Suggestions for Proper Maintenance

As soon as you get home with your computer:

Dont install the antivirus software that pops up with instuctions to install.
Should be done at the end and this software, although probably free for a while,
will cost money down the road and is probably not the best.

Windows updates should be done immediately as you are vulnerable to problems
until updated; be sure to include office updates.

Adobe reader should be updated, the most recent version is a sandbox version which
reduces virus vulnerablity to your PDF files.

This is also the opportunity to download Adobe Flash Player

Download an alertative browser; ie FF or Chrome etc. In the event of problems with IE.

Remove any unwanted program bloat. They will slow up your computer and probably
cost money in the future.

Download your antivirus; Microsoft Security Essentials is suggested.

Make your recovery disc.

Now enjoy the internet.

To maintain your computer

10 Tips on How to Properly Maintain Your Computer
ignore, reg cleaners.

Steps that I did not notice on the guide include:

Running a scan disc before doing a defrag

Using Microsoft Security Essentials and Malwarebytes.

Making System Restore points, at least once a week

Makaing a system Image once a month (varies by user)

Not relying on your A/V common sense, should prevail. You know of many sites can cause a problem.

Do not use any reg cleaning or optimizing software.

Download and use Ccleaner about once every two months. Untick any registry entries.
http://www.piriform.com/

Download and use PSI, to to be sure that all of your software is up to date
http://secunia.com/vulnerability_scanning/personal/

If you follow these instructions, you will be trouble free for a long time to come.

Be sure to back up your hard drive about once a month (varies by user) and to keeep system restore points up to date.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/11728-optimize-windows-7-a.html

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/w...er-performance

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/81176-speed-up-performance-vista.html

Your additions are very good.

I noticed in the article you linked that they mention using a vacuum inside the computer case. This is a very bad idea, unless the vacuum is an ESD (static free) one.

I personally never clean my registry with Windows 7. It seems to do well enough on its own. I messed up a Vista install badly that way, and I've never forgotten that.

Mellon Head said:

Your additions are very good.

.

I personally never clean my registry with Windows 7. It seems to do well enough on its own. I messed up a Vista install badly that way, and I've never forgotten that.

Click to expand...

Agreed 100% Thanks for the kind word and rep

<--- gets wife to blow out laptop...
other wise great post!!!

I keep any programs from sneaking into msconfig>Startup to become freeloaders on RAM/CPU. Only AV and gadgets are allowed.

About monthly, I use CCleaner "Run Cleaner" and Registry tab, then Auslogics Disk and Registry Defraggers. If they run straight through in about a minute, I keep it monthly - if faster, less often.

I check the Error log about monthly to Google repeat errors and eventually resolve them.

I dont' run an AV scan any more after installing MS Security Essentials and running its initial scan. But I also have a hardware firewall.

OK, let me just add something. Neither you and the link mentioned says, delete your unused or unneeded files. They still consume space though.

just want to add. Hope you don't mind Rich

1.Be sure to have a good antivirus software - people will asked what is the Good which is often discussed.The good AV is what you think is good for you

Of course I do not mind, that is what the forum is all about add your ideas, so we all learn.

I would add that I do not agree with the comments on clean the reg. I, and many others, feel that this is not needed on Windows 7 and can do more harm than good.
That being said, I will continue that since I do not have any statististcs to back it up it is just an opinion.

Unused files, should of course, be deleted, as you said.

Thanks for taking the time to stop by and give us your input.

kucing13 said:

just want to add. Hope you don't mind Rich 3.Clean your Windows Registry regularly,RegVac and Registry Mechanic - I don't think it's good. Don't tweak registry on your own neither using 3rd party software to do it for you.

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Spot on, Rafe.

I disagree with some of you. I think you definitely should clean the registry if and only if, you have experience, you are an expert and when you really know what you are doing.

Even if I do all those other tweaks besides the registry cleaning part, my computer is still undeniably slower by a few percent than before and I find no other explanations for that except there are registry bugs. The only downside of registry cleaning is that its the most risky.

If your RAM is 2GB or higher like you guys, I've seen your system specs, you probably won't notice this anyway especially if you are too busy with other things but if you have 1GB or lower, I swear, changes in system responsiveness are more noticeable and doing all the tweaks besides registry cleaning does not completely resolve that. If you do not have the Windows installation CD, this is even a bigger problem.

might what to check this thread to share any thought

Any thoughts on Registry cleaners?

About your suggestion to use both Microsoft Security Essentials and Malwarebytes...
I'm currently running the free version of Malwarebytes along with Kaspersky AntiVirus 2010. Should I still use Microsoft Security Essentials too? or would that interfere with Kaspersky?

I would use only one. MSE is very good. If you use common sense, along with MB and MSE, you will be fine.

richc46 said:

I would use only one. MSE is very good. If you use common sense, along with MB and MSE, you will be fine.

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+1

I've used MSE along side the paid version of SuperAntiSpyware and Malwarebytes as a backup scanner on demand.
I worked on a buddies PC that had MSE and MB and it kept finding an issue but did nothing about it.
I put SAS on it and not only did it recognize the issue, it stopped it from starting and I was able to finish cleaning it off instead of wipe/reload.

I've used CCleaner's registry cleaner for years on XP and since I had 7 (October of 09) and never had an issue with it.
That being said...caution is the word of the day.

Nice post!

I tend to clean my PC case and bits every 6 months or so with a can of compressed air and a makeup brush (Proper goat hair so no static). And once a year, i tend to pull everything out (just about, i leave the cables in though) including the fans and that, good brush out of any dog/cat hair and dust. I pull the CPU cooler off and replace the thermal paste and i also pull my Graphics card/s apart and replace all thermal material there as well.

I need to have this of good clean out as, like i said before, it gets clogged up with cat and dog hair (the wonders of having pets that moult everywhere. lol)

As for system cleaning, i run Windows 7 Manager x64 1-click cleaner at least a couple of times a month and will also do a fresh install of everything, again, at least once a year depending on any issues gained before hand.

Lucky

Thanks for the good posts made goo0d reading the only thing i use is hitman pro 3 and windows disk check, not built this computer long so no dust inside but when i do i use a soft haired paint brush and a hand held car vac to suck the dust out.

gregrocker said:

I check the Error log about monthly to Google repeat errors and eventually resolve them.

Click to expand...

I watch the Event Logs alot and I also monitor Failed Logon Attempts since I have RDP open. Have regular backups been mentioned? I do those too.

So I guess the answer to my question is no M/S doesn't have a built in Registry Cleaning Program or one that can be downloaded from there site. Thanks to all with your post. I don't use a registry cleaner and don't want to unless M/S makes it, period. They would be the only one that I would trust. IMHO if M/S don't make it; it must not be needed. Thank you all for reminding me of all the warnings.

Big thanks to Meercat manor for great tutorial and commentary
which follows.
System now looks a bit plainer but that's fine,
will soon get used to it.
Now .. to see if there's a test to show me how much
more efficient my system is....

Well WEI scores comes out the same (5.7,5.7.6.7,6.7) except for:
Primary Hard Disk Disk Data Transfer Rate ... went from 5.6 to 5.5