How to maintain a healthy OS (Win 7 particularly)?

Hi, I'd like to better understand what folders in Win 7 require active maintenance on the part of the user as a result of downloads, cookies, temp files and/or malicious attack. Just built a new PC and plan to install Win 7 and want to educate myself in order to have a fair shot at keeping the PC as clean as possible and avoid system bloat, inadvertent downloads, etc. When I look in various OS folders on my existing PC, I have no idea what files are legit and necessary versus those that aren't. I'd like to understand what folders I should be keeping an eye on. I am particularly interested in tips on utility software or even just basic maintenance tips that will help me. In this regard, I'm thinking of running firefox from ramdisk to keep the OS partition clean from cache and temp files. Your thoughts please!

Tips for getting a purrfect install based on hundreds done here: re-install windows 7

Re harmful stuff: that's best fought with anti-malware and anti-virus apps.

Re harmless clutter: most of this builds up somewhere in C users yourusername, particularly in the local/temp subfolder. Mine now has 1.12 gigs in it.

Frankly, I don't concern myself with that temp folder. Some people periodically delete everything in it.

The most benign app for your purpose is CCleaner. Very highly regarded here. General advise is to use its "cleaner" component, but to avoid its "registry" component. Some nonetheless use its registry component and it is about the least problematic registry cleaner if you insist on using one.

Keep tabs on your installed apps. Periodically review them and uninstall those you haven't used in a considerable time.

There isn't a lot of reason to be prowling Windows folders. If you are worried about running out of drive space, make C larger or use more care about what apps you need and don't need.

Set defragger to run maybe weekly.

Periodically do a full scan with something like Malware Bytes.

Re your own data: make a sane and detailed folder structure so you can locate that spaghetti sauce recipe.

You may like the Everything search tool, free from voidtools.com. Searches for file names only. Its dynamite.

Consider a few prime Firefox extensions like Flashblock and Noscript.

gregrocker said:

Tips for getting a purrfect install based on hundreds done here: re-install windows 7

Is this also applicable to a fresh install on a newly built computer?

As well as all the good advice offered above -

*If you do your computer housework on a regular basis everything should be ok.
Eg
Check Disk.
Defragment
Disk Clean Up
Error Checking
Temporary Files Removal

* IE.8 - Safety - Delete Browsing History. -
* Check for unwanted plug ins.

*Make sure your Windows Update is running.

* Check in Task Manager/ Processes/ All Users to see what is running there.

* Check in Event Viewer for errors frequently.
Note any with a red mark in Application & System.

*Remove any software you have evaluated and decided you don't want to keep.

Run: SFC /scannow (from a command prompt) - and let it check/repair/verify your system files

*Some people optimize and compact the registry. This makes me VERY nervous and consequently I don't.

Most registry cleaners are a sales scam without any genius behind them. CCleaner remains the industry standard for Disk and Registry cleanup. It is probably the most respected app in the tech world.