Computer Maintenance Essentials
The following steps will dramatically increase the Security and Performance of your Windows Computer.
The following steps will dramatically increase the Security and Performance of your Windows Computer.
Hello and Welcome. My Name is Larry Keenan.
By the time you have finished implementing the steps on this site, your computer will be measurably faster and more secure.
Hopefully you already have virus protection and a fire wall. If you don't, I'll point you to a couple of very good free solutions.
Virus protection is an absolute must if you are connected to the internet or put disks into your machine that come from other computers. Bringing disks home from school or Uni is always a big risk. If you don't have a virus scanner go get your free copy of AVG
What's a firewall?
In buildings, a firewall is a barrier that prevents a fire from spreading. In computers, the concept is similar. There are a variety of "fires" there out on the Internet- hacker activity, viruses, worms, and so forth. A firewall is a system that stops the fire from spreading to your computer.
A firewall guards the "doors" to your computer- that is, the ports through which Internet traffic comes in and goes out. The firewall only lets traffic through the ports that you have specified can be used. This has two security benefits:
No one can sneak into your computer through an unguarded port.
Programs on your computer can't use unguarded ports to contact the outside world without your permission.
I recommend Zone Alarm. There is a free version. Check it out here.
Now Close this window using the link below and in the next steps you'll learn how to optimise your file system and setup your swap file so once optimised you will never have to do it again.
Before you start this process there are a few tools to download.
You don't need to run any of these yet. It is a good idea to save them to where you can find them again. Make a new folder on your desktop called "cleanup" or something like that and save them there.
Here is how you can do this:
The first one will reclaim some disk space. Download CCleaner Here.
The second download will optimise your registry Download NT Registry Optimizer here.
The third download will optimise your swap fileDownload PageDefrag Here.
There is a program called RegCure that sells for $29.95 that I swear by but don't buy it because I will show you where to get it as a bonus in the section on spyware.
The next allows you to run the optimization tool on command. It will speed up your boot time. Download Microsoft Bootvis here.
Are you old enough to remember the nineteen eighties? Back in those days they had vinyl records. Can you imagine all the tracks being mixed up? Imagine the first song is in twenty different parts all over the record and the player is smart enough to know where each bit of the song is. That arm is going to be lifting and moving back and forth all over the place and because it takes time to move from one part to the next it's going to take four minutes to listen to a three minute song.
This is exactly what happens to the files on your hard drive. It's called fragmentation. A hard drive is just a series of magnetic disks. If you have fragmented files the heads have to move back and forth a lot more to read your files. The solution is to defrag your disks at least monthly.
Go to the help system and search for "defragment". You will learn how to start the program. If have never done this, it could take hours. Make sure you turn off your screen saver while you defrag.
Don't defrag yet! There is some preparation to do first.
It could be a good idea to add this page to your favorites now
so you can come back here again. The next few steps will require you to
reboot your computer a few times. I'm placing a video in the next
section.
You can download this entire site as essentials.exe here
Your first task is to set your swap file to the same size for Minimum and Maximum.
This is done using the System Properties box.
1. Click Start
2. Click Run
3. type sysdm.cpl
4. Click OK
5. Select "Advanced" Tab
6. Under Performance click "Settings"
7. Select "Advanced " tab
8. Under "Virtual memory", click "Change"
9. Select Custom Size.
Now make the Minimum and Maximum size the same as the recommended size.
If you have a second physical drive give it a swap file the same size.
Here is a video to show you how it's done.
Now you have set your swap file to the recommended single size you will need to reboot for the changes to take effect.
CLEAN UP
Do you have any CD or DVD images waiting to be burned? If so burn the now then delete the images as it is unlikely defrag will be able to move them.
Install and run CCleaner. This will reclaim some more disk space.
Now the time has come to defrag your hard disk. Start the process when you finish working or playing with your computer today as the process could take hours.
OPTIMISE REGISTRY
Install and run NT Registry Optimiser
Another reboot required :-( to complete process
DEFRAG SWAP FILE
Run PageDefrag Now which requires another reboot. You can now forget your swap file 'cause it should never fragment again.
The cheapest upgrade to any computer is to buy more memory. I have a GB and the old clunker sitting on the floor in the corner now flys! With more memory, there is much less swapping to the hard disk so your machine is much faster. If you are buying more memory, I strongly suggest shopping around as the price varies greatly from one place to the next. If you are uncertain how to install it, take the box with you and ask the shop you purchase it from to install it. It's a simple operation and only takes five minutes including removing and replacing the computer case.
1. Click Start
2. Click Run
3. type sysdm.cpl
4. Click OK
5. Select "Advanced" Tab
6. Under Performance click "Settings"
7. Select "Adjust for best performance"
8. Then Hit "OK"
1. Click Start
2. Click Run
3. type services.msc
4. Click OK
5. Right click each of the following services and left click
properties.
6. Under startup - Disable it as in the following picture.
Most of these services are not required for a desktop computer.
