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Stuartbe 21-02-2004 12:45
Keeping your pc healthy !
 
Keeping your computer healthy


During my day-to-day work I see a lots of computers. In my second job at a computer store I often see systems that are running very very slowly. In nine out of 10 cases this is down to maintenance of the pc. No one that owns a car would dream of driving 300.000 miles in there car without changing the oil and tyres ect. People do this with there computers all the time. The following step-by-step guide has been written as a schedule for users to follow. Your pc will run more smoothly and more reliably by taking the steps bellow.

1. Treat installing software on a pc as a serious matter. Even if you remove unwanted software from the pc using †œ add/remove programs †œ ect you will still leave old unused files and registry keys in the system. If you are going to uninstall the software then donââ‚Âà ‚¬ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚¢t install it in the first place.

2. Make sure that all the hardware in the system has the correct drivers installed. ! marks or ? marks in the device manager indicate that a driver is missing or has a problem.

3. Visit windows update on a weekly basis to check for new drivers/patches. You can allso set windows so it checks automaticaly. Post for details of how to do this.

4. Make sure you have an up to date Antivirus package on your pc. Virusââ‚ƚ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢s can slow a pc down to crawl. Not to mention cause damage to your files. Scan your system for viruses on a weekly basis.

5. Keep spyware out of the system. There are several free spyware removal tools on the net that will help you do this. A good spyware scanner is Adaware †“ found at www.lavasoft.de . It is best to stop the spyware getting on the pc in the first place. A program called spyware blaster can help you do this. Spyware blaster can be downloaded from www.spywareblaster.org This nifty app will help stop the spyware getting on the system in the first place.

6. Keep your hard drive healthy by running scandisk on a weekly basis. Scandisk can be found in †œ Start menu / program files / accessories / system tools / scandisk †œ Scandisk will check your pc for hard disk errors and correct them. This makes file corruptions ect less likely.

7. Defrag your hard disk on a weekly basis. The defrag program operates by rearranging the files on the hard disk so that they are in order and tidy. This will speed up the system as well as making file corruptions less likely. Defrag can be found in †œ start menu / program files / system tools / defrag †œ You may find that defrag restarts all the time. This can happen with windows 95/98/me a lot and is down to all the memory being used up and the system writing to the swap file. To get round this shut down the pc and then restart it. As soon as you turn the pc on press and hold CTRL on the pcââ‚ ¬ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚¢s keyboard. You will be presented with a menu just before the windows loading screen appears. Select safe mode from the menu and wait for windows to load. Be patient it can sometimes take a while. When you are in windows all the icons and your wallpaper may look strange. Donââ‚Âà ‚¬ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚¢t worry about this †“ Everything will return to normal when you reboot the screen after defrag has finished. When you run defrag for the first time you may find that it takes may hours. This is normal especially if it has never been run before.

8. Install a good firewall in the pc and make sure that it is configured correctly (post for help) - Thanks to Paulyoung666 for this amendment.

9.Make sure that you delete all the temporary internet files and all the files from your windows temp directory before you defrag the drive. To remove temporary internet files from the pc click on " tools / internet options and then the delete files button " To delete the system temp files look for a folder in windows or winnt called temp. Delete the contents. (make sure that any open programs are shut down first) Many thanks to sociable for this sugestion.



Follow this list on a weekly basis to ensure that your pc is happy and healthy. You will see a big increase in system performance. Make a time during the week to do this. The more regularly you run the above the less time that it will take for the job to be done.

If you have any questions or queries please donââ‚Âà ‚¬ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚¢t hesitate to post them †“ We will be happy to lend a hand.

MadGamer 22-02-2004 22:18
Re: Keeping your pc healthy !
 
1 Attachment(s)
Quote:
Originally Posted by stuartbe
Keeping your computer healthy


During my day-to-day work I see a lots of computers. In my second job at a computer store I often see systems that are running very very slowly. In nine out of 10 cases this is down to maintenance of the pc. No one that owns a car would dream of driving 300.000 miles in there car without changing the oil and tyres ect. People do this with there computers all the time. The following step-by-step guide has been written as a schedule for users to follow. Your pc will run more smoothly and more reliably by taking the steps bellow.

1. Treat installing software on a pc as a serious matter. Even if you remove unwanted software from the pc using †œ add/remove programs †œ ect you will still leave old unused files and registry keys in the system. If you are going to uninstall the software then donââ‚Âà ‚¬ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚¢t install it in the first place.

2. Make sure that all the hardware in the system has the correct drivers installed. ! marks or ? marks in the device manager indicate that a driver is missing or has a problem.

3. Visit windows update on a weekly basis to check for new drivers/patches. You can allso set windows so it checks automaticaly. Post for details of how to do this.

4. Make sure you have an up to date Antivirus package on your pc. Virusââ‚ƚ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢s can slow a pc down to crawl. Not to mention cause damage to your files. Scan your system for viruses on a weekly basis.

5. Keep spyware out of the system. There are several free spyware removal tools on the net that will help you do this. A good spyware scanner is Adaware †“ found at www.lavasoft.de . It is best to stop the spyware getting on the pc in the first place. A program called spyware blaster can help you do this. Spyware blaster can be downloaded from www.spywareblaster.org This nifty app will help stop the spyware getting on the system in the first place.

