RedWine
06-28-2006, 09:37 AM
This will show you how to clean up your PC. With these steps, you can do a disk cleanup, defragment,remove spyware,and everything in between...
Steps
Do a Windows Update. This will be on your Start Menu; if it isn't, then click on "All Programs" then "Accessories", then "System Tools"...this will take you to the Page. It is very important that you do the updates; it doesn't matter if you use the new updates or not, but they are for security, very important these days.
Get rid of cookies. These are the little crumbs that are left behind on your computer after you visit a website. Click on Start>> Control Panel>>Internet Options. The second row down will say Delete Cookies, click on that. Click on Delete Temporary file; when the little box comes up that says "delete offline,"
you don't have to click on that. Click on Delete temporary Files.
Complete Disk Cleanup. After clicking on "Start", move your cursor on All
Programs, then up to Accessories, then "System Tools". Click on Disk Cleanup from the list that appears. Click the "More Options" tab at the top of the page, and select all three of the following: "Windows Components," "Installed
Programs," and "System Restore". Clean up all three by clicking on their respective tabs. You may want to delete all but your most recent system restore point -- you probably don't need the others.
Defragment. Go to "Start">>"All Programs">>"Accessories">>"System Tools"... and click on "Disk Defragmenter". Choose "Defragment" from the next page.
This may take awhile the first time (defragging moves all your files etc., where they are supposed to be).
Remove spyware. In your internet search box, type In Ad-AwareSE. This will take you to a site to download the software (Lavasoft). Download and install this program -- you can also use Spybot Search & Destroy or SpyWare
Blaster. Both have easy-to-follow instructions.
Install anti-virus software. McAfee, AVG, and Avast (which also happens to be free for personal use) are very good.
Tips
When you are new at a computer, just relax and keep all firearms away. You are likely to get stressed.
Warnings
1. Be very careful of websites with pornography or free games -- they are usually full of spyware that is difficult to get rid of.
2. Note: Not all cookies are worthless. Some Web-sites use cookies as a way of customizing your display for subsequent visits. For example, a weather website may ask you to enter your zip code to display your local weather. It then puts a very small “cookie” file containing that info on you hard drive.
Days later, when you re-visit that Web-site, the site looks for its cookie on your drive and displays the weather in your area. This way, you don’t have to enter your location each time. Deleting all cookies will require you to re-enter the information each time.
Steps
Do a Windows Update. This will be on your Start Menu; if it isn't, then click on "All Programs" then "Accessories", then "System Tools"...this will take you to the Page. It is very important that you do the updates; it doesn't matter if you use the new updates or not, but they are for security, very important these days.
Get rid of cookies. These are the little crumbs that are left behind on your computer after you visit a website. Click on Start>> Control Panel>>Internet Options. The second row down will say Delete Cookies, click on that. Click on Delete Temporary file; when the little box comes up that says "delete offline,"
you don't have to click on that. Click on Delete temporary Files.
Complete Disk Cleanup. After clicking on "Start", move your cursor on All
Programs, then up to Accessories, then "System Tools". Click on Disk Cleanup from the list that appears. Click the "More Options" tab at the top of the page, and select all three of the following: "Windows Components," "Installed
Programs," and "System Restore". Clean up all three by clicking on their respective tabs. You may want to delete all but your most recent system restore point -- you probably don't need the others.
Defragment. Go to "Start">>"All Programs">>"Accessories">>"System Tools"... and click on "Disk Defragmenter". Choose "Defragment" from the next page.
This may take awhile the first time (defragging moves all your files etc., where they are supposed to be).
Remove spyware. In your internet search box, type In Ad-AwareSE. This will take you to a site to download the software (Lavasoft). Download and install this program -- you can also use Spybot Search & Destroy or SpyWare
Blaster. Both have easy-to-follow instructions.
Install anti-virus software. McAfee, AVG, and Avast (which also happens to be free for personal use) are very good.
Tips
When you are new at a computer, just relax and keep all firearms away. You are likely to get stressed.
Warnings
1. Be very careful of websites with pornography or free games -- they are usually full of spyware that is difficult to get rid of.
2. Note: Not all cookies are worthless. Some Web-sites use cookies as a way of customizing your display for subsequent visits. For example, a weather website may ask you to enter your zip code to display your local weather. It then puts a very small “cookie” file containing that info on you hard drive.
Days later, when you re-visit that Web-site, the site looks for its cookie on your drive and displays the weather in your area. This way, you don’t have to enter your location each time. Deleting all cookies will require you to re-enter the information each time.