Computer Clean Up

(For several steps you will need to be connected to the Internet)

REMEMBER USING “AD-AWARE” OR “SPYBOT – SEARCH & DESTROY” MAY CAUSE PROBLEMS ON CERTAIN SYSTEMS. THERE IS A MINIMAL RISK RUNNING THEM, BUT WITH THAT SAID, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND USING THEM. GOOD LUCK.

I. Windows Update (If automatic updates are enabled, you may omit this step)

1. Open Internet Explorer

2. Click “Tools” in the menu bar, then click “Windows update”

3. Once it checks to see if you have the latest software to check your computer, click “scan for updates”

4. It will scan for updates, and then click “review and install updates”

5. Only after it is done scanning for updates, there will be three categories on the left for which to download: Critical Updates and Service Packs, Windows, and Driver Updates.

6. The Critical Updates are the most important, so definitely install them. However, if you feel comfortable to do so, install the Recommended Windows updates under the Windows downloads and the Driver Updates. While the latter updates are not critical to your computer, they do make your hardware and software run more efficiently.

7. Then click “Install Now” and follow any on-screen instructions.

II. Disk Cleanup

1. Go to “My Computer” then right click on your hard drive (usually C)

2. Right clicking will bring up a menu. Click on “properties” on the bottom

3. That will bring up you local disk properties. Click on the “Disk cleanup” button.

4. It will calculate how much space you can free up, and then give you a list of places it can clean. Make sure all of the boxes are selected, then click “ok” at the bottom.

5. It will delete them and then you will be done. Close any of the open windows.

III. Ad-Aware

1. Open Ad-aware. [Start à Programs à Lavasoft Ad-Aware 6 à Ad-aware 6] If you do not have ad-aware download, then install it at http://kipp.ginocide.com/downloads/aawsepersonal.exe

2. Once you open Ad-aware, click the link that says “check for updates now”, then click connect, then if downloads are available, download them by clicking “ok” or “next” , then “Finish” when they are done downloading.

3. Once that is done, you will be back at the start page of Ad-aware. Click “start”, then “next” to scan your system.

4. When the scan is done, it will make a noise and it will display “finished” or “scan complete”. Click “next”.

5. Then you will see the scan results. Make sure all the boxes are selected, if they are not, right click on one of the boxes and click “select all objects” then click “next”

6. It will ask you if it is ok to remove the objects, click “ok”.

7. Then you are done. Close Ad-aware

IV. Spybot – Search & Destroy (this is a big section because it is relatively complex, tread carefully)

1. Open Spybot – Search & Destroy from the desktop icon, or from the start menu (Start menu>Programs> Spybot – Search & Destroy>Spybot – Search & Destroy (Easy Mode)) If you do not have Spybot – Search & Destroy download it at http://kipp.ginocide.com/downloads/spybotsd13.exe , and then install it.

2. The first time you run this it will give you one or two warning messages. One will be regarding legal stuff, check the box that says “Don’t show this message again”, and then click “Ok”.

3. If Ad-Aware is installed on your system, which it should be, you will get one more message concerning Compatibility warnings. Once again, click the box next to the “Do not display compatibility warnings again”, then click “Ok”.

4. First thing you should do each time when you start the program is click the “Search for updates” button. Make sure all of the boxes are checked next to the updates, and then click “Download updates”.

NOTE: I have had several problems with older systems locking up at this point. If your system does not lock up, move on to the next step. If it does, this is what I do to get around the problem and automatically download the updates. First close Spybot – Search & Destroy, and then open it again in ADVANCED MODE. Once opened, click the “Settings” button on the left column, then click the “Settings” link. It may look too complex but it is not. Scroll down to the “automation” heading, then on down to the “Web update” section. Click the first two boxes titled “Search the web for new versions at each program start” and “Download updated included files if available online”. A dialog box will popup, click “ok”. Close the program and you shouldn’t have any more problems opening it in easy mode and automatically downloading the updates.

5. Once updated, click the “check for problems” button. Your computer will then commence scanning the computer.

6. The problems should be selected already, so go ahead and click “Fix selected problems” located near the bottom, and also click “yes” on the confirmation box.

7. Good job, all done. Close the program and consider your computer cleaner.

V. SpywareBlaster

1. Next in my little bag of tricks is SpywareBlaster. This handy program blocks many of the internets threats before they infect your computer. You can find this software at http://kipp.ginocide.com/downloads/spywareblastersetup.exe .

2. Once downloaded and installed, the first time you run it will give you a tutorial to help you use it. Click the “next” button once, then again, then click “finish”.

3. Every time you load SpywareBlaster, you should download the latest protection updates. So click the “download the latest protection updates” link at the bottom, then the “click for updates” button. It will automatically download them and install them.

4. Once you have downloaded the latest protection updates, click the protection tab, on the left hand side of the program. Then click the “enable all protection” link in the quick tasks area.

5. Now that you have enabled all protection, you can close out of the program.

VI. Anti-Virus

1. Above all, make sure your anti-virus software is up-to-date, along with its virus definitions, and run your antivirus every so often. If you are interested in a free Anti-virus program that will also give you free updated definitions, I recommend checking out AVG Anti-Virus found at http://www.grisoft.com .

VII. Popup Blocker (If automatic updates are enabled, you will get an integrated popup blocker with windows xp service pack 2)

1. If you have Windows XP, install service pack two and use that integrated popup blocker. If you don’t have Windows XP then you need a popup blocker to help protect your computer. The best free popup blocker I have found is from www.google.com.

2. Go to www.google.com and then click on the “tools” link next to the search box. Scroll down until you find the Google toolbar.