6. Keep your hard drive healthy by running scandisk on a weekly basis. Scandisk can be found in †œ Start menu / program files / accessories / system tools / scandisk †œ Scandisk will check your pc for hard disk errors and correct them. This makes file corruptions ect less likely.

7. Defrag your hard disk on a weekly basis. The defrag program operates by rearranging the files on the hard disk so that they are in order and tidy. This will speed up the system as well as making file corruptions less likely. Defrag can be found in †œ start menu / program files / system tools / defrag †œ You may find that defrag restarts all the time. This can happen with windows 95/98/me a lot and is down to all the memory being used up and the system writing to the swap file. To get round this shut down the pc and then restart it. As soon as you turn the pc on press and hold CTRL on the pcââ‚ ¬ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚¢s keyboard. You will be presented with a menu just before the windows loading screen appears. Select safe mode from the menu and wait for windows to load. Be patient it can sometimes take a while. When you are in windows all the icons and your wallpaper may look strange. Donââ‚Âà ‚¬ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚¢t worry about this †“ Everything will return to normal when you reboot the screen after defrag has finished. When you run defrag for the first time you may find that it takes may hours. This is normal especially if it has never been run before.

8. Install a good firewall in the pc and make sure that it is configured correctly (post for help) - Thanks to Paulyoung666 for this amendment.

9.Make sure that you delete all the temporary internet files and all the files from your windows temp directory before you defrag the drive. To remove temporary internet files from the pc click on " tools / internet options and then the delete files button " To delete the system temp files look for a folder in windows or winnt called temp. Delete the contents. (make sure that any open programs are shut down first) Many thanks to sociable for this sugestion.



Follow this list on a weekly basis to ensure that your pc is happy and healthy. You will see a big increase in system performance. Make a time during the week to do this. The more regularly you run the above the less time that it will take for the job to be done.

If you have any questions or queries please donââ‚Âà ‚¬ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚¢t hesitate to post them †“ We will be happy to lend a hand.
For point numer 9. If i was to empty the temp folder, would this affect all the user accounts i have on XP or will it just affect mine? i Also have a prob with Spyware blaster. See screenshot.

Stuartbe 22-02-2004 22:27
Re: Keeping your pc healthy !
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by WNA
For point numer 9. If i was to empty the temp folder, would this affect all the user accounts i have on XP or will it just affect mine? i Also have a prob with Spyware blaster. See screenshot.
Each user has there own temp account on xp under documents and settings...

The spyware blaster problem can be fixed by downloading these apps.

http://download.microsoft.com/downlo...vbrun60sp5.exe

http://www.javacoolsoftware.net/down...gfilesetup.exe

HTH

Xaccers 22-02-2004 22:30
Re: Keeping your pc healthy !
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by WNA
For point numer 9. If i was to empty the temp folder, would this affect all the user accounts i have on XP or will it just affect mine?

The C:\Windows\temp is a general OS temp folder
C:\documents and settings\username\Local Settings\Temp is username specific and most likely to contain loads of temp files.
If you have access to the profiles of other users, C:\Documents and Settings\username\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE can be deleted to clear out their cache.
Check what size IE has set for your cache and decrease it. Mine by default was 1733MB!

Also check C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents as this is where Dr Watson dumps to.

Right click each profile folder to check how much space they are using





Also, set your start menu to "classic". It won't help with space, but it makes your computer look much better :D

Ramrod 22-02-2004 22:32
Re: Keeping your pc healthy !
 
This thread should be sticky or it's pertinent info placed in ntli info (imo) :)

DrAwesome 22-02-2004 22:34
Re: Keeping your pc healthy !
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Xaccers
Check what size IE has set for your cache and decrease it. Mine by default was 1733MB!
Its best set to 80mb

MadGamer 22-02-2004 22:35
Re: Keeping your pc healthy !
 
1 Attachment(s)
Quote:
Originally Posted by stuartbe
Each user has there own temp account on xp under documents and settings...

The spyware blaster problem can be fixed by downloading these apps.

http://download.microsoft.com/downlo...vbrun60sp5.exe

http://www.javacoolsoftware.net/down...gfilesetup.exe

HTH
Ok sorted the spyware blaster problem. Is that temp files folder called "User Data?" Also will it do any harm to the system or XP if i delete these files? See screenshot.

DrAwesome 22-02-2004 22:37
Re: Keeping your pc healthy !
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by WNA
Ok sorted the spyware blaster problem. Is that temp files folder called "User Data?"
Temporary Internet Files

In win98se its in the main windows folder
In XP Pro its in C:\documents and settings\your name\local settings\

Stuartbe 22-02-2004 22:37
Re: Keeping your pc healthy !
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by WNA
Ok sorted the spyware blaster problem. Is that temp files folder called "User Data?"
Nooooooooooo - Dont touch that :)

That contains program info...

