- Thread starter
- #21
R
RScotti
Thanks, That is what I have been looking for.
On Tue, 9 Oct 2007 19:46:02 -0500, "Shenan Stanley" <newshelper@gmail.com> wrote:
>RScotti wrote:
>> Is there anything I have to do to maintain the system besides
>> defrag and updates?
>
>
>Microsoft has these suggestions for Protecting your computer from the
>various things that could happen to you/it:
>
> Protect your PC
> http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/
>
> Outfitting a new computer for the Net
> http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/update/newcomputer.mspx
>
> Getting started with a new PC
> http://www.microsoft.com/athome/moredone/yournewpc.mspx
>
>Although those tips are fantastic, there are many things you should
>know above and beyond that. Below I have detailed out many tips
>that can not only help you clean-up a problem PC but keep it clean,
>secure and running at its best.
>
>I know this text can seem intimidating - it is quite long and a lot
>to take in for a novice - however I can assure you that one trip
>through this list and you will understand your computer and the
>options available to you for protecting your data much better -
>and that the next time you go through these steps, the time it
>takes will be greatly reduced.
>
>Let's take the cleanup of your computer step-by-step.
>Yes, it will take up some of your time - but consider what you use
>your computer for and how much you would dislike it if all of your
>stuff on your computer went away because you did not "feel like"
>performing some simple maintenance tasks - think of it like taking
>out your garbage, collecting and sorting your postal mail, paying
>your bills on time, etc.
>
>I'll mainly work around Windows XP, as that is what the bulk of this
>document is about however, here is some places for you poor souls
>still stuck in Windows 98/ME where you can get information on
>maintaining your system:
>
> Windows 98 and 'Maintaining Your Computer':
> http://www.microsoft.com/windows98/usingwindows/maintaining/
>
> Windows ME Computer Health:
> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsME/using/computerhealth/articles/
>
> Pay close attention to the sections:
> (in order)
> - Clean up your hard disk
> - Check for errors by running ScanDisk
> - Defragment your hard disk
> - Roll back the clock with System Restore
>
>
>Also - now is a good time to point you to one of the easiest ways to find
>information on problems you may be having and solutions others have found:
>
> Search using Google!
> http://www.google.com/
> (How-to: http://www.google.com/intl/en/help/basics.html )
>
>
>Now, let's go through some maintenance first that should only have to be
>done once (mostly):
>
>Tip (1):
>Locate all of the software you have installed on your computer.
>(the installation media - CDs, downloaded files, etc)
>Collect these CDs and files together in a central and safe
>place along with their CD keys and such. Make backups of these
>installation media sets using your favorite copying method (CD/DVD Burner
>and application, Disk copier, etc.) You'll be glad to know that if you
>have a CD/DVD burner, you may be able to use a free application to make a
>duplicate copy of your CDs. One such application is ISORecorder:
>
> ISORecorder page (with general instructions on use):
> http://isorecorder.alexfeinman.com/isorecorder.htm
>
>More full function applications (free) for CD/DVD burning would be:
>
> CDBurnerXP Pro
> http://www.cdburnerxp.se/
>
> DeepBurner Free
> http://www.deepburner.com/
>
> ImgBurn (burn ISO images)
> http://www.imgburn.com/
>
> Final Burner
> http://www.protectedsoft.com/products.php
>
>Another Option would be to search the web with Pricewatch.com or
>Dealsites.net and find deals on Products like Ahead Nero and/or Roxio.
>
> Ahead Nero
> http://www.nero.com/
>
> Roxio Easy Media Creator
> http://www.roxio.com/
>
>Tip (2):
>Empty your Temporary Internet Files and shrink the size it stores to a
>size between 128MB and 512MB..
>
>- Open ONE copy of Internet Explorer.
>- Select TOOLS -> Internet Options.
>- Under the General tab in the "Temporary Internet Files" section, do the
> following:
> - Click on "Delete Cookies" (click OK)
> - Click on "Settings" and change the "Amount of disk space to use:" to
> something between 128MB and 512MB. (Betting it is MUCH larger right
> now.)
> - Click OK.
> - Click on "Delete Files" and select to "Delete all offline contents"
> (the checkbox) and click OK. (If you had a LOT, this could take 2-10
> minutes or more.)
>- Once it is done, click OK, close Internet Explorer, re-open Internet
> Explorer.
>
>Tip (3):
>If things are running a bit sluggish and/or you have an older system
>(1.5GHz or less and 256MB RAM or less) then you may want to look into
>tweaking the performance by turning off some of the 'resource hogging'
>Windows XP "prettifications". The fastest method is:
>
>Control Panel --> System --> Advanced tab --> Performance section,
>Settings button. Then choose "adjust for best performance" and you
>now have a Windows 2000/98 look which turned off most of the annoying
>"prettifications" in one swift action. You can play with the last
>three checkboxes to get more of an XP look without many of the
>other annoyances. You could also grab and install/use one
>(or more) of the Microsoft Powertoys - TweakUI in particular:
>
> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/powertoys/xppowertoys.mspx
>
>Another viable (decently inexpensive) option is to increase the amount
>of memory (RAM) your computer has. You can get an idea of what you
>need by visiting:
>
> Crucial Memory AdvisorT Tool
> http://www.crucial.com/
>
>Then either buy direct from there or write down the specs you get and
>visit: http://www.pricewatch.com/ and locate the best price on what you
>need. 512MB up to 1GB total memory should be more than enough for
>the normal home user.
