CoolSpot

Computer Recycling



Improving my computers performance

It is a good idea to print out this page or to save it locally in case you need to reboot.

This checklist is organized into three sections; Cleaning, Securing and Maintaining and although Cleaning and Securing are by far the most important things to do immediately, the information and implications of the Maintaining section will have the most long-term impact on the performance of your computing environment.



Step 1: Cleaning

Prep:
- The first time you go through these steps, it can take anywhere from 1 to 2 hours depending upon what the current state of your computer is so make sure to put aside enough time. After the first time, it will be much easier and faster. When you first begin, make sure to close all programs.

Disk Clean up, Disk Defragment and Fixing Disk Errors:
- To take care of this, follow the steps in this excellent article from Microsoft on ways to speed up your computer.

Delete temporary internet files:
- Refer to this Microsoft article on How to Delete the Contents of the Temporary Internet Files Folder. You only need to do the 5 steps under "More Information. If you are interested in finding out more information about this topic, refer to this very good article on How and Why to Clear Your Cache.

Wrap up:
- Reboot your machine.

Step 2: Securing

Prep:
- Same comment as Prep for Cleaning.

Virus Protection:
- For a short explanation of Viruses refer to Viruses & Virus Hoaxes - An Introduction.
- For a short explanation of what Ant-Virus software is, refer to the Understanding Anti-Virus Software alert from US Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT).
- Pick an anti-virus program, install it and run it. Norton's Internet Security and currently Google is offering the AntiVirus Pacakge for free via their Google Pack. This pack comes with quite a few tools so you will need to click "Remove" for each item you do not want to install. Once you've whittled it down to the items you want, download the pack, install it and reboot your computer.
- Once your computer has rebooted, run the Norton Antivirus program and choose to do a full system scan. Once it is completed, you will be presented with a list of "things" it found. Right mouse click on one of the items in the list so that you bring up a menu of choices and then select "Select All" or something similar in wording. Then click the next button at the bottom of the screen. If asked to quarantine vs delete, choose quarantine.

Adware / Spyware protection:
- If you would like a short explanation of Adware and Spyware refer to this article from Symantec otherwise, the next step is to pick an Adware/Spyware protection program, install it and run it. We use Norton's Internet Security but AdAware is also excellent. Google is offering AdAware for free via their Google Pack as well.
- Once your computer has rebooted, run the program and choose to do a full system scan. If informed that spyware or adware has been identified, and given the choice to wither quarantine vs delete, choose quarantine. If you cannot quarantine, and feel comfortable removing the files, then remove them. Always refer to the instructions with the Adware program provides since they are the definitive source to help you to decide what to do.
- To help in determining if you have Spyware, Recognizing and Avoiding Spyware alert from US-CERT.

Wrap up:
- Reboot your machine.



Step 3: Maintaining

Prep:
- Same comment as Prep for Cleaning.

Windows Update:
- Microsoft provides a free service which will download any critical updates which your computer needs. To manually run this so that you can see how it works, go to the Microsoft Update site. If this site determines that this is the first time you've visited the site, you will be asked to download the "Updater ActiveX" component which is provided by Microsoft. Click Yes or OK to install it. Once the component is installed, click the "Express (recommended)" button in the window which comes up. You will then be told what needs updating so simply click on the "Download and Install Now" button. Once this is complete, click "OK" or the "Close" button. If you are presented with a window which has a "Continue" button on it, click this button (this appears if the component which was being updated was the Windows Updater itself). Follow any other instructions which come up. To configure the updating so that it will occur automatically, click the "Start" button on your desktop then "Control Panel" and then "Automatic Updates". Once the selection window comes up, select the "Automatic (recommended)" option. I've set mine to update at 3am every day. If you'd like to read some more details about what this does, have a look at Automatic Update for Windows XP from The ElderGeek.
- NOTE: If you receive a message which says that updates have been downloaded but not installed, follow the instructions in order to do the installation. Reboot if necessary.

Virus, Adware and Spyware Protection:
- The two primary tasks which these programs must do in order to maintain effective protection are:
1. Proactively scanning the files you have on your machine and the files which are somehow copied to your machine (via email, floppy disk, internet etc) to determine if the have been infected.
2. Keeping up to date on how to detect and fix malicious programs and files.
- In both cases, you can manually carry out these tasks or have these programs you installed in the Securing section, automatically do these tasks so that your computer is protected at all times. It is recommended to enable automatic updates rather then rely on manual updating. Refer to the programs help file for details on how to do this...it is usually very easy to do.

Delete temporary internet files
- Follow the "Cleaning" steps as often as you can. I recommend that you start doing this once a month in order to gradually develop a maintenance mindset and schedule which works for you.

Backing up files:
- Refer to the Backup Made Easy article for details on how to do this.

Wrap up:
- Reboot your machine.

Keep in mind...

Virus and Adware tools:
- When downloading and installing any of these tools remember that you typically have to pay for the service of getting updates. Many of these tools have a trial period (typically 30 days) where the service is free and afterward you will then be charged. It will be up to you to decide if you want to use a free tool vs a tool which you will pay a service fee for. The pros/cons for both can become a very long and inconclusive discussion.
- If these tools tell you that they have found viruses or spyware or some other potentially malicious files, it is important that you review the message and any "more information" provided so that you better understand what you are about to delete. In most all cases, these tools can be trusted to do what they say they are doing because it is their business and livelihood to do so.
- The virus and adware programs you install should have the ability to automatically update and scan your computer. If they do not, then get another program. All of the programs mentioned in this summthing have this capability built in.

Rebooting:
- If you are informed that you need to reboot in order for one of the above steps to complete, click "Ok" or "Reboot now" and take note where you are in this checklist. Once you machine has restarted, you can start where you left off.

Do I have to keep my computer on?
- If you tell your computer to run a scheduled task (e.g. Windows Update) or you tell it to automatically update itself at a time when the computer is NOT turned on then these tasks will NOT be carried out. To fix this either configure the computer to do these things at times when you typically have the computer on OR keep your computer on all the time. We were planning on creating a summthing for this topic but want to see if there is a need for it first. Send us a comment with what you think.

More RAM
- Increasing the physical RAM in your computer to 256 KB is usually a good idea.