You need - C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\*.*

Xaccers 22-02-2004 22:38
Re: Keeping your pc healthy !
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by WNA
Ok sorted the spyware blaster problem. Is that temp files folder called "User Data?"
C:\documents and settings\username\Local Settings\Temp

ZrByte 22-02-2004 22:40
Re: Keeping your pc healthy !
 
Some very good advice stuartbe... just a few personal points.

1. Dont really agree with this one, sometimes it is nescesary to install a program to test it, or to use it to help someone if they are having a problem with the same program ( I do this often over /MSN ), these rograms just clutter things up so may be needed to be uninstalled after use.

2. This is a very good point, allthough in some cases the ! can mean there are no drivers installed for the hardware rather than there being a problem. In some cases like in my laptop I often dont install the modem driver because it is not needed, this will actually speed up the machine rather than slow it down or make it unstable (allbeit not noticably faster).

3. Very good advice, though if you play any online games do not enable automatic updating, it has a nasty habbit of scanning for updates during all te best games ;)

4. Another incredibly good point, though I never enable real time scanning as this will slow down the machine more than a lot of Viruses and can case some serious problems with driver and software instalation. just A weekly scan as you mentioned is good advice.

5. very good advice, the ammount of times I have found bad pyware on my system, also neer download any plugins from GAIN or GATOR.

6. Also good although I wouldnt reccomend weekly scans, a detailed scan takes a long time to complete and excessive scanning has been shown to reduce the overall lifetime o a hard drive, I'd reccomend monthly scandisk scans.

7. All good points except like I said above, A monthly defrag will do just as much good and is less likeley to wear out your hard drive quicker than it should.

8. couldnt agree more.

9. again couldnt agree more.


good tips Stuartbe, positive rep for you as soon as I have repped more people, apparently I need to spread mysefl around a bit before I rep you again ;)

Stuartbe 22-02-2004 22:44
Re: Keeping your pc healthy !
 
Thanks Zrbyte....

Just to clarify....

Temp folder in 2000 can be found at - C:\WINNT\Temp

For xp - C:\windows\Temp

Temp files for the user - C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\Local Settings\Temp

Temporary internet Files for users - "C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files"

HTH

ian@huth 22-02-2004 22:48
Re: Keeping your pc healthy !
 
I have my hard drives mounted in removable caddies and swap the drive that I am using as the C drive according to how I am using the PC. One drive I have for serious work and restrict what goes on it. A second drive I have for other things and I am not too bothered if it gets messed up and I lose something. I fairly regularly wipe this second drive and give it a fresh start. A third drive I keep for when the Grandkids want to use the PC and it ensures that they do not muck up anything important to me. Working with computers since long before the PC came along I have seen many systems that are absolutely bunged up with remnants of software that they have tried and subsequently removed, or thought they have. Using this method together with housekeeping such as Stuart has described ensures that my systems stay in tip top condition.

ZrByte 22-02-2004 22:50
Re: Keeping your pc healthy !
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by ianathuth
I have my hard drives mounted in removable caddies and swap the drive that I am using as the C drive according to how I am using the PC. One drive I have for serious work and restrict what goes on it. A second drive I have for other things and I am not too bothered if it gets messed up and I lose something. I fairly regularly wipe this second drive and give it a fresh start. A third drive I keep for when the Grandkids want to use the PC and it ensures that they do not muck up anything important to me. Working with computers since long before the PC came along I have seen many systems that are absolutely bunged up with remnants of software that they have tried and subsequently removed, or thought they have. Using this method together with housekeeping such as Stuart has described ensures that my systems stay in tip top condition.
Very good advice if you have the money, its like having 3 machines in 1.

DrAwesome 22-02-2004 22:52
Re: Keeping your pc healthy !
 
This is where i find PcPitstop comes in handy the web site can check your drive & partitions & then give you recommendations to keep your pc healthy i.e like defrag your hard drive or partition (that you have checked), the web site has a free to use online virus checker + you can also test your Internet connection.

Xaccers 22-02-2004 22:52
Re: Keeping your pc healthy !
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by stuartbe
Temporary internet Files for users - "C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files"

HTH
That's where the cookies are stored.
The temporary internet files (your web cache) is

C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\content.ie\

Stuartbe 22-02-2004 23:00
Re: Keeping your pc healthy !
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Xaccers
That's where the cookies are stored.
The temporary internet files (your web cache) is

C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\content.ie\
Thanks m8 - Too much beer me thinks - :)

Thanks for all the support guys......

Anything else that is wrong or needs adding ?

ian@huth 22-02-2004 23:00
Re: Keeping your pc healthy !
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by ZrByte
Very good advice if you have the money, its like having 3 machines in 1.
Hard drives are really cheap these days and well worth the extra little bit spent on such a system. You would die if you knew how much I paid for a 40Mb drive in the late 70s but it took some filling and the operating system CCPM was a joy to use. It's also worth spending a few quid on memory by having a minimum of 512Mb installed which is extremely cheap these days. I can remember selling 32Mb FP ram for £600 in the early 90s.