>
>Tip (4):
>Understanding what a good password might be is vital to your
>personal and system security. You may think you do not need to password
>your home computer, as you may have it in a locked area (your home) where
>no one else has access to it. Remember, however, you aren't always
>"in that locked area" when using your computer online - meaning you likely
>have usernames and passwords associated with web sites and the likes that
>you would prefer other people do not discover/use. This is why you should
>understand and utilize good passwords.
>
>Good passwords are those that meet these general rules
>(mileage may vary):
>
> Passwords should contain at least six characters, and the character
> string should contain at least three of these four character types:
> - uppercase letters
> - lowercase letters
> - numerals
> - nonalphanumeric characters (e.g., *, %, &, !,
>
> Passwords should not contain your name/username.
> Passwords should be unique to you and easy to remember.
>
>One method many people are using today is to make up a phrase that
>describes a point in their life and then turning that phrase into their
>password by using only certain letters out of each word in that phrase.
>It's much better than using your birthday month/year or your anniversary
>in a pure sense. For example, let's say my phrase is:
> 'Great new job in November 2006'
>I could come up with this password from that:
> 'Gr8n3wj0bNOV2006'
>
>The password tip is in the one time section, but I highly
>recommend you periodically change your passwords. The suggested time
>varies, but I will throw out a 'once in every 3 to 6 months for
>every account you have.'
>
>Also - many people complain that they just cannot remember the passwords
>for all the sites they have - so they choose one password and use it for
>everything. Not a good idea. A much better method would be to use a
>Password Management tool - so you only have to remember one password,
>but it opens an application that stores your username/passwords for
>everything else - plus other valuable information. One that I can
>recommend:
>
> KeePass Password Safe
> http://keepass.sourceforge.net/
>
>It can even generate passwords for you.
>
>
>Tip (5):
>This tip is also 'questionable' in the one time section however -
>if properly setup - this one can be pretty well ignored for most people
>after the initial 'fiddle-with' time.
>
> Why you should use a computer firewall..
> http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/viruses/fwbenefits.mspx
>
>You should, in some way, use a firewall. Hardware (like a nice
>Cable Modem/DSL router) or software is up to you. Many use both of
>these. The simplest one to use is the hardware one, as most people
>don't do anything that they will need to configure their NAT device
>for and those who do certainly will not mind fiddling with the equipment
>to make things work for them. Next in the line of simplicity would
>have to be the built-in Windows Firewall of Windows XP. In SP2 it
>is turned on by default. It is not difficult to turn on in any
>case, however:
>
> More information on the Internet Connection Firewall (Pre-SP2):
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/320855
>
> Post-SP2 Windows Firewall Information/guidance:
> http://snipurl.com/atal
>
>The trouble with the Windows Firewall is that it only keeps things
>out. For most people who maintain their system in other ways, this is
>MORE than sufficient. You may feel otherwise. If you want to
>know when one of your applications is trying to obtain access to the
>outside world so you can stop it, then you will have to install a
>third-party application and configure/maintain it. I have compiled a
>list with links of some of the better known/free firewalls you can choose
>from:
>
> BlackICE PC Protection (~$39.95 and up)
> http://blackice.iss.net/
>
> Comodo Free Fireall (Free)
> http://www.personalfirewall.comodo.com/
>
> Jetico Personal Firewall (Free)
> http://www.jetico.com/index.htm#/jpfirewall.htm
>
> Outpost Firewall from Agnitum (Free and up)
> http://www.agnitum.com/products/outpostfree/
>
> Sunbelt Kerio Personal Firewall (KPF) (Free and up)
> http://www.kerio.com/kpf_download.html
>
> Symantec's Norton Personal Firewall (~$49.95 and up)
> http://www.symantec.com/sabu/nis/npf/
>
> ZoneAlarm (Free and up)
> http://www.zonelabs.com/
>
>You should find the right firewall for your situation in that
>list and set it up if you feel the Windows XP firewall is
>insufficient.
>
>Every firewall WILL require some maintenance. Essentially checking for
>patches or upgrades (this goes for hardware and software solutions) is
>the extent of this maintenance - you may also have to configure your
>firewall to allow some traffic depending on your needs.
>
>** Don't stack the software firewalls! Running more than one software
>firewall will not make you safer - it would possibly negate some
>protection you gleamed from one or the other firewall you run. It is
>fine (and in many ways better) to have the software firewall as well
>as a NAT router.
