10 Steps For Free PC Maintenance

**Solidchrome** · 24th January 2008, 09:15 AM

These instructions are intended to describe the procedure for maintaining a Personal Computer running Win2000, WinXP and Vista using nothing more than free programmes and your free time.

Most of the PC's that I fix will usually go through this procedure but, obviously, if your PC is badly infected with viri or has other severe issues you will need to take other steps to fix it. In a nutshell this procedure should be done on a regular basis to keep your PC in top condition.

It is a good idea to read all the way through these instructions and although Im confident nothing I describe will break your PC, you do this at your own risk.

1/ Download, install and update these programmes(you may need to disable your pop-up blocker)

ATF Cleaner click here
Ccleaner click here
Spybot-Search & Destroy click here
Ad-Aware 2007 click here

2/ Boot your PC into safe mode with networking enabled. To do this you need to press F8 on the boot up screen. If youre not used to doing this you need to press F8 straight after the screen that shows the BIOS detecting your computers hardware. If you get a screen asking which device to boot from choose your hard drive then quickly press F8 again.You should now see a list of options but the one you need to choose is 'safe mode with networking enabled'.

3/ The first programme you need to run is ATF Cleaner. This will clear out junk files from your PC that are no longer needed.

4/ Run Ccleaner and clear out some more junk files that ATF cleaner didnt remove by choosing 'cleaner'. After that is completed click on 'registry'. This will clean your registry.

5/ Run Spybot – Search & Destroy and click on 'Search for problems'. This is an excellent programme that will find spyware and some viri too.

6/ Once spybot has finished run Ad-Aware 2007 and click on 'Scan now' then Full scan'. This will find and remove adware from your had drive.

7/ Run AVG Test Centre and click on “Scan computer”. This will find any viri and remove them from your hard drive.

8/ Run Scandisk. Open 'My Computer' and right click the drive you want to scan- this is usually your C Drive. Left click 'Properties'. Click on the 'Tools' tab at the top and then on 'Check now'. A small box will appear and you will need to tick the two empty boxes then click on 'Start'. If you havent done this before it may take a long time to complete.

9/ Run Disk Defrgamentor. Go to 'start'... 'All programmes'... 'Accessories'... 'System Tools' and open Disk Degragmentor. Highlight the disk you want to degrag which is usually your C Drive then click on 'Defragment' at the bottom. Again this could take a while.

10/ Once all that is complete reboot your PC and let it load in normal mode. Done!

buddy lee · 24th January 2008, 03:44 PM

good stuff

Nok · 26th January 2008, 10:09 PM

Great article Solidchrome. Nearly the same as I do for my clients.

You hit the mark!

**Solidchrome** · 27th January 2008, 05:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nok

Great article Solidchrome. Nearly the same as I do for my clients.

You hit the mark!

Thanks Nok

Feel free to post your tech wisdom here

24th January 2008, 09:15 AM	#1
Solidchrome † Virtual hero- real life geek † Join Date: Jul 2007 Shard: europa Posts: 1,046 Gold: 217 My Mood: Thanks: 64 Thanked 76 Times in 41 Posts	10 Steps For Free PC Maintenance These instructions are intended to describe the procedure for maintaining a Personal Computer running Win2000, WinXP and Vista using nothing more than free programmes and your free time. Most of the PC's that I fix will usually go through this procedure but, obviously, if your PC is badly infected with viri or has other severe issues you will need to take other steps to fix it. In a nutshell this procedure should be done on a regular basis to keep your PC in top condition. It is a good idea to read all the way through these instructions and although Im confident nothing I describe will break your PC, you do this at your own risk. 1/ Download, install and update these programmes(you may need to disable your pop-up blocker) ATF Cleaner click here Ccleaner click here Spybot-Search & Destroy click here Ad-Aware 2007 click here 2/ Boot your PC into safe mode with networking enabled. To do this you need to press F8 on the boot up screen. If youre not used to doing this you need to press F8 straight after the screen that shows the BIOS detecting your computers hardware. If you get a screen asking which device to boot from choose your hard drive then quickly press F8 again.You should now see a list of options but the one you need to choose is 'safe mode with networking enabled'. 3/ The first programme you need to run is ATF Cleaner. This will clear out junk files from your PC that are no longer needed. 4/ Run Ccleaner and clear out some more junk files that ATF cleaner didnt remove by choosing 'cleaner'. After that is completed click on 'registry'. This will clean your registry. 5/ Run Spybot – Search & Destroy and click on 'Search for problems'. This is an excellent programme that will find spyware and some viri too. 6/ Once spybot has finished run Ad-Aware 2007 and click on 'Scan now' then Full scan'. This will find and remove adware from your had drive. 7/ Run AVG Test Centre and click on “Scan computer”. This will find any viri and remove them from your hard drive. 8/ Run Scandisk. Open 'My Computer' and right click the drive you want to scan- this is usually your C Drive. Left click 'Properties'. Click on the 'Tools' tab at the top and then on 'Check now'. A small box will appear and you will need to tick the two empty boxes then click on 'Start'. If you havent done this before it may take a long time to complete. 9/ Run Disk Defrgamentor. Go to 'start'... 'All programmes'... 'Accessories'... 'System Tools' and open Disk Degragmentor. Highlight the disk you want to degrag which is usually your C Drive then click on 'Defragment' at the bottom. Again this could take a while. 10/ Once all that is complete reboot your PC and let it load in normal mode. Done! Tovladian Soltyr- "..then I saw it was Solid and I was like "Ah ok" because we all know he's not the most complete box of crayons.." UOForums Need Your Donations- Click Here

24th January 2008, 03:44 PM	#2
buddy lee Agent Zero Join Date: Oct 2006 Shard: Atlantic Posts: 2,092 Gold: 18,914 Thanks: 25 Thanked 36 Times in 33 Posts	Re: 10 Steps For Free PC Maintenance good stuff

26th January 2008, 10:09 PM	#3
Nok Publisher - GameXbar Join Date: Aug 2007 Shard: Baja Posts: 1,254 Gold: 16,495 Thanks: 712 Thanked 180 Times in 113 Posts	Re: 10 Steps For Free PC Maintenance Great article Solidchrome. Nearly the same as I do for my clients. You hit the mark! GameXbar: DAoC - LOTRO - MMO - UO - WAR - WoW

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