Stuartbe 22-02-2004 23:02
Re: Keeping your pc healthy !
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by ianathuth
Hard drives are really cheap these days and well worth the extra little bit spent on such a system. You would die if you knew how much I paid for a 40Mb drive in the late 70s but it took some filling and the operating system CCPM was a joy to use. It's also worth spending a few quid on memory by having a minimum of 512Mb installed which is extremely cheap these days. I can remember selling 32Mb FP ram for £600 in the early 90s.
Thanks ianathuth :)

Watch the ram windows 98 users ! There are isues with using more than 512mb on windows 98 !

MadGamer 22-02-2004 23:10
Re: Keeping your pc healthy !
 
If i delete all the files in my temp folder will it affect XP and the system?

Stuartbe 22-02-2004 23:12
Re: Keeping your pc healthy !
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by WNA
If i delete all the files in my temp folder will it affect XP and the system?
Some programs do store files in there. If there is anything running that needs the files it will simply tell you that the file is in use and cant be deleted.

Xaccers 22-02-2004 23:14
Re: Keeping your pc healthy !
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by stuartbe
Some programs do store files in there. If there is anything running that needs the files it will simply tell you that the file is in use and cant be deleted.
...so it's best to do it at startup before anything can start putting files there which are in use.
You can't do any damage deleting files from the temp folders.
Let that be a warning to any business users who think it's a good idea to save their files in the temp folder!

Stuartbe 22-02-2004 23:15
Re: Keeping your pc healthy !
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Xaccers
...so it's best to do it at startup before anything can start putting files there which are in use.
You can't do any damage deleting files from the temp folders.
Let that be a warning to any business users who think it's a good idea to save their files in the temp folder!
I wish some of the users at work would follow your advice. I had a guy on the phone on Thursday complaining that his pc took 20+ mins to log on.... His roaming profile was 376mb in size :eek:

Xaccers 22-02-2004 23:18
Re: Keeping your pc healthy !
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by stuartbe
I wish some of the users at work would follow your advice. I had a guy on the phone on Thursday complaining that his pc took 20+ mins to log on.... His roaming profile was 376mb in size :eek:
I've seen bigger!
Doesn't help when My Documents isn't redirected to their home drive, so (understandably) they save all their stuff in My Documents and not their home drive.

Stuartbe 22-02-2004 23:20
Re: Keeping your pc healthy !
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Xaccers
I've seen bigger!
Doesn't help when My Documents isn't redirected to their home drive, so (understandably) they save all their stuff in My Documents and not their home drive.
We map all the users to the network drive for mydocuments ect... This guy was exporing outlook pst files to his temp internet folders....

Soon stoped that with a sec pol to block my computer drive access though :)

ian@huth 22-02-2004 23:43
Re: Keeping your pc healthy !
 
Probably a quick a way as any to remove temporary internet files is to click "start" then "run" and type in CLEANMGR. I think that this works on all windows versions since 95.

Stuartbe 22-02-2004 23:46
Re: Keeping your pc healthy !
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by ianathuth
Probably a quick a way as any to remove temporary internet files is to click "start" then "run" and type in CLEANMGR. I think that this works on all windows versions since 95.
Thanks ianathuth..... If you could write a short guide on using it I will replace the old stuff with your guide.

It is better than mine ! users cant then acidently wipe the wrong folder :D

Bifta 22-02-2004 23:46
Re: Keeping your pc healthy !
 
Can I also add something about the dangers of putting everyone you know in your outlook address book, as soon as you contract an email borne virus of some kind, you'll end up (if it's transmitted this way, and frequently they are) spreading it around everyone you know .. and a smack in the head often offends :D

Stuartbe 22-02-2004 23:47
Re: Keeping your pc healthy !
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bifta
Can I also add something about the dangers of putting everyone you know in your outlook address book, as soon as you contract an email borne virus of some kind, you'll end up (if it's transmitted this way, and frequently they are) spreading it around everyone you know .. and a smack in the head often offends :D
Sage Advice.... Not often followed sadly...... :(

Julian 22-02-2004 23:54
Re: Keeping your pc healthy !
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by stuartbe
Thanks ianathuth :)

Watch the ram windows 98 users ! There are isues with using more than 512mb on windows 98 !
The answer to which can be found Here :)

Xaccers 22-02-2004 23:55
Re: Keeping your pc healthy !
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Julian
The answer to which can be found Here :)
Very handy if you dual boot and have more than 512MB then :)


*have an IOU green rep :)

Buzzby 23-02-2004 00:21
Re: Keeping your pc healthy !
 
You can always have a look here.

http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=12448


:D :D :D :D :D

Stuartbe 23-02-2004 00:39
Re: Keeping your pc healthy !
 
I find that the ms patch does not allways work..

I find www.outertech.com 's cacheman app the most helpfull..

Paul 23-02-2004 00:56
Re: Keeping your pc healthy !
 
All sound advice.

I think point one is a bit extreme - you cannot evaluate software without installing it and then uninstalling it later :)

Most home users do not need to defrag or scan their disks weekly - monthly would be more than adequate.

Stuartbe 23-02-2004 00:59
Re: Keeping your pc healthy !
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by pem
All sound advice.

