Introduction

The practices that you will be shown here should be carried out about once a month (besides virus scans). For avid PC users, you may want to do this every couple of weeks. I myself try to do these tasks once or twice a week. All of the things I cover will be done with a program, that I've used and trusted for a while now. Before you begin, let me inform you that there is no rhyme and order to how you need to do this. You are free to jump around from software to software.

The things I will cover are:

1. How to rid your PC of temporary files, browser cookies, Internet History, and other cumbersome files all with the click of a button
2. Cleaning out and optimizing your computers registry, again, with the click of a button
3. Clearing unwanted startup entries
4. Clearing your computer of spyware
5. Defragmenting your harddrive(s), easier than before
6. Finding the right AntiVirus and Firewall configuration

#1, #2, and #3 - Using CCleaner

The softare is called CCleaner. After installed, please run the program. CCleaner will rid your computer of tons and tons of unwanted files. The first thing you'll want to do is make sure the "Cleaner" tab is opened, and it should be under "Internet" at the moment. From here you can click the "Analyze" button, and then "Run Cleaner". After that is done you can go over to the "Applications" tab, and then do the same thing. I don't use IE, but I do use FireFox, which here is where some old FireFox files get removed. It isn't necessary, but I usually uncheck "History" as it is easier sometimes to have all of your URLs saved in the address bar (If "History" is checked, then your visited sites will be "gone").

After you've done all of the above, your temporary files, cookies, cache, and other useless files should be gone... which will help the performance of your computer (somewhat). Now, you need to optimize your computers registry, which CCleaner can do for you. Move over to the "Registry" tab and press "Scan for Issues". After it is done and tells you how many errors it finds you can go ahead and "Fix selected issues". Be aware, that it will ask you if you want to backup your registry. This is just to be safe as if something goes wrong, you can load the backed up file and restore your previous state of the registry. Your choice.

Now that you've cleaned up your registry, we can move onto erasing unwanted startup entries. As an intro to this, when a software gets installed on your computer it may (depending on the developer) make the software startup automatically when your PC boots. Essentially, this can slow down your boot time as you may not even want some of these programs starting up. Click the "Tools" tab, and then go onto "Startup". The Grey entries are disabled (but can be enabled), and the black entries are what are currently loading on startup. This is all unique depending on your setup, but read through the "Program" filed and see what you know could be disabled. Besides disabling entries, you can flat out delete them. There is really no need to delete them, but you may if you wish to. For some pointers, you will want to keep any sort of drivers enabled (e.g. Nvidia, ATI, Audio drivers, etc.). Also, you may see some odd named ones. These could be things that Microsoft adds, or they could be malicious programs starting up. Best thing to do is scroll over to the "File" field that has the path and try to determine what the entry is.

#4 - Using Spybot S&D

Spybot S&D program will remove tracking cookies, spyware, and it will find other malicious programs or scripts that are on your computer. After you download and install, open up Spybot S&D. Just like cleaning the registry, Spybot will ask if you want to backup your registry on its first time starting up. You will be fine skipping the backup here, as it won't be changing too much. Once you have it fully loaded, click the "Search & Destroy" button to your left and "Check for problems". After it is done, you will probably be surprised at how many things it has found. Most of the time everything it finds you want deleted, so carry on and fix all of the selected issues. After all that is fixed, click the "Immunize" tab. After it checks, then click the "+Immunize" button (its green), and it will immunize your browsers installed.

Now let me note that Spybot will not allow any changes to your computers registry without your permission. So for example, if you install FireFox on your system the FireFox installation will want to add values to your registry, just click the "Allow" button and it will pass through. Spybot will also notify for things trying to delete values in your registry. Both of these help in detecting if you have a worm in your system as a lot of trojans and other types of malicious programs will attempt to change the values of your registry.

Now this is just a real life example, so you don't have to read this if you don't choose so. The other day I was removing spyware from a computer that was used by numerous people. The program was called "MyWebSearch", and I knew right away it was spyware. I had my assumptions about it being a trojan too, and it ended up being one as I scanned around and tried to remove it. Spybot picked it up, and then attempted to delete it. The trojan changed values in the registry, and was written to re-add the values if they were deleted. So essentially, Spybot tried to delete it, but it was added again and again. After it tried a couple of times, it failed and asked for Spybot to be loaded before OS UI bootup. After it did, it successfully deleted the trojan without having the code re-write it in the system again. This is just one example of how a well developed program can do a system justice!

#5 - AusLogics Disk Defrag

You can always use the default Windows disk defragmenter, but many find it not so user friendly. For example, the Windows Vista defragmenter doesn't even have a progress bar, which isn't very helpful. The AusLogics Disk Defrag is a software entirely for defragmenting your harddrive(s). It is pretty much self explanatory, but basically download, install, load it, choose your drives and just click "Next". Depending on the size of your disk (how much space you are using, too), and the time between your last defrag, it could take 30 minutes up to 6 hours. I usually find myself running a defrag every couple of weeks. You don't need to defrag as much as you should run scans and clear unwanted files, but keep in mind it is necessary for running a topnotch system.

#6 - Choosing the right AV and Firewall

There are tons of different configurations with AntiVirus' and Firewalls. You can buy suites that have both, but those can be expensive. You can buy them separately, but that can sometimes be even more expensive. The AntiVirus is what attempts to protect your computer by scanning and destroying unwanted files, and the Firewall is the initial backbone that attempts to prevent anyone from getting in the first place. I myself have used a dozen different programs, and I think I have actually settled on a configuration. Currently, I am using AVG free edition, and the Comodo Firewall free edition. Most free editions (not always) only have a few things different than their premiums: No tech support, and sometimes it won't update the databases automatically. I never find myself calling up AVG for help, so tech support is kind of useless for most people. Automatic updating... well it isn't that hard to press a button every couple of days before you scan. AVG premium has a firewall, but you only get the AntiVirus in the free edition. Comodo free has a firewall, so they cancel each other out. In the end, you have two good usefull programs to defend yourself against malicious programs, and ultimately you don't have to pay a dime. Although, you will probably want to buy the premium edition of one or the other to support the company. I won't go into detail on how to use both of these programs as you could read a book and not know it all, but a few minutes of messing around will give you the basic understanding. Although these are just two programs, there are many decent ones out there that can do the same. I have just found these two to work out for my needs. Searching for a comparable list in Google of AV and Firewalls may help you in your search for the one for you. But I do ask anyone to stay away from McAfee, and Norton. Both of these programs prove to be major resource hogs that can slow down your PC when your actually wanting to improve performance in the first place. As long as you watch for attacks, run an AntiVirus scan AT LEAST once a week, you should be good. These programs won't only cure the infection, but hopefully prevent it in the first place.

Hopefully this rather long post has given you the knowledge to go out and change the world... alright maybe just keep your computer clean. If you have any questions, feel free to reply or e-mail me. Although it feels like you have to spend hours a week cleaning up your PC, you will get into the habit of doing it rather quickly, and you won't find it bothersome or tedious at all. After all, you are helping yourself and your documents in the long run.