Cleaning up a computer
Things to do
Do not be discouraged by the list.
Think of only one thing at a time and do it.
then move on.
Install and update and run a good virus protection program
like AVG
(free download from Downlad.com)
Install and update and run a good spyware removal program
like "Spybot" and “AdAware” (free download from Download.com)
Be careful there are people who make look alike programs. Check the spelling.
Go to start.....control panel.....add/remove programs.....and
remove programs you do not use. (be careful)
If you turn on Internet Explorer there is a process that you should
do as often as you remember
“Tools” “Internet Options”
This brings up a dialog box with many tabs.
Choose the “General tab” it should be the default.
The page may vary depending on the version of Internet Explorer
you are using but the basic idea is that you want to delete all “cookies”
and “Temporary Internet files” You may have a choice to delete history
and saved passwords etc. It is a good thing to do this also.
Find “My Computer” icon.
left click on..... “my computer”.... and right click on
the ....C: drive....
Choose......” properties” .....and left click on it
Choose to click on.....”disk cleanup”....
It takes a while to run and when the first part is finished you are asked
If you want to delete the things indicated in the list.
Choose to delete all the things there.
Run scandisk (checknow)
Left click on..... my computer.... and right click on the ....C: drive....
Choose...... properties .....and left click on it
Choose to click on the...tab...tools...... check now.....
you will receive a message that it can not run now but it will run when
you turn off and turn back on again.
Do this turn off the computer and turn it on again and watch and wait
while it runs the scandisk process. Do not disturb the process.
Run msconfig to see what programs startup when you first turn on your computer
click.... "Start"..... "run"..... Type in...... msconfig......click... "OK".... to run it.
choose the.... "startup".... tab
you will see a list of programs that startup every time you turn on your computer
un check the items you do not need to start. Only virus prevention programs should start.
You may want a special program to come on each time you start your computer. Most often
You should choose to turn on any program you want only when you need it.
also check in “Start”.....”All Programs”.....”startup” .........to see what
programs startup when you first turn on. You may delete any program icon from
here so you have a choice when it starts.
If you are brave you may go to the following places to see things
That you should delete (some may be deleted by the previous step)
Go to .... C:\windows\temp ..... and delete the files there
C:\Documents and Settings\user\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files
C:\Documents and Settings\user\Local Settings\temp
C:\Documents and Settings\user\Local Settings\cookies
user1 and user2 and as many users as there are.
Run Defrag last of all
Left click on..... “my computer”.... and right click on the ....C: drive....
choose...... “properties” .....and left click on it
choose to click on the...tab...”tools”......”defragment now”.....
you may receive a message that it can not run now but it will run when
you turn off and turn back on again.
You may have to start in “safe mode” in order to run this process.
to start in “safe mode” the process is as follows
simply turn off the computer completely
when it is off, then you can start.
press the button to turn on your computer as soon as you do so when the first sign
of anything appears on the screen you must start tapping the ...F8... key on the
keyboard. This should cause a black screen with white writing to appear.
Note which option is ......” Start in safe mode”...... and choose that option.
It will take a long time to turn on and the screen will be filled with writing
scrolling by. After a while there will be a dialog box that tells you you are
about to start in safe mode and you may click OK. when the computer settles down
you will notice the screen is not very pretty this is because it only has 16 colors.
The computer has started in a diagnostic mode with only the most basic things it needs to run.
Now you can run Defrag
There is a way to look at which programs start automatically when you turn on your computer.
Do this as soon as you turn on your computer before you do anything else.
If you hold down the... "ctrl"... button and also the.... "alt" .....button and while holding them
just click momentarily on the.... "delete" .......button and then let go of all three buttons.
This is the three finger salute "ctrl" "alt" "delete"
This will bring up a dialog box or small window with information to look at.
There are 5 tabs ..... Applications .... processes ..... performance ...... networking ......users
If you click the applications tab this will tell you what applications (programs) are running.
processes shows you what processes (background windows services) are running.
Some of these services are absolutely essential but there may be some that you do not need
to be running at all times every time you turn on your computer.
Next question "How do you know which is needed or not needed ?"
There is a file with hundreds of these cryptic names and the level of usefulness
or undesirability. example of one you need is lsass.exe or smss.exe
Any item you do not need you can click on and then click "end process"
There is a program you can run on your computer and it will give you a printout
of all the programs and processes that run on your computer when you start up
it is called "Hijack This"
You may download it from the internet and install it and run it.
If you do you could e-mail me the printout and I could analyze it to see what is running.
There is also a program called Aida you could install and it has a function in it that
tels you about what programs you have installed and which programs start up when you start
the computer.
The reason why we are so concerned about what programs are running is beacause the
computer slows down if you try to run too many things at once.