I think point one is a bit extreme - you cannot evaluate software without installing it and then uninstalling it later :)

Most home users do not need to defrag or scan their disks weekly - monthly would be more than adequate.
Thanks Pem - Very true... What I am trying to diswade is users following the old cover mag cd way.... (lets stick all this in and see what it does) culture........

NB - The more freqently defrag is run the lees time it takes. All my workstations and servers defrag at 2:00 am every week.

Paul 23-02-2004 01:08
Re: Keeping your pc healthy !
 
Btw - 6 pips now - you will need to ask the mods to make the user box bigger soon - to fit them all in :cool:

Nikko 23-02-2004 01:12
Re: Keeping your pc healthy !
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by pem
Btw - 6 pips now - you will need to ask the mods to make the user box bigger soon - to fit them all in :cool:
Lol pem - I just spent 10 mins tracking him down to say well done on 6 pips - doubtless by the time this appears he will be well gone to another thread

Stuartbe 23-02-2004 01:14
Re: Keeping your pc healthy !
 
Thanks guys.... I am still here - I was waiting to see if I could help kabukimam but he apears to have done what I should do and go to bed... :)

ntl customer 23-02-2004 02:19
Re: Keeping your pc healthy !
 
Another thing I would recommend doing with regards to temporary files is to set up a directory for each program that has to use them.

So for example in mine (I am the only user of this computer so I have stuck the temp dir in the root) I have

e:\temporary\winzip

e:\temporary\winrar

e:\temporary\adobe audition

e:\temporary\windows

e:\temporary\microsoft word

So that, for example if I extract a word file from a zip file using winzip and close winzip and forget to save it to the place where I keep all my personal files on the j:\ partition the all important word document which I have spent hours working on will not be blitzed when I choose to clear out the temporary files. I'm sure we've done that at some time or another.

Then you won't get tons of useless files dumped in one folder. :)

ntl customer 23-02-2004 02:24
Re: Keeping your pc healthy !
 
1 Attachment(s)
Also how do you schedule the computer to do things such as virus & disc scans at obscure hours?

I want my computer's clock to be fairly accurate, and for this I have a program called 'Dimension 4' which syncs to the ntl time server every 3 hours (or at least that's what it's supposed to do). I have got it set up in scheduled tasks to do it every 181 minutes but I can't seem to be able to get it to work every 3 hours - I want it to do it when the clock turns 12, 3, 6 or 9 on the dot.

Screenshot is attached - can you tell me where I'm going wrong?


Thanks

Paul 23-02-2004 02:37
Re: Keeping your pc healthy !
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by ntl customer
Screenshot is attached - can you tell me where I'm going wrong?
Not from that screen shot - click on the advanced button and post that screen shot.

ntl customer 23-02-2004 02:42
Re: Keeping your pc healthy !
 
1 Attachment(s)
Here's the advanced settings.

I cannot get it to lower the duration. :confused:

DrAwesome 23-02-2004 02:46
Re: Keeping your pc healthy !
 
If anyone is running win95/win98/win98se if your operating system is running slow reboot into safe mode & check in your system properties\device manager\ & check to see if you have anything installed twice or maybe three times, if you have delete them & then reboot back into your operating system as normal, then reboot back into safe mode & check your system properties\device manager\ again if you look at the area where you deleted those multiple installs you should only see them installed once, reboot back into your operating system & you should find that your operating system is quicker.

OldGeezer 23-02-2004 08:48
Re: Keeping your pc healthy !
 
Point 9 - after deleting temporary files and before defrag, remember to empty the recycle bin!

Julian 23-02-2004 09:12
Re: Keeping your pc healthy !
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by DrAwesome
If anyone is running win95/win98/win98se if your operating system is running slow reboot into safe mode & check in your system properties\device manager\ & check to see if you have anything installed twice or maybe three times, if you have delete them & then reboot back into your operating system as normal, then reboot back into safe mode & check your system properties\device manager\ again if you look at the area where you deleted those multiple installs you should only see them installed once, reboot back into your operating system & you should find that your operating system is quicker.
I have used a nifty little tool for that - Easycleaner - Available free here :)

* Is now waiting for someone to say " don't use that it's **** " :)

Stuartbe 23-02-2004 09:56
Re: Keeping your pc healthy !
 
1 Attachment(s)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Julian
I have used a nifty little tool for that - Easycleaner - Available free here :)

* Is now waiting for someone to say " don't use that it's **** " :)
Looks good...

Well done mutley... Here's something for ya :D

Julian 23-02-2004 10:51
Re: Keeping your pc healthy !
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by stuartbe
Looks good...

Well done mutley... Here's something for ya :D
Well if there are medals being dished out.... I have also used "Empty Temp Folders" - Available free here :)

I wouldn't mind an opinion on that one too please. :)

virtual-angel 23-02-2004 11:08
Re: Keeping your pc healthy !
 
What an excellent thread! A big thanks to all those involved, its been really helpfull to a complete novice like me! :confused:

Now for a few questions!

If i delete any spyware found on my pc, will it stop the programmes that it was downloaded with from working?

Also, my pc currently has 192mb of RAM, how much more can i add and what will it actually do? Is it expensive and will i be able to do it myself of am i better off getting it added by a pro?

cheers again everyone, rep points are on the way! :pp

Bifta 23-02-2004 11:18
Re: Keeping your pc healthy !
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by virtual-angel
What an excellent thread! A big thanks to all those involved, its been really helpfull to a complete novice like me! :confused:

Now for a few questions!

If i delete any spyware found on my pc, will it stop the programmes that it was downloaded with from working?

Also, my pc currently has 192mb of RAM, how much more can i add and what will it actually do? Is it expensive and will i be able to do it myself of am i better off getting it added by a pro?

cheers again everyone, rep points are on the way! :pp
Certain spyware integrates itself into the program, e.g. the original Kazaa, Kazaa Lite used to replace the relevant file with a dummy one to make sure the program still functioned.

With regards to your ram, it depends on the make/model of your motherboard and how many spare slots you have.

SMHarman 23-02-2004 11:30
Re: Keeping your pc healthy !
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by stuartbe
I wish some of the users at work would follow your advice. I had a guy on the phone on Thursday complaining that his pc took 20+ mins to log on.... His roaming profile was 376mb in size :eek:
Ours are restricted to 10Mb! Having NT4 and 2k machines on the same network confuses matters as 2k screws up a nt4 profile (helpdesk advice pull the power lead out the back when your finished).

Was most of the roaming profile his outlook mailbox?

Stuartbe 23-02-2004 12:51
Re: Keeping your pc healthy !
 
1 Attachment(s)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Julian
Well if there are medals being dished out.... I have also used "Empty Temp Folders" - Available free here :)

I wouldn't mind an opinion on that one too please. :)
Looks good.... But not worth a Medal........oh go on then :D

Ramrod 23-02-2004 13:15
Re: Keeping your pc healthy !
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by virtual-angel
Also, my pc currently has 192mb of RAM, how much more can i add and what will it actually do? Is it expensive and will i be able to do it myself of am i better off getting it added by a pro?
Adding ram is easy as long as you have spare slots for it and you match the new ram to the old (at least thats what I do)
To figure out what ram you already have, take a look at it. It will have writing on it. (turn pc off first! :D )
If you are unsure, just take it to your local pc shop and they will do it for you. Shouldn't cost much (not sure about PC World though)

Stuartbe 23-02-2004 13:17
Re: Keeping your pc healthy !
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ramrod
Adding ram is easy as long as you have spare slots for it and you match the new ram to the old (at least thats what I do)
To figure out what ram you already have, take a look at it. It will have writing on it. (turn pc off first! :D )
If you are unsure, just take it to your local pc shop and they will do it for you. Shouldn't cost much (not sure about PC World though)
they mentioned taking it to a pro !!!

So why mention pc world ? :D

Paul 23-02-2004 15:04
Re: Keeping your pc healthy !
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by ntl customer
Here's the advanced settings.

I cannot get it to lower the duration. :confused:
Change the duration to 22 hours - what this means is it will run every three hours for the next 22 hours after it starts - so it will fire at 3am, 6am, 9am, 12pm, 3pm, 6pm, 9pm & 12am and then stop this repeating cycle at 1am.

The whole thing will start again at 3am the next day. :D

MadGamer 23-02-2004 15:39
Re: Keeping your pc healthy !
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Julian
Well if there are medals being dished out.... I have also used "Empty Temp Folders" - Available free here :)

I wouldn't mind an opinion on that one too please. :)
Can i use this tool just to clean out my files?

John Smiths 23-02-2004 17:06
Re: Keeping your pc healthy !
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by stuartbe
they mentioned taking it to a pro !!!

So why mention pc world ? :D
lol - pc world are way overpriced and they don't really know what they are doing...IMO

edit: BTW good work stuart on putting the info together, it will really help a lot of people. The amount of peoples' PCs that i have to sort out that needn't have a problem if some basic housekeeping was used.

John Smiths 23-02-2004 17:10
Re: Keeping your pc healthy !
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by WNA
Can i use this tool just to clean out my files?
You should be able to, but use this (originally found by julian - i think) to clean out your temp. internet files.

fluffy_guts 23-02-2004 21:23
Re: Keeping your pc healthy !
 
What would you guys say is the best defragging software?

Ramrod 23-02-2004 21:44
Re: Keeping your pc healthy !
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by John Smiths
lol - pc world are way overpriced and they don't really know what they are doing...IMO
Thats what I meant! :)

Stuartbe 23-02-2004 21:45
Re: Keeping your pc healthy !
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by fluffy_guts
What would you guys say is the best defragging software?
Diskkeeper - It kicks ass

Ramrod 23-02-2004 21:46
Re: Keeping your pc healthy !
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by fluffy_guts
What would you guys say is the best defragging software?
No idea but :notopic: why are your guts fluffy?! :eek: :D

Stuartbe 23-02-2004 22:12
Re: Keeping your pc healthy !
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ramrod
No idea but :notopic: why are your guts fluffy?! :eek: :D
Too much beer m8 :D

carlingman 23-02-2004 23:55
Re: Keeping your pc healthy !
 
