On this page, I will guide you through a basic cleanup of your computer. This will help to get rid of all of the filth your computer has accumulated from browsin' the net or doin' other......things...innocent and righteous things of course!
Assuming you have Windows XP , just follow the steps below. If you don't have Windows XP, the majority of the steps below will still work for you!
Step 1: Uninstall Unwanted Software
What it does: This step removes applications that you don't want on your computer. Most of these report statistics about your computer and internet usage back to servers. You are basically being tracked!
Next, navigate to the Control panel. Click Start then Run. Type in control panel, then click OK. Find and double click on Add or Remove Programs. This opens a window that has a list of all applications you have installed on your. You are looking for suspicious items to remove, some common types are listed below:
- NewDotNet or New.net
- Most all toolbars
- WinTools
- GoldenCasino and other free games
- Search Assistant or sa
- Weatherbug
- Viewpoint Manager
If you are unsure of a particular entry in the list, you may check at the link below. If it's on the list, click the Remove button and uninstall the application. If you are prompted to restart, opt to Restart Later.
Step 2: Run Aimfix.exe
What it does: This utility searches for and automatically removes some of the more tricky and hidden malware and viruses that you may have.
Visit Jay Loden's website and download aimfix.exe. Save this file to your desktop and simply double click on it. It will run and nab many hard to get little critters on it's on.
He also has many other useful utilities you may want to run on his website, so check them out.
Step 3: Install and Run CCleaner
What it does: CCleaner is a free utility that simplifies the process of reclaiming space by removing temporary and old files that are no longer needed. It is 100% safe and easy to use.
Download and install CCleaner. Once installed, open the application and ensure all checkboxes on the left hand side are checked. Click the Run Cleaner button on the bottom right. If a prompt comes up, simply acknowledge. This will delete old temporary files and reclaim wasted space.
Notice the three tabs on the left. Select the Issues tab. Again, ensure that all checkboxes are selected and then click Fix selected issues. Once this finishes click on Fix Issues. you may be prompted to create a backup, simply save the backup file to the desktop just in case.
Step 4: Install and Run Spybot S&D
What it does: Spybot S&D is a free adware and spyware scanning utility that works very well at finding and removing unfriendly things. It also has a immunization feature that helps prevent some of these things from coming back.
Download and install Spybot. Once installed, open the application. The first thing you want to do is update Spybot's definitions. Click on Search for Updates at the bottom. Once it finishes searching for updates, right click on one of the checkboxes, and then click on Select All. Then, simply click on Download Updates.
Once the updates finish installing and Spybot restarts itself, click on Immunize on the left. Then, click on Immunize Now and check the box below that. Now click on Search & Destroy on the upper left and then Check for problems. Once this finishes, the list of bad stuff will be shown. Simply right click on one of the check boxes and choose Select All. Finally, click on Fix selected problems. Sometimes, Spybot will ask to run again upons restart if it has troubles removing an item, simply acknowledge the request and restart.
Step 5: Install and Run Ad-Aware
What it does: Ad-Aware works very much like Spybot, only both find things that the other will not, so they work great as a team. It is highly recommended to install and run both to get everything!
Download and install Ad-Aware. When you launch Ad-Aware for the first time, it will ask you for a serial key, just click Cancel to keep your free home version. Once the application is open, click the Update button and then click Yes or OK to any prompt to update. Download any updates that are found.
Next, click on the Scan Now button and then check the Full Scan checkbox. Click the Scan button to begin the scan. When the scanning finishes, right click on any checkbox that appears in the result window and click Select All Objects. Finally, click Finish to remove anything found.
Step 6: Run MSConfig
What it does: MSConfig is a built in Windows utility that lets you enable and disable items that start up automatically when Windows does. In most cases, you don't need applications to run in the background the whole time, as this just takes up your computers resources and slows it down. Most of these applications show up in the system tray (the area next to the clock) as small icons, the goal is to have as little running as possible!
Click on Start then Run. Type in msconfig, then click on OK. A new window will appear; in this window click on the Startup tab on the right hand side. What you will see is a list of programs and items that are executed when your computer starts up. The more items you have here, the more useless stuff you have running while you are using your computer.
If you are unsure what some items are, just leave them checked.
Some common applications that add themselves to startup:
- Quicktime
- Realplayer
- Aim, and other chat programs
- WinZip
- File sharing programs
- Weatherbug
- Adobe Reader
Once you have finished unchecking items that you do not want to start up, click the OK button. On the prompt that pops up, select Exit Without Restart. When you do restart your computer, after all of the following steps are completed, just note that you will be prompted with a notification (shown below) that your startup list has changed. Simply click on the checkbox shown below and then click OK.
Step 7: Scan For Viruses
What it does: If you don't have an antivirus program installed on your computer (or even if you do), these two links will benefit you by running online scans. Together, these two will find most anything that is remaining! If you want a more permanent antivirus program to run on your computer, take a look at Avast Antivirus at the link below, it's free and works great!
If you have an antivirus program installed, then go ahead and update your virus definitions and then run a full system scan. After your antivirus program finishes scanning or if you do not have antivirus software, then run both of these online scans programs:
For a permanent free antivirus program, you also may want to check into Avast Antivirus.
Step 8: Turn Off System Restore
What it does: This ensures that some clever nasty software won't use this Windows feature to attempt to survive. Be sure and uncheck this after all steps are completed!
Begin by turning off system restore. Locate My Computer , located either on your desktop or in your Start Menu. Right click on My Computer and select Properties. A new window will open; find and click on the tab labeled System Restore. Make sure that the checkbox labeled Turn off System Restore on all drives is checked, then click OK.
Step 9: Repeat in Safe Mode
What it does: Safe Mode is a fallback boot option that only runs the minimum required to operate Windows. This prevents sneaky applications from reinstalling themselves once you remove them (they run in the background and regenerate themselves, sometimes several processes).
This step is optional, and usually not necessary, but it does definitely make a difference in the outcome sometimes. If your computer still seems infected with spyware, adware, malware, or viruses, repeat the previous steps above while in Safe Mode within Windows.
To enter safe mode, simply press F8 on your keyboard, approximately once per second, while your computer is starting up. This will bring up a screen with white text and boot options. If you have already updated all of the programs above, choose Safe Mode. If not, then choose Safe Mode with Networking.
Step 10: Turn On System Restore
What it does: Re-enables System Restore, to make sure your computer creates restore points for future use.
Locate My Computer , located either on your desktop or in your Start Menu. Right click on My Computer and select Properties. A new window will open; find and click on the tab labeled System Restore. Make sure that the checkbox labeled Turn off System Restore on all drives is NOT checked, then click OK.