Hey nihil - thanks for your feedback.
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1. Run CCleaner FIRST...............I have seen it remove over 2 gigabytes of junk, and there is no point in defragging that...........also you will get a better defrag.
I agree - that's why CCleaner (as well as Auslogics Registry Cleaner) are part of "Phase 3," which comes before "Phase 4 - Defragment and Update". Although, technically, I should probably have the updates before cleaning up, as I know many times they leave behind junk files and broken registry entries.
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2. Run the anti-malware in SAFE MODE, it has a better chance then. Also, I would use Spybot S&D and A-Squared as they all tend to find different things.
I'll have to add that - however, in my practice, if I don't see anything that looks "weird" in msconfig, and if the user hasn't reported any suspicious activity aside from the computer being "slow", I'll usually just run a Quick Scan with mbam in normal mode - if nothing comes up, I move on. What do you think?
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3. Windows desktop operating systems and some of the software that runs under them were never intended for always on operation..............reboot at least once a day.
Is that a fact or just an opinion? My folks leave their Windows XP PC on for days, weeks or even months at a time. No hibernate/standby/etc. Just runs the screensaver when idle. That PC runs fantastic (as far as eight-year-old Sony Vaio's go). I used to have a laptop running Vista, and I don't think I rebooted it for several months. Of course, I killed the battery by leaving it plugged in 24/7, but the lappy ran as stable as ever.
I agree, a reboot will kill any hung processes or reset any programs that have "memory-leaks". But the question is, why were there hung processes and memory leaks to begin with? ;)
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4. I use Auslogics (only works with XP and later). In the defrag application, click the little arrow next to the "defrag" box and select defrag AND optimise It takes a long time, but is worth it. Not only is your HDD optimised, but this slows down the subsequent fragmentation process. I run CC and defrag daily..........your AV and other interactive anti-malware updates daily, and checks against its pattern files.........so do this in SAFE MODE, when they are not active.
Excellent advise. I never knew that - I'll definitely add that.
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5. IIRC, msconfig doesn't install with NT4 either? (that's contemporary with 95/98). You can add it to Win 2000 though.
In all honesty, if you're running NT4, you should expect a slow computer. :P And I should add a link to download msconfig (for Win2K) - I have it on the same server! (See Software Picks)
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6. Get the EUSING registry tools (and anything else of theirs that you fancy) It is the most comprehensive free registry cleaner I have seen. Also, get the Registry Defragmenter...........a fragmented Registry will certainly slow your system down.
You get a pop-up asking you to donate/register.........just click on the "skip" button and run them; unless you are feeling generous.
Duly noted. Will add. Thanks!
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7. Auslogics is a better defragmenter............run it in SAFE MODE. I have tried it against Diskeeper Lite (basically what ships with Windows?) and it will get files that DL won't...........and DL then reports zero fragmentation, so it agrees?
(haven't comparison tested on Vista or 7 yet)
Well, that's good to know - I knew I liked it better, I just didn't know *why*. :D
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8. I leave Windows automatic updates on, but only let it download. For customers I let it do the lot, because you cannot trust them. You can set it to run at a specific time, so I just tell them that their machine will update then, so leave it alone. Remember that MS use "patch Tuesday" so the next Wednesday of the month is good...........don't go surfing until you have updated as the patches are usually followed by a rash of exploits If you let it download, you are warned of out of schedule updates, which are usually the most critical.
No, certainly you can't trust the users to update. I used to leave automatic updates alone - then (about a year ago?) I noticed that the Automatic Updates service had a huge memory leak (I noticed this in XP - can't remember if other OSes were affected). I don't remember the details of it - just that I pulled up taskmgr on several XP boxes in a short time, and all of them had svchost running at over 80,000K. Disabling Automatic Updates solved the problem, and from there on I haven't trusted Automatic Updates. But since I recommend users follow the steps in my article once every month or so, that should keep them up-to-date.
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9. I use Avira as it is the most configurable free AV I have seen, and is resource friendly compared to some! One thing I always do with an AV (if possible) is turn off the scan on file close. If it hasn't spotted it by then it won't anyway.
Yeah - I love it too. Great advice on turning off the scan on file close - I usually just leave the scan settings to default.
However - I had a lappy yesterday that wouldn't "take" Avira. So aggravating. It was a brand new Dell from Best Buy. I got all of the updates, uninstalled McAfee and ran the McAfee uninstall/cleanup utility. But Avira would not install! The first little window would come up, the progress bar would load and then - nothing.
I got fed up with it after an hour and put AVG on it instead. ;)
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10. Regular cleaning is particularly important if you have dogs & cats. Cheap artists' brushes are good for dislodging crud from fans, PSUs and the CPU heatsink prior to vacuuming. WATCH THE VACUUM!!!.......they generate static, so use the thin plastic nozzle, not the bare aluminium.
Good advice on the artist brushes. I don't know about the UK, but here in the good ol' US of A, everything's made out of plastic. (even the people?):D
I haven't seen a metal vacuum cleaner since... I don't know - ever? I may add that though... just to be on the safe side. ;)
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11. Feet!?...............the only ones I have ever bought started life holding in the contents of a bottle
DON'T use your laptop in bed.........the sheets block the ventilation and if you fall asleep it will hit the deck and won't work anymore. Despite their name, they are fundamentally flat surface devices.
Amen to that. I was surprised that I don't see more feet available for sale... and why - *WHY* do we have fans and exhaust vents on the bottom at all!? :/
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12. Slow? try using the marvellous Winders feature of user accounts. Set up an offline account (remember to disconnect from the net) for gaming and offline activities. Then you don't need AV and a shed load of stuff that would normally run.
That sounds like a pain in the ass IMHO. I like to use the same account for everything. It would be effective though.
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13. Non-essential services & applications. I would normally do this in the registry by setting them to manual or off, but WinPatrol from BillP Studios is a nice user friendly application that lets you enable or disable things without screwing up.
Awesome. I'll check it out.
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14. Sill slow?..................*SYMAN*EC* or *NOR*ON* ??? or at least don't run more than one interactive scanner doing the same job..........conflicts and deadly embraces can be a problem that is characterised by coming on all of a sudden.
I cannot believe I forgot to say to DESTROY anything that says Symantec or Norton on it. That's how my old "Slow Computer Rant" started out. Good catch. I'll definitely add that.
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15. Software updates?............Get File Hippo's Update Checker and Secunia PSI. For graphics and sound, only install the software from your computer or card manufacturer..........the latest may well not work with your equipment.
Cool. Never heard of it. I'll give it a go.
Thanks a bunch nihil. Your insight is always appreciated. ;)
