Posted:
05.May.2005
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PC Computer Maintenance
By request, here is a list of things I do to keep my computer running tip-top. Except for an occasional hard drive dying (which I can't control), I've had no downtime in years.
The order of the following items isn't important, long as you defrag and image your system drive last. A quick note of thanks to all the readers who wrote in to contribute their own little tricks. Here we go.
- 1. If you're going to do anything that might hose your system, such as installing a major service pack, first create a back-up image, so you'll be able to restore your system should something go horribly wrong.
- 2. Update your Ad protection, scan your system & remove whatever nastys are found (such as:
malware, scumware, browser hijackers, parasites, dialers, trojans, data-miners, tracking components, etc.)
I use & recommend Adaware. It's freeware. I do this ~every other week.
Some of these nastys are particularly difficult to eradicate. If you have a problem getting rid of some of them, try disabling their function in the browser. For example, a friend had these 3 persistent critters I couldn't eliminate any other way:
• WildTangent
• ohb Class
• MiniBug Transporter Xclass
They were hi-jacking her browser and generating pop-ups, especially when she tried to search for something. One of them also coded its own colored-links into her browser's pages. (She claims she has no idea how this software got onto her system.)
These browser plug-ins can be disabled in Internet Explorer by navigating to:
Tools > Internet Option > Programs tab > Manage Add-ons button...
Show: Add-ons that have been used by Internet Explorer
After disabling them, you'll need to restart Internet Explorer (not Windows).
- Update your spyware protection, scan your system & remove whatever nastys it finds. I use & recommend Spybot Search & Destroy. It's also freeware. If you use Spybot, don't forget to inoculate. Every other week I do this.
- Check for updates to you spam-filtering software. Every other month or so.
- Download and install updated drivers for your specific computer hardware, especially for your video card. Every other month.
Note: once you find the links to the sites (web pages) that host the updates to the drivers for your various hardware components, you can create a shortcut to those pages [in Internet Explorer: File > Send > Shortcut to Desktop] ..
..
and put them all in a folder on your desktop labeled "DRIVERS" (or you can simply bookmark them all & put these bookmarks in a separate folder labeled Drivers. This will make it easy the next time you do the same.
- Download & install updates for your Microsoft Windows operating system. This often involves a reboot afterwards. Most people configure Windows for this to occur automatically. If not, weekly.
- Check to see if your firewall has a new version available. If it does, download & install it. I use & recommend ZoneAlarm, but Sygate (acquired by Symantec on 10.October.2005) & others firewalls are also good. ZoneAlarm is usually hosted at Download.com. I configure my firewall to check for updates automatically and notify me when a new one is available.
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Updated:
09.Apr.2007
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