As more and more users get ridden with viruses, spyware and malware, I make more money. But honestly, I am tired of doing the same things over and over again. So I am writing this self help PC Tune Up post so that I can do less work.
Reboot as necessary.
#1 - Start -> Control Panel -> Ad/Remove Programs
Look for any programs that you never use, never heard of, or are out of date; and get rid of em.
#2 - Right click task bar -> Properties
Uncheck hide inactive icons.
I prefer to "Show Quick Launch", this way I reduce the number of icons on my desktop.
Click "Start Menu" -> Customize
If you have a low resolution, you may wish to use small icons instead of large.
With smaller Icons, you can have a higher number of programs on start menu.
Click "Advanced"
Uncheck "Highlight newly installed programs".
Uncheck "Help and support", comon who really uses it?
Uncheck "List my most recently opened documents", it stores shortcuts of every file you open, these files add up over a year.
Click "Clear List".
Click OK.
Click OK.
#3. - Right click My Computer -> "Properties"
Click Advanced -> "Error Reporting".
Click Disable Error Reporting.
Click OK.
Click Settings.
Uncheck every item all the way down to "Use Background image for each folder type"(dont uncheck this one.)
Click OK.
Click Remote.
Uncheck "Allow remote assistance invitations to be sent from this computer".
Click System Restore.
check "Turn off system restore on all drives".
Click OK
#4 - Start -> Run
In the text box type "regedit" and press "OK".
In the left frame of the window that appears is a "file" tree. We need to navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\ CurrentVersion\Explorer\Volume Caches
To do this we are going to click the "plus" sign next to "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE", then the "plus" sign next to "SOFTWARE", and etc... till we reach "Volume Caches".
In the left frame we are going to right click on the entry under "Volume Caches" named "Compress Old Files" and select "Delete".
#5. - Open MyComputer -> Right click c: -> properties
Uncheck allow indexing service to index this disk for fast file searching. This is for searching for files, how often do you search for a file? Also, turning this off will not effect google desktop or msn desktop.
Select all subfolders, click ok. If it prompts that a file could not be accessed, choose ignore all.
When that completes, click Disk Cleanup.
Check all boxes and click ok.
Click Tools -> Defragment Now.
Click your C: and click analyze. If it says it needs to be defraged, then do so. If not close.
Click OK on Local Disk Properties to close.
#6. - Start -> Run
In the box, type services.msc. Hit OK.
This is the services manager. These are all of the services that run your windows operating system. The following is a list of services that can be changed to manual instead of automatic, which will prevent them from starting when your computer starts and will only start them when needed.
- Distributed Link Tracking
- Error Reporting Service
- Help and Support
- Indexing Service
- IPSec Services - Do not disable if you use a VPN to access your work.
- Logical disk manager
- Machine Debug Manager
- Remote Registry
- Secondary Logon
- Security Accounts Manager
- Security Center
- System Restore Service
- TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper
- WebClient
- Wireless Zero Configuration (Do not disable if you use 802.11b/g wireless internet connection, which includes most laptops)
Go here and download AVG Free Anti-Virus and AVG Free Anti Spyware. Install, Update, and scan.
#8 - Spray inside of case with can of compressed air to clean out any dust and debris.
If anyone else has things that they do for a tuneup that they would like to add, please add a comment.
Chris
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