>
>
>Now that you have some of the more basic things down..
>Let's go through some of the steps you should take periodically to
>maintain a healthy and stable windows computer. If you have not
>done some of these things in the past, they may seem tedious - however,
>they will become routine and some can even be scheduled.
>
>
>Tip (6):
>The system restore feature is only a useful feature if you keep it
>maintained and use it to your advantage. Remember that the system
>restore pretty much tells you in the name what it protects which is
>'system' files. Your documents, your pictures, your stuff is NOT
>system files - so you should also look into some backup solution.
>
>Whenever you think about it (after doing a once-over on your machine
>once a month or so would be optimal) - clear out your System Restore
>and create a manual restoration point.
>
>'Why?'
>
>Too many times have I seen the system restore files go corrupt or get
>a virus in them, meaning you could not or did not want to restore from
>them. By clearing it out periodically you help prevent any corruption
>from happening and you make sure you have at least one good "snapshot".
>(*This, of course, will erase any previous restore point you have.*)
>
> - Turn off System Restore.
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310405
> - Reboot the Computer.
> - Review the first bullet to turn on System Restore
> - Make a Manual Restoration Point.
> http://snipurl.com/68nx
>
>That covers your system files, but doesn't do anything for the files
>that you are REALLY worried about - yours! For that you need to look
>into backups. You can either manually copy your important files, folders,
>documents, spreadsheets, emails, contacts, pictures, drawings and so on
>to an external location (CD/DVD - any disk of some sort, etc) or you can
>use the backup tool that comes with Windows XP:
>
> How To Use Backup to Back Up Files and Folders on Your Computer
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308422
>
>Yes - you still need some sort of external media to store the results
>on, but you could schedule the backup to occur when you are not around,
>then burn the resultant data onto CD or DVD or something when you are
>(while you do other things!)
>
>Another option that seems to still be going strong:
>
> Cobian Backup
> http://www.educ.umu.se/~cobian/cobianbackup.htm
>
>A lot of people have wondered about how to completely backup their system
>so that they would not have to go through the trouble of a reinstall..
>I'm going to voice my opinion here and say that it would be worthless to
>do for MOST people. Unless you plan on periodically updating the image
>backup of your system (remaking it) - then by the time you use it
>(something goes wrong) - it will be so outdated as to be more trouble than
>performing a full install of the operating system and all applications.
>
>Having said my part against it, you can clone/backup your hard drive
>completely using many methods - by far the simplest are using disk cloning
>applications:
>
> Symantec/Norton Ghost
> http://snipurl.com/13e00
>
> Acronis True Image
> http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing/products/trueimage/
>
> BootItT NG
> http://terabyteunlimited.com/bootitng.html
>
>Tip (7):
>You should sometimes look through the list of applications that are
>installed on your computer. The list may surprise you. There are more
>than likely things in there you know you never use - so why have them
>there? There may even be things you know you did *not* install and
>certainly do not use (maybe don't WANT to use.)
>
>This web site should help you get started at looking through this list:
>
> How to Uninstall Programs
> http://snipurl.com/8v6b
>
> How to change or remove a program in Windows XP
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307895
>
>A word of warning - Do NOT uninstall anything you think you MIGHT need
>in the future unless you have completed Tip (1) and have the installation
>media and proper keys for use backed up somewhere safe!
>
>Tip (8):
>Patches and Updates!
>
>This one cannot be stressed enough. It is SO simple, yet so neglected
>by many people. It is really simple for the critical Microsoft patches!
>Microsoft put in an AUTOMATED feature for you to utilize so that you do
>NOT have to worry yourself about the patching of the Operating System:
>
> How to configure and use Automatic Updates in Windows XP
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306525
>
>However, not everyone wants to be a slave to automation, and that is
>fine. Admittedly, I prefer this method on some of my more critical
>systems.
>
> Windows Update
> http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/
>
>Go there and scan your machine for updates. Always get the critical ones
>as you see them. Write down the KB###### or Q###### you see when
>selecting the updates and if you have trouble over the next few days,
>go into your control panel (Add/Remove Programs), insure that the
>'Show Updates' checkbox is checked and match up the latest numbers you
>downloaded recently (since you started noticing an issue) and uninstall
>them. If there was more than one (usually is), uninstall them one by one
>with a few hours of use in between, to see if the problem returns.
>Yes - the process is not perfect (updating) and can cause trouble like I
>mentioned - but as you can see, the solution isn't that bad - and is
>MUCH better than the alternatives.
>
>Windows is not the only product you likely have on your PC. The
>manufacturers of the other products usually have updates. New versions
>of almost everything come out all the time - some are free, some are pay
>and some you can only download if you are registered - but it is best
>to check. Just go to their web pages and look under their support and
>download sections. For example, for Microsoft Office you should visit:
>
> Microsoft Office Updates
> http://office.microsoft.com/
> (and select 'Check for Updates' and/