Need some computer clean up help.

[chocovrdmicears]

My computer is old and slow and getting a new one isn't in the budget right now. I am looking for some kind of software or download that will help with its performance. I have Avast and Malwarebytes for virus protection and run CCleaner and Wincleaner that cleans my system, but I am looking for something a little *stronger* (for lack of a better word). Can anyone recommend a download that can help. Obviously I would prefer free but don't mind paying for something if it will legitimately help my system. Anyone have any suggestions or recommendations?

 

[Crazy Hakim]

Just a little help:

Try looking around this site:
http://www.komando.com/
Kim always has free downloads and good advise.

 

[jsmith]

delete ANY files you no longer need or use. Transfer photos to CDs-you need to keep a minimum of 20 percent of your hard drive space as free space to allow the system to use paging files efficiently.
Turn off any start up processes you do not need (Vista is particularly bad for this but XP will do it too)
Add Ram-if you have less than 2GB this will make a huge difference in performance and can be done fairly inexpensively-just make sure both chips are the same size-so you may need to add two.

and the Number one thing you can do-Get rid of windows and load a Unix based operating system-Fedora Core or Ubuntu would be my suggestions. Much less resource intensive operation system frees up your computer.

 

[Blue.Fairy2]

My advice you may not like but it would be the best way to go for an older computer. I totally disagree with getting rid of windows.

Buy an external hardrive, Walmart has a 320 gig model for $70 (link below), transfer all your pictures and documents to the external harddrive and anything else you need to keep like music.

After everything has been transfered over do a clean install (formatt) of your computer. This is a fairly simple process to do and will make your computer run like brand new because basically it will be just like the day you took it out of the box.

If you need any help just let me know would be happy to.

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=13285084

 

[KibbyCat]

My husband always uses TrendMicro's House Call. It is a free download and will scan your pc for viruses, malware, trojans, worms, and spyware. I also second backing up your files and removing unnecessary programs/moving things that take up space. Upgrade your Windows if you haven't done that in a while - it can speed up your system.

Here's the link for House Call:
http://housecall.trendmicro.com/index.html?WT.seg_2=2009HP_housecall7_1

 

[cheerforchelsea]

Last year we were having major computer problems with one being invaided by a virus and another running so slow........I contacted AT&T and now pay a monthly fee (I think it is $4 for up to 10 computers) for virus protection that is always up to date. The tech came to my home and installed it on all of my pcs at the same time he set up my wireless network. So far it has been a lifesaver.

 

[8esther8]

I'm interested, too. Where am I going to do this? Are you talking about a System Restore type of thing. Forgive me, I don't have much computer savvy. I have Windows XP. I've tried to run the disk defragmenter, but it says that another program is scheduled to run it--chkdsk/f --- and I have no idea what that is.

My advice you may not like but it would be the best way to go for an older computer. I totally disagree with getting rid of windows.

Buy an external hardrive, Walmart has a 320 gig model for $70 (link below), transfer all your pictures and documents to the external harddrive and anything else you need to keep like music.

After everything has been transfered over do a clean install (formatt) of your computer. This is a fairly simple process to do and will make your computer run like brand new because basically it will be just like the day you took it out of the box.

If you need any help just let me know would be happy to.

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=13285084

 

[Blue.Fairy2]

I'm interested, too. Where am I going to do this? Are you talking about a System Restore type of thing. Forgive me, I don't have much computer savvy. I have Windows XP. I've tried to run the disk defragmenter, but it says that another program is scheduled to run it--chkdsk/f --- and I have no idea what that is.

No not system restore, I am talking about a clean format of your hard drive. That is why you need to back up everything you want to keep because everything will be gone once you do this and your computer will be back to how it was the day you bought it.

Depending on your computer you either have disks or a separate drive on your computer that holds all you data, usually a "D" drive.

After you do this save all your pics and documents to your new portable drive and keep your computer harddrive mostly free.

You will have to download all updates after a clean install so that may take a while, usually have it all done in an afternoon.

You do not want to do this if pressed for time.

I wiped my DS Windows XP laptop and did a clean install on it and it runs great again when before it was slow as molasses.

 

[chocovrdmicears]

Thank you for all your advice and suggestions. So I decided a good place to start would be to move all my pictures from the hard drive to the memory card reader that Santa brought me. Sounds like s simple place to start, yes? Well of course it isn't. I plugged it into the back of my hard drive....so far so good...but I can't figure out how to get the pictures onto it. When I open my picture software where all my pix are and I try to move them to the "removable drive" on my computer, it says to install a disk? What am I doing wrong? Am I trying to move them to the wrong place?

 

[DianeV]

I'm interested in the start programs thing...how do you know what programs are set to open when you start and how do you stop that?

