PC Maintenance

Always talk to the owner of a PC before working on it. Use my advice at your own risk, I am not an expert in any way.

1 - Reduce Simultaneous Internet Usage for Faster Video Loading

  • Turn off all computers / game systems that are online
  • Call your Internet Service Provider if you think your service is possibly glitched

2 - Turn Off PC Backup

  • PC Backup will duplicate used memory and waste resources slowing your internet speed
  • Vista may not actually turn off PC Backup simply by adjusting menu settings
  • Only turn PC Backup off if you are confident you will never need it

3 - Virus Protection

  • Be smart online, don’t click anything that looks suspicious
  • Uninstall nonworking Antivirus Programs like Norton or PC Cillin
  • Use the Norton Removal Tool to fully uninstall Norton
  • Avast Website - Ferret’s recommendation because of Boot-Time Scan
  • AVG Website - Use only one antivirus, choose either Avast, AVG, or something else you prefer.
  • Spybot Search and Destroy - Recommended to remove Spyware

3.5 - Check for Windows Updates

  • Do not rely on “Automatic Updates”, set updates to “Notify, but do not automatically install”
  • Open Internet Explorer to click this link: Check for Updates Manually - Keep checking until you see “No High-Priority Updates Available”

4 - Remove Unused Programs

  • Use the Control Panel’s Add/Remove Programs feature
  • Manually search your files for the “Memory Hogs”

5 - Use CCleaner to Clear Your Registry

  • CCleaner Website
  • Do not use CCleaner to ‘fix’ anything else unless you are 100% sure of what you are doing
  • Only use CCleaner to clean your Registry

6 - Use Windows to Remove Unused Files

  • Use tools in the Control Panel to remove a few Temporary or Unused files
  • XP Users - Start > Control Panel > Performance and Maintenance > Free up space on your hard disk

7 - Tweak MSConfig

  • XP Users - Start > Run > MSConfig
  • Vista/Win7 Users - Start > type MSConfig in the search bar
  • Disable items in the Services and Startup tabs
  • Only disable items you are 100% confident don’t need to run on Startup
  • Use an online database to figure out Process Abbreviations

8 - Run Avast Boot-Time Scan

  • Click on the Avast Icon located on the bottom right next to your clock
  • Navigate and find the Boot-Time Scan
  • During the scan, I recommend moving all viruses to the “Chest”
  • “Ignore” viruses found in the “Windows” folder unless you have no other choice or are confident

9 - Defrag your PC

  • XP Users - Start > Control Panel > Performance and Maintenance > Rearrange items on your hard disk
  • Vista/Win7 Users - Start > type Defrag in the search bar
  • You can download Defrag programs as well, but Windows does a nice job