Post by: Eric Li

Clean, Boost and Defend your computer (stepwisely)!

Note: This concerns primarily Windows XP users; it might work with other OS (operating systems) but this is not guaranteed.
Note: This is a completely free way (except for the internet you use to browse this (unless you're reading this offline) and the electricity used, time,...) except if you can choose to buy some softwares.
Note: You'll find a flowchart at the end.
Note: If you are going to format your pc first (which is the BEST way of cleaning your pc) without backing up ANYTHING, you may proceed directly to step 5 and come back later after you have formatted your pc.

First, you might want to scan your pc for any virus and malware to remove them with your anti-virus - do this at least once every 2 weeks (the more often you do it, the better it is). Free way: If you don't have any, you may consider a free one. If you don't know which one to choose, here's a very widely used free anti-virus: AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition (the one on the left of the linked page). Other free anti-viruses: McAfee® VirusScan Plus – Special edition from AOL (see image on the right), avast! 4 Home Edition and Avira AntiVir PersonalEdition Classic Remember, not because they are free that they aren't good. They differ mainly from paid ones from offering only an anti-virus whereas paid ones normally offer a suite, i.e., a combination of different protective like anti-spyware, firewall, e-mail scanner... Paying way: If you want peace of mind, get an anti-virus which offers you a suite. There's a lot of anti-virus which you can choose to buy. Here are some you might consider: The best, Kaspersky Bit defender AVG Internet Security (the one on the right of the linked page) ESET Nod32 You may want to consider this review: Anti-Virus Software Reviews 2007 and this one too: And The Best anti-virus Is…. And this is a more recent test: New anti-virus Rankings…Kaspersky Still on Top Here's the source of the anti-virus tests: virus.gr. A good place for more info, and advices about anti-virus and such tools.

Second, use an anti-spyware/anti-adware program to remove spywares and adwares from your pc - scan at least once a month (the more often you do it, the better it is). Free way: To do this, you could choose to use Spybot - Search & Destroy or Ad-Aware 2007 Free (good for scanning)(see image on the right) but both doesn't offer real-time defence. Two others which offer real-time defences (for spywares, adwares, malwares...) are SpywareBlaster or Spyware Terminator (good for real-time protection) Paying way: All those are good choices: Ad-Aware 2007 Plus Ad-Aware 2007 Pro Ad-Aware SE Enterprise WinPatrol STOPzilla Spyware Doctor

Third, remove all the rubish you leave after you use your internet browser called cookies and such and all the history which windows keep of what you opened. You can see that in Windows xp this way: start -> My Recent Documents Open a folder, any one will do -> Ctrl + H -> Browse the History and you'll see how much garbage you left behind you. Free way: Actually, you could do a part of it's cleaning yourself. For e.g.: Empty your Recycle Bin Do start -> My Recent Documents -> Right-Click item -> Delete -> Yes for every single item in your My Recent Documents. Then do: Open any folder -> Ctrl + H -> right-click item-> Delete -> Yes for every single item in you History. Then go to C:\WINDOWS\Temp and delete everything. Note that C: represents a partition/disk and might vary for you. And many more... If you use Internet Explorer to browse the internet. Here's a way to clean your browsing history: First, do: start -> Control Panel -> Be sure to be in classic view, if not, switch to it in the tab on the left, upper part -> Internet Options. A window will appear. In the "Browsing history" section, click "Delete..." then Delete everthing That should clear your browsing garbage To prevent your browsing "history" stck up each time, go to the Internet Properties page then click on the "Settings" tab under the "Browsing history" section. Set the "Days to keep pages in history" under the History section to 0 (zero). If you use Mozilla Firefox to browse the internet. Here's a way to clean your browsing history: Go to Tools -> Clear Private Data... -> To delete cookies select "Cookies" -> Clear Private Data Now and you're done. But why do all that? Simply download CCleaner , which is a very good program and (Analyze if you want then) "Run Cleaner"! It will ask you to close your web browser to clean the Internet Cache. Do so, but don't forget to bookmark this page before so as not to lose it (^^)! Usage practice: "Cclean" before shutting down your pc, this might be once a day. Paying way: Why pay for a similar software? CCleaner is ALL you'll need!