 

[Blue.Fairy2]

Thank you for all your advice and suggestions. So I decided a good place to start would be to move all my pictures from the hard drive to the memory card reader that Santa brought me. Sounds like s simple place to start, yes? Well of course it isn't. I plugged it into the back of my hard drive....so far so good...but I can't figure out how to get the pictures onto it. When I open my picture software where all my pix are and I try to move them to the "removable drive" on my computer, it says to install a disk? What am I doing wrong? Am I trying to move them to the wrong place?

you can not store pictures on a memory card reader, they are just what they say they are ....they read memory cards.

they can function as a pen drive or a usb drive but will hold very little info.

It is probably telling you it needs to install the card reader before you can transfer anything to it.

Insert it and let it install it before you try and use it.

 

[threeboysmom]

Turn off any start up processes you do not need (Vista is particularly bad for this but XP will do it too)

Add Ram-if you have less than 2GB this will make a huge difference in performance and can be done fairly inexpensively-just make sure both chips are the same size-so you may need to add two.

I am interested in all this advice as well. My work computer is SO slow. I am having trouble with the software program that I need to work from... it's laggy and freezes up on me.

Anyways, how do you know which start-up processes you don't need? I have Windows XP at work.

And how do you find out how much ram you have?

I have a feeling the software that I'm trying to run is too powerful for the computer i have.

Unfortunately nobody in my small company knows anything about computers so I'm on my own in trying to fix mine.

I ran a virus scan today and CD Cleaner - both found nothing.

Going to do a disk defrag tomorrow when I get in.

Desperately need other things to try to get the speed up some before I go crazy.

 

[Blue.Fairy2]

I am interested in all this advice as well. My work computer is SO slow. I am having trouble with the software program that I need to work from... it's laggy and freezes up on me.

Anyways, how do you know which start-up processes you don't need? I have Windows XP at work.

And how do you find out how much ram you have?

I have a feeling the software that I'm trying to run is too powerful for the computer i have.

Unfortunately nobody in my small company knows anything about computers so I'm on my own in trying to fix mine.

I ran a virus scan today and CD Cleaner - both found nothing.

Going to do a disk defrag tomorrow when I get in.

Desperately need other things to try to get the speed up some before I go crazy.

Pink-

I think your problem is probably more on the software you are trying to run requires more machine than the one you are running.

here are the instructions for turning off start up programs you do not need:

Here are simple steps to Disable Programs at Startup.

1. Click on Start
2. From the Start Menu Options choose Run
3. Type “msconfig” without quotes and click okay. This will bring up System Configuration Utility
4. System Configuration Utility >> Click the tab called Startup
6. Now you can uncheck any programs that you do not want running upon startup
7. Once you are done unchecking Click Okay and you will be prompted to restart your computer

 

[zulemara]

Pink-

I think your problem is probably more on the software you are trying to run requires more machine than the one you are running.

here are the instructions for turning off start up programs you do not need:

Here are simple steps to Disable Programs at Startup.

1. Click on Start
2. From the Start Menu Options choose Run
3. Type “msconfig” without quotes and click okay. This will bring up System Configuration Utility
4. System Configuration Utility >> Click the tab called Startup
6. Now you can uncheck any programs that you do not want running upon startup
7. Once you are done unchecking Click Okay and you will be prompted to restart your computer

just wanted to add that you shouldn't be afraid of unchecking something u want, because it can always be re-checked the next time around.

To find out how much ram you have, go start-->right click on "my computer" select properties, and under the general tab it will tell you how much you have.

Reformatting and reinstalling windows is by far the best solution. In fact it's considered good PC maintenance to do this every 6 month to keep the computer clean.

Do you have msft office? if so, get rid of it. It's overly graphical and bogs down the system. Get open office from openoffice.org It does nearly everything Msft Office does without the crap and is fully compatible with Msft office documents.

use mozilla firefox instead of IE. Doing so reduced your chances of spyware infections.

For anti virus, the same thing applies. Use one that's not so darn graphical. Norton is horribly graphical and takes lots of system resources. A virus scan should scan for viruses, not look pretty. When ur subscription is up, get AVG free anti virus from download.com

Another thing u can do to improve performance is turn off all the graphical features of windows. You basically transform the computer to look like classic windows. To do this, go start-->right click my computer-->properties-->advanced-->performance settings-->select "adjust for best performance" option. It will make things look basically like windows 98, but it will speed up the computer.

As for updating windows, going from XP to vista is never a good idea. Vista sucks, it's overly graphical, unstable, and requires wwaayy more system resources than XP. I am a tech support agent for VIPdesk and Vista is the biggest PITA I've ever seen. I curse it on a daily basis and it's the reason I bought a mac. In terms of windows updates, it's a good idea to get the service packs even though they will slow down the computer, but I try to keep the optional updates not installed unless needed.

If you want quick and easy, install more ram and reformat. Those two things are your best options. The other things are tips and tricks, but don't hold a candle to reformatting and more ram. I've personally never seen a performance increase from defraging a computer, but I suppose others have.

