Before trying any other software, try what I’ve listed below!After schooling and years on the computer, I have decided to share some of the best computer fixes ever to get your pc up and running top notch! All of the downloads recommended are free and have not created even more of a spyware problem as some “free downloads” out there maliciously do. Please keep in mind that while I have tested and am an avid user the products which I recommend, my computer is running the Windows XP operating system and I have a DSL connection. So it may not work on your Mac or with a dial-up connection but feel free to ask if you have something different.
If you are starting at the beginning and just want to get some effective freeware on your system - Assuming you already have your Windows updates current with “automatic updates”:
1. Start with a firewall: Zone Alarm is my favorite and if you’ve used it in the past but didn’t like it then - give it another try. Many people didn’t like the many notifications they would get but they were easily turned off if you opened it up and looked. Now the only warning you get is if you are installing a new program - it just makes sure you are installing something, if you’re not then something’s trying to getcha so click no.
Zone Alarm upon installation will ask you if you want to use their free trial of firewall, anti-virus and spyware blocker. That is fine but if you do that, wait until your 15 day free trial is over and they give you the option to go back to the “free” version before you download the next 2 things.
2. Anti-Virus: AVG now has the option of going pro with 8 but you can keep it at basic and still be fine for your anti-virus needs.
3. Spyware Blocker/Remover: Spybot Search & Destroy
4. Also my most favorite cleanup/fix utility ever: Glary Utilities
Never heard of it? I know, but trust me on this one. Glary Utilities is great on so many levels. You can do the One Click Maintenance to do a quick scan (don’t forget to click the options next to the tracks eraser to select exactly what you want erased with the scan). I generally have all selected and start fresh each time but I’m not a big password/login saver anyhow.
Also you can do a deeper cleaning with Glary by clicking on the “modules” tab. Here you can click each orange tab and select what you want to do under each tab.
- Clean up and repair: Disk Cleaner/Registry Cleaner/Shortcuts Fixer/Uninstall Manager all very useful and should be pretty self explanatory.
- Optimize & Improve: If your pc is slow to start you can check in here and disable your messengers or other programs from starting when your pc starts and click on them as you need them to get your pc up and running faster. Memory Optimizer is good too if your pc is sluggish. Registry Defrag is great and one of the only of it’s kind that I’ve found that will locate registry errors and fix them for free!
- Privacy & Security: Tracks Eraser and File shredder “Wipe Free Space” is the only choice enabled for free.
- Files & Folders: Duplicate Files Finder the only thing I watch with this one is I do not delete the Manuals/Drivers which do come up often in here. Empty Files Finder is great and unique I just check every empty folder that is found and delete as if they are empty then they are just taking up space!
- System Tools: If you want to know what all is running on your computer you can check it out on your Process - about the only thing under this tab I use often is the Windows Standard Tools. There I use Checkdisk and also to Disk Defragmenter to “analyze” & see if it’s time to defragment when I’m done with the rest of Glary.
Of course some of these are Windows tools and are on your pc already, the plus of this for me is while I’m cleaning up my pc, it’s all their together for me, no need to search and a good reminder if you need to do a thorough cleaning.
Now I’ve never had this happen and I’ve always done what I just listed above, but if you delete something you think you shouldn’t have or just can’t seem to live without, you have the option to reverse your previous actions by going to the Menu tab and clicking on “restore” and you’ve got it back, so don’t fret!
Now some of you may be so far beyond this point:
You’ve had expired or no anti-virus and firewall and been going all over the world wide web anyhow. If your computer is on it’s last breath and there’s no way you will be able to download these items to get is set straight?
Try to download Glary Utilities and do the thorough cleaning I walked you through above.
If you are beyond even that go to Start/My Computer/C: drive and right click on c drive then going down that menu to properties. Left click on properties and when the box opens, click disk cleanup. It will tally up how much space it will give you, make that sure the recycle bin and everything is checked, click ok and just let that sucker run!
When that is done go up to the tools tab: under there you will click error checking and in the box select both options and click start. You will then get a notice that it will not start until you restart Windows. Click okay as you really don’t want to do that until you’ve done your defrag anyhow. That being said, go down to defragmentation go to defragment now and then defragment. That will take a while especially on a bogged down computer so when it’s done save this page so you can find it and restart your pc and let your error scan run.
When you get restarted find my page. Try the Firewall and then try to install Glary Utilities - do these 2 things before you go anywhere else on the net or you are just going to get bogged down again.
next a fantastic free scan is Trend Micro Housecall
Even with a high speed connection though be fore-warned this scan will take hours! Keep an eye on it for a little while though as you are going to have to click some options at first to get the scan going.
From there go through the list and add the other things. If you’re not sure what you already have? Go to control panel and add and remove programs. You may want to remove that other antivirus or firewall that probably wasn’t doing you much good if you are at this point. Make sure to get it off of there though so that the systems don’t conflict on your pc.
Thanks for reading and good luck!
Cryptic Muse
fixyourcomputer.today.com