Fourth, defragment your computer to increase it's speed and free space - do that at least once every two month (the more often you do it, the better it is). Free way: If you're using Windows xp, you could used it's built-in (i.e., already in there when you bought it) defragmenter in: start -> All Programs -> Accessories -> System Tools -> Disk Defragmenter OR you can download AusLogics Disk Defrag which gives you a visual way to see defragmenting. This one is a bit special: Auslogics Registry Defrag, it defrags your registry (see below for definition of registry). Paying way: Here are some disk defragmenters which you can buy: PerfectDisk O&O Defrag Professional

From here, you have you a choice to make, either: format you pc, i.e., to delete EVERYTHING on it, to be sure to clean everything and reinstall your OS. This might be a good choice if you feel that your computer is very slugish, with a lot of programs, games... you need to uninstall. If you know your computer contains viruses or other malwares... You might ask yourself: "Why scan, cclean, defragmentmy pc to finally format it?" The answer is simple: so as to reduce the amount of garbage you would have backed up before formatting your pc. If you choose to format you pc, be sure to: Backup all your important documents, videos, music, work... you might want/need to keep You could either backup downloaded programs to reinstall them after the formatting OR make a list of the programs to redownload Have a distro (distribution) of the OS you will reinstall after the formatting on a cd And last but not least, know how to format. If you do, you can go on and format it. If you don't, either don't format OR learn how to. Here are some reviews about how to format and reinstall Windows xp: How to Format a PC How to Format a Computer - But what this one doesn't tell you, is that you need first to set your boot priority to the CD-Rom drive where you'll insert your Windows XP CD-Rom. Print them (if you can) and format. If you have any difficulties, feel free to e-mail me. Note that you should defragment your pc once you finish installing all the necessary programs. You'll never imagine how much it fragments. or proceed to the next step.

Sixth, if you have an internet connection and/or often go over networks with your pc, you should have a firewall. Definition of a firewall from wikipedia: "A firewall is a hardware or software device which is configured to permit, deny, or proxy data through a computer network which has different levels of trust". In simple, it regulars your traffic through a network. Note: If you have bought an anti-virus package, there is a great chance that it already contains a firewall with it. If so, you shouldn't install another. See the table on this page for a firewall tests: Windows Personal Firewall Analysis Free way: Definitely Comodo Free Firewall (see images on the right) Paying way: Comodo Firewall is one of the best firewalls if not THE best, but in case you want something else, consider Zone Alarm Pro See this review about free anti-virus (see above), anti-spyware (see above), and firewalls (see above): CyberNotes: Free Anti-virus, Anti-Spyware, and Firewall Downloads

Seventh, if you browse the internet often and you are tired of pop-ups (pop-ups are windows which appears/pops out in a new web browser window to display advertisements), install a pop-up blocker. Note: anti-virus packages normally already offer one. Free way: Pop-Up Stopper Free Edition (see image on the right) sQusi Tracking Blocker and sQusi Plus EndTask Pro Paying way: Be sure to want to pay for a pop-up blocker. Some of those offer additional services: Pop-Up Sentry Ad Annihilator Pop-Up Stopper Professional

Eighth, clean your registry with a registry cleaner. A Registry Cleaner is a software which safely cleans and repairs the Windows Registry. The Windows Registry is a database which stores configuration settings for all hardware, selected system options, software installed on your computer... Problems like system crashes or slower speeds can occur if the registry is not regularly maintained - scan your registry at least once every week (the more often you do it, the better it is). Free way: CCleaner (also above) (image on the right) also offers a registry cleaner under its "Issues" tab. Paying way: Here's a list Registry Mechanic Advanced Registry Optimizer TuneUp Utilities 2007 - This one comes with multiple features apart from a registry cleaner AusLogics BoostSpeed - This one, too, comes with multiple features apart from a registry cleaner