 

[Blue.Fairy2]

just wanted to add that you shouldn't be afraid of unchecking something u want, because it can always be re-checked the next time around.

To find out how much ram you have, go start-->right click on "my computer" select properties, and under the general tab it will tell you how much you have.

Reformatting and reinstalling windows is by far the best solution. In fact it's considered good PC maintenance to do this every 6 month to keep the computer clean.

Do you have msft office? if so, get rid of it. It's overly graphical and bogs down the system. Get open office from openoffice.org It does nearly everything Msft Office does without the crap and is fully compatible with Msft office documents.

use mozilla firefox instead of IE. Doing so reduced your chances of spyware infections.

For anti virus, the same thing applies. Use one that's not so darn graphical. Norton is horribly graphical and takes lots of system resources. A virus scan should scan for viruses, not look pretty. When ur subscription is up, get AVG free anti virus from download.com

Another thing u can do to improve performance is turn off all the graphical features of windows. You basically transform the computer to look like classic windows. To do this, go start-->right click my computer-->properties-->advanced-->performance settings-->select "adjust for best performance" option. It will make things look basically like windows 98, but it will speed up the computer.

As for updating windows, going from XP to vista is never a good idea. Vista sucks, it's overly graphical, unstable, and requires wwaayy more system resources than XP. I am a tech support agent for VIPdesk and Vista is the biggest PITA I've ever seen. I curse it on a daily basis and it's the reason I bought a mac. In terms of windows updates, it's a good idea to get the service packs even though they will slow down the computer, but I try to keep the optional updates not installed unless needed.

If you want quick and easy, install more ram and reformat. Those two things are your best options. The other things are tips and tricks, but don't hold a candle to reformatting and more ram. I've personally never seen a performance increase from defraging a computer, but I suppose others have.

ditto!

 

[chocovrdmicears]

Pink-

I think your problem is probably more on the software you are trying to run requires more machine than the one you are running.

here are the instructions for turning off start up programs you do not need:

Here are simple steps to Disable Programs at Startup.

1. Click on Start
2. From the Start Menu Options choose Run
3. Type “msconfig” without quotes and click okay. This will bring up System Configuration Utility
4. System Configuration Utility >> Click the tab called Startup
6. Now you can uncheck any programs that you do not want running upon startup
7. Once you are done unchecking Click Okay and you will be prompted to restart your computer

I did this with no problem...my question is, how do i know what the heck the things listed there are and if I should uncheck them.. Some of the things listed are:
Cyb2k
dumprep
E s9d
QTTask
ashdisp
mbam
msmgs
I have no clue what these things are and if I should uncheck them.

 

[Blue.Fairy2]

I did this with no problem...my question is, how do i know what the heck the things listed there are and if I should uncheck them.. Some of the things listed are:
Cyb2k
dumprep
E s9d
QTTask
ashdisp
mbam
msmgs
I have no clue what these things are and if I should uncheck them.

cyb2k.exe descriptionDescriptioncyb2k.exe is a part of the CYBERsitter product from Solid Oak Software, which acts as a pornography filter during your browsing experience. "This program is a non-essential system process, but should not be terminated unless suspected to be causing problems

dumprep.exe forms a part of Microsoft Windows XP (and later versions), in-built fault logging software. Upon serious errors this program will write the details to a text file and request the information be sent to Microsoft. This program is a non-essential system process, and is installed for third party use.

E s9d not sure about this one


QTTask=This process implements Apple's Quick Time Tray Icon, which enables you to start Quick Time from the System Tray, as well as to perform related functions

ashdisp.exe is a process belonging to Avast Internet security suite.\r This utility forms an important part of your computers protection against Internet-bound viruses and worms, and should not be terminated

mbam = malwarebytes do not uncheck

msmgs = microsoft messenger

 

[chocovrdmicears]

cyb2k.exe descriptionDescriptioncyb2k.exe is a part of the CYBERsitter product from Solid Oak Software, which acts as a pornography filter during your browsing experience. "This program is a non-essential system process, but should not be terminated unless suspected to be causing problems

dumprep.exe forms a part of Microsoft Windows XP (and later versions), in-built fault logging software. Upon serious errors this program will write the details to a text file and request the information be sent to Microsoft. This program is a non-essential system process, and is installed for third party use.

E s9d not sure about this one


QTTask=This process implements Apple's Quick Time Tray Icon, which enables you to start Quick Time from the System Tray, as well as to perform related functions

ashdisp.exe is a process belonging to Avast Internet security suite.\r This utility forms an important part of your computers protection against Internet-bound viruses and worms, and should not be terminated

mbam = malwarebytes do not uncheck

msmgs = microsoft messenger

You have been incredibly helpful. I cannot thank you enough! I truly appreciate you taking the time to explain everything in detail.