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.

Optimize Windows 7

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.

Agreed 100% Thanks for the kind word and rep

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

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.

4.download and install updates manually - some update might have conflict with any drivers program you installed,make sure to create restore point and image backup if possible


Edit: i don't see any words delete unused files, i just see uninstall unused program. Correct me if i'm missing it :)

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.

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.