Another top post by stuart and advice and tips from others.

As this thread is important and sticky though can the Mods/Admin clean it up and take out all the off topic posts (including this one) and strip it down to the 10 or 12 helpful bits.

Stuartbe 24-02-2004 00:22
Re: Keeping your pc healthy !
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by carlingman
Another top post by stuart and advice and tips from others.

As this thread is important and sticky though can the Mods/Admin clean it up and take out all the off topic posts (including this one) and strip it down to the 10 or 12 helpful bits.
Thanks --- Thats a good idea... i think I will PM the admins after the thread hus run for a while... You never know when you will pick up some good tips :)

iadom 24-02-2004 11:17
Re: Keeping your pc healthy !
 
This is an interesting little program that shows disc usage in a novel way, better than the pie charts.

http://www.werkema.com/software/spacemonger.html

DrAwesome 25-02-2004 00:40
Re: Keeping your pc healthy !
 
Here is a util that might be useful to someone (Its just a checker) but it will at least hopefully tell you where a fault lies (its 2.4mb download)

We give you the diagnostic tool FREE & you only pay to lease a security key to unlock "PcDocRx OnCall" which fixes the problem - if no problems are found you pay nothing!

FREE diagnostic tool "PcDocRx OnCall" has been designed to seek out potential Windows problems on your PC, with simplicity of use in mind.

"PcDocRx OnCall" performs a series of diagnostic checks to locate file errors & problems, including all types of software errors, registry problems, leftovers from incomplete uninstalls (Norton Antivirus/works, Zone Alarm Pro etc), invalid registry entries created by viruses & much more.

An entirely new strategy called "LEASEWARE". :rofl:

Here is the URL if anyone's interested...
PcDocRx OnCall

Semi On 12-03-2004 23:18
Re: Keeping your pc healthy !
 
I would partially disagree with #7.

Defragmentation is much less of a problem with any Windows OS using NTFS, though it is essential on Win95/98/ME.

In most systems, the quest for "0% fragmentation" is a colossal waste of time... not to mention wear and tear on your HD. The performance "hit" of fragmented files is often nowhere near as bad as you think it is. (And of course it is vastly overstated by the various defragger vendors.)

Use PerfMon to watch the number of "split I/Os" on your HD, vs the total number of operations. If you find that the number of split IO's is less than about 10% of the total IO's, whatever file fragmentation you do have isn't bothering you much -- regardless of what the "% fragmentation" is.

I defrag once, maybe twice a year, if I haven't had to re-install XP in that time. If I have then I don't bother.

P.S: I've never used it, but a few peeps I know recommend O&O Defragger...there is a free version I think. :)

dragon 13-03-2004 21:02
Re: Keeping your pc healthy !
 
well heres my opinion
i bascly go for a wipe and reinstall once or more durning the year and i dont defrag i dont scandisk and i hardly ever scan for virues

why?

quite simply it takes to long to do all that rubbish espcally on a regular basis.

i do real time scanning on the av, try to avoid spyware programs as much as possible, run spybot every so often and thats about it

ill do the odd defrag if im planning to leave my pc running for a while and be away from it.

but i certianly dont do most of the above regularly (except for updating windows/av which i will always do)

at the end of the day as long as i have a copy of anything important programs can be reinstalled at a later time,

that and i like to upgrade and play around with my pc a lot so an installtion wont survive several years use.

theman 18-03-2004 20:11
Re: Keeping your PC healthy !
 
can you tell me where to find scandisc on windows xp because i went into system tools and it is not there

rockin_plumber 18-03-2004 20:44
Re: Keeping your PC healthy !
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by theman
can you tell me where to find scandisc on windows xp because i went into system tools and it is not there
My Computer

Right-click on local disc (c)

Click properties

Select the tools tab

Its called error checking on XP

:D

ntl customer 18-03-2004 23:56
Re: Keeping your pc healthy !
 
Why is the scandisk under 2000/XP so basic unlike the Windows 98 one? :confused:

SMHarman 19-03-2004 09:40
Re: Keeping your pc healthy !
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by ntl customer
Why is the scandisk under 2000/XP so basic unlike the Windows 98 one? :confused:
Because NTFS is a better disk filing system so needs defragging less.

dragon 19-03-2004 10:02
Re: Keeping your pc healthy !
 
scandisk is nothing to do with defragging its to do with checking the drive for errors and tbh with ntfs i dont think ive ever incounterd lost clusters or that sort of thing

SMHarman 19-03-2004 10:15
Re: Keeping your pc healthy !
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by dragon
scandisk is nothing to do with defragging its to do with checking the drive for errors and tbh with ntfs i dont think ive ever incounterd lost clusters or that sort of thing
:dunce:

Paul K 21-03-2004 15:35
Re: Keeping your pc healthy !
 
If anyone is interested in taking precautions against spyware an article has just been posted on Neowin that might help you lock down your PC a bit better.
http://www.neowin.net/articles.php?action=more&id=81 http://homepage.ntlworld.com/irene.k..._exclusive.gif
Quote:
Originally Posted by MrMagoo at Neowin
Spyware : it's a pain. We don't want it, yet it really wants us. Here's a great guide written by our member mAcOdIn on how to remove it, and protect yourself against it in the future.

This article is more of a preventive measure than a fix and will harden internet explorers security but at the same time retaining the functionality that IE has.


First in tools, internet options, advanced uncheck "Enable Install On Demand (Internet Explorer)" and "Enable Install On Demand (Other)" and "Enable Third-Party Browser Extensions (Requires Restart)" and choose apply and ok. Also ensure your internet security setting is at least medium (unless you know what you are doing and have made it custom).

Goto http://www.windowsupdate.com and make sure you have all the latest updates.

Then download Suns Java JRE from http://java.com/en/index.jsp (the link you want to hit is the "get it now" in the top right). Running Suns Java protects you because it has less exploited vulnerabilities than microsofts Java. Lots of spyware use holes in Microsofts java to install thier spyware so switching to Sun's closes a lot of holes.

Download: Sun Java

Then download Spybot Search and Destroy from http://www.safer-networking.org/ run it and make sure to let it download the newest updates. Now goto Spybots immunize function and under "permanent internet explorer immunity" choose immunize, then under "permanently running bad download blocker for internet explorer" select "ask for blocking confermation and choose install.

Download: Spybot S&D

Next, download spyware blaster from http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html run it and ensure it's fully updated. Now choose "select all" and then hit "Protect Against Checked Items". Just for reference all the items that are in red are items that Spybots immunize doesn't protect you against that's why you should use both programs.

Download: Spyware Blaster

Both Spybot search and destroy's immunize function and spyware blaster are one time set things, these programs no longer have to be running to keep you from getting infected with the stuff the block against. What they do is disallow any activeX program that's was known to them at the time you immunized from even running. With both Spybot and Spyware Blaster it is important that you check for updates every two weeks or so and re-immunize yourself when new updates are released to stay current. Spybot's other immunize function ("permanently running bad download blocker for internet explorer") installs a BHO that will ask you for permission to block other known bad BHO's from installing. BHO's are really not needed and fairly rare and most people only have the adobe acrobat BHO. You could have set this option to always block but I chose "ask for blocking confirmation" for those people that use something that I do not that uses a BHO.

Now download both DSOstop2 and HTAstop2003 from http://www.nsclean.com/freebies.html and run both of those.

Download: DSOstop2. HTAstop2003 Both can be downloaded from links here http://www.wilders.org/downloads.htm

In addition there's another great free utility that you can run but unlike everything above it has to always be open just like an antivirus called spywareguard from javacool. You can download it and run it as well to further increase your security against spyware if you choose. It's available here: http://www.wilderssecurity.net/spywareguard.html

Download: Spyware Guard

That should beef things up considerably. Having a good antivirus is also helpful because many of them are starting to add spyware to thier definitions, for instance my McAfee 8 caught that spyware trying to install.

I hope this helps you guys because these settings are pretty solid but at the same time loose enough that you can still have active scripting enabled and activeX. Granted you could disable those as well but at that point you might as well go download an old version of Mosiac browser because it isn't worth using IE with everything disabled.

Stuartbe 21-03-2004 17:00
Re: Keeping your pc healthy !
 
Nice info... Thanks Paul :)

Paul K 21-03-2004 17:05
Re: Keeping your pc healthy !
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by stuartbe
Nice info... Thanks Paul :)
Well, we all need as much help as possible keeping our systems free of hidden extras these days :( Hope it comes in handy to someone :)

downquark1 27-03-2004 21:38
Internal Dust
 
I have a tower that rests on the carpet, do I need to worry about the collection of dust internally?

I would open it and find out, but it's still under warranty.

Stuartbe 27-03-2004 21:41
Re: Keeping your pc healthy !
 
The pc will suck loads of dust and crap out of the carpet. Go maplin and get some sticky feet or sit the tower on a board of some sort..

Ramrod 27-03-2004 21:53
Re: Internal Dust
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by downquark1
I have a tower that rests on the carpet, do I need to worry about the collection of dust internally?

I would open it and find out, but it's still under warranty.
You mean you've never opened your pc? :disturbd:

downquark1 27-03-2004 22:16
Re: Internal Dust
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ramrod
You mean you've never opened your pc? :disturbd:
It's under a year old so I've never needed to and I don't trust myself with hardware. :erm:

And that sinister look sticker that says warranty void if torn.

Ramrod 27-03-2004 22:17
Re: Internal Dust
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by downquark1
It's under a year old so I've never needed to and I don't trust myself with hardware. :erm:
Start off easy....a GPU here some ram there...... :D

iadom 22-06-2004 11:34
Re: Keeping your pc healthy !
 
Just come across this little freeware utility. I used to use Spider on my old PC, very good a cleaning the "index.dat" files that are hidden and contain details of every web page you have visited since you first switched on your PC even after clearing Temp Internet Folders etc. Spider does not work on XP, however this one, unfortunately called Crap Cleaner does.

It has no adware/spyware.
http://www.ccleaner.com/


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