Ninth, be sure to have only the startup programs you want. Startup programs are simply programs that launches automatically when Windows boots. Ths less startup programs you have, the faster your Windows xp will be ready to use. Free way: Listed below are different ways to do that (you should try them in that order): First, check if the startup programs themselves doesn't offer an option to disable the startup feature (best option). To know which programs startup on booting, either restart your pc or do start -> Run... -> type "msconfig" -> go to the "startup" tab (see image below). (If you're using Windows 95 or Windows 2000, go to MSCONFIG.EXE or MSCONFIG to download the msconfig executable). Second, do Start -> All Programs -> Startup. Some programs might load from here via shortcuts. Go to C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup (note that C: represents the partition on which you have installed your Windows xp and the letter may be different for you) and BEFORE deleting the startup shortcuts you don't want, make a backup of them in a folder you'll create called "Disabled Startup Programs". That way, if a program doesn't work as required, you can always return the required shortcut back again. Now delete the startup shortcuts of programs to don't want to see automatically load when you start your pc. Third, do start -> Run... -> type "msconfig" -> go to the "startup" tab and uselect the items you don't want to autostart on boot. Once you changed what is required and go to the "general" tab, you'll realise that the startup selection passed from "Normal Startup" to "Selective Startup". If ever you change back to "Normal Startup", all the changes you made will be reverted, i.e., it will return as before. And the last way is to use CCleaner (again). Simply Open CCleaner -> Go to the "Tools" tab -> choose "Startup" then delete the entry of the programs you don't want to autorun on booting. (see image below) Prevention measures: Each time you install a program, be sure to notice the startup option (if there is one). Paying way: What? Pay for a software which will help you remove startup programs.

Tenth, some Windows tweaks. Appearance or performance. To remove the error reporting (The error reporting window is the window which appears after a program didn't respond correctly, alias, crashed and which asks you to send a report to microsoft for feedbacks) (see image on the right): start -> right-click My Computer -> Properties -> Advanced tab -> Error Reporting -> Change to "Disable error reporting" and select "But notify me when critical errors occur" -> OK if you want to disable the error reporting. From here. You'll have to choose whether you would like a better looking Windows or a faster Windows. To adjust the performance/appearance settings, do: start -> right-click My Computer -> Properties -> Advanced tab -> Settings under the "Performance" section -> Visual Effects tab (see image n the right). For best windows performance, choose "Adjust for best performance". Or if you prefer, choose the effects you would like to keep and those you would like to remove. If you do so, consider the "Use visual styles on windows and buttons". It's the one you'll miss the most if unselected. Others like "Animate windows when minimizing and maximising", "Fade or slide menus into view"... can easily be removed without big loss of "good appearance". Another parameter which influences windows performance is its "screen resolution" (A little background might help). The lower it is, the better your computer will do. To modify or lessen the resolution, do: Right-click a blank space on the desktop -> Properties -> Settings tab -> In the "Screen resolution" tab, adjust it to a convenient resolution (by convenient I mean better, by better I mean lower) -> OK.

Eleventh, monitor and free up your RAM (Random Access Memory). Free way: Use FreeRAM XP Pro (preferably this one according to CNET's download.com) or RamBooster Paying way: RamBooster will do.

Miscellaneous programs: AVG Anti-Rootkit Free, Disk Cleaner.

Beautiful!
Tests

• Put your computer to test with PC Security Test 2007. Or better still, use AOL's Active Security Monitor to keep track of your computer's security status.
• Take McAfee's Spam Quiz

Some final notes:
This an inexhaustible list of tasks to do to "Clean, Boost and Defend your computer". If you have done correctly each step, your pc (Windows) should be better now. Don't forget to do your computer's "servicing" once in a while.
Last edited/updated: 16/11/07 (dd/mm/yy)

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