Alerter
Application Management
Clipbook
Computer Browser
Distributed Link Tracking Client
Error Reporting
Indexing Service
IPSEC Services
Messenger
Portable Media Serial Number
Remote Registry Service
Secondary Logon
SSDP Discovery Service
TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper
Telnet
Upload Manager
Windows Time
WMI Performance Adapter
The main reason computers take soo long to load is by the amount of crap windows has to load while booting.
Let's see if there is some more we can get rid of.
1. Click Start
2. Click Run
3. type msconfig
4. Click OK
5. select the startup tab
6. Now uncheck anything that doesn't need to start at boot.
7. select the services tab
8. select Hide All Microsoft Services
9. Now uncheck anything that doesn't need to start at boot.
Finally it is time to install and run Microsoft Bootvis. This will make
a noticable difference.
1. Click Trace
2. Click Next Boot and Driver Delays
3. Trace Repetitions screen appears - Click OK
4. Restart your computer.
(Are you sick of rebooting yet?)
1. This start up will take some time as BootVis does it's
analyzing.
2. When its ready, click trace.
3. click Optimize System and Reboot.
4. Make a cup of tea or coffee as this could take a while.
If you did everything mentioned on this site, Your computer will now be much faster and secure.
Let me know your results by using the button below.
Be patient as it opens your email client.
Spyware, also known as adware or malware, is getting to be more and more of a problem to internet users. Spyware is usually a program or application that is installed onto your pc, often without your knowledge or permission. It may display ads, monitor your Web surfing patterns, steal your passwords or become responsible for a whole range of bad stuff.
Where does spyware come from? What does it do?
These programs/applications can come from Web sites that download music or offer free software, or even from certain popup ads if you click anywhere inside the ad instead of hitting the X button to get rid of it.
Cookies are almost inevitable (most websites use them, and some won't even work without them), and rarely a problem as they are very easy to clean up or even not accept, but the threat posed by key loggers, diallers and Trojans is much greater.
A key logger can record anything you type, including your passwords, e-mail messages, credit card numbers, and even your online chats. Diallers will secretly hang up your Internet connection and redial premium services that can run up your long-distance bill. Trojans can embed programs which will open "backdoors" into your computer to allow hackers to steal data or make your pc unusable.
These types of spyware can prove very costly to people unaware of them.
How do you know if your pc is infected with spyware?
Well, definitely, if you've never checked before, you can bet your bottom dollar that you WILL have some spyware on your computer.
Here are some common traits:
To eliminate spyware you should keep it from being installed on your computer in the first place. You could always just never install anything and never visit websites, but then you might as well throw away your internet connection altogether, huh? A better option might be to turn OFF the install on demand option in windows. This can be done by following these steps:
You can also make sure you can still download things that you WANT to download by following these steps:
Remember, if your Internet security controls aren't properly set, just visiting a Web site or clicking on a Web ad can install an application. Please note that if any of your programs are set to auto-update, you will need the install on demand option enabled.
Now go grab this spyware solution for $39.95 and get RegCure which retails for $29.95 as a bonus.
Backing up your data is the most important security measure you can take. If you create a web site, It is a good idea to keep a copy of that locally as well. Some hosting sites don't back up as often as they should.
It really depends how you use your computer as to what backup plan you need to put into place. If you are creating mainly text based documents (This includes web sites), Keeping accounts, using spread sheets or databases, Chances are You can back up to floppy disks.
Imagine I can see into the future and I tell you that in 24 hours your hard drive will fail. Would you know what you needed to save and how to do it? Would you save your email address book, your bookmarks and certain emails you don't want to loose? Naturally you would save your documents and any web sites you are working on. Now admit it, There is probably a few saved games you would want to keep. Your instant messaging contact list?? I'm sure you have already printed out a list of your user names and passwords for everything and put that list in a safe place. Have you printed a list of any serial numbers for software purchased over the internet? Have you stored a copy of that installation software you got from the internet?
Larry You have it all wrong. I'm totally under control. My computer automatically backs up any new data or that which has changed in the early hours of the morning while I'm asleep. The most I would loose is a days work and since you told me the drive is going to crash in 24 hours I think I'll take the day off. Reinstalling the operating system and programs will be a pain but all my data is safe.
Great! If that is you then skip this.
If you don't plan on changing operating systems if disaster strikes then use the backup utility that came with your operating system.
Do a search for Backup in your Help system and learn how to use your backup utility. I'm not going to tell you which medium is best for backups. That's up to you. Floppy Disks, a tape unit, a zip drive, a CD burner etc. You will have to decide that.
The next thing you need to decide is what data to back up. This is generally done on a directory (folder) basis. There is a lesson in itself. Save your data in the directories it is meant to be in. I know some people who save the files they are working with straight to their desktop. That's fine as long as you relocate them to their directories before you leave your machine. You can always create a shortcut to your most used directories on your desktop.
Finally it is a good idea to schedule your backups to happen automatically if your medium is large enough to do it. Most backup software has a schedule option built in.