix this you need to 'defrag' you hard drive. Windows comes with a defrag utility but it is useless on all versions except Vista. Download Diskeeper Lite from here and install. Select 'Yes' to a restart.
Run the program on restart. It may take a while to complete.
ZoneAlarm
You will need to install a firewall, this will help prevent unauthorised access to you PC from the internet. Download and install from here. Depending on what version of Windows you are running you may need to look for an older version. Read the documentation on the page.
Firewalls can be tricky to use and are beyond the scope of this installation guide, I suggest reading the material available on their page.
Maintenance Folder
Right click anywhere on the desktop and create a New Folder, call it 'Maintenance'. Now drag the SpywareBlaster icon, the Spybot icon, the CCleaner icon and the Diskeeper icon into it. Rename each icon as follows
SpywareBlaster = 1.SpywareBlaster
Spybot = 2.Spybot
CCleaner = 3.CCleaner
Diskeeper = 4.Diskeeper
This is now your Maintenance Folder; you should run each program one at a time. I strongly suggest doing this weekly.
Anyway if you found this helpful or crap let me know by making a comment.
If you need anything clarified feel free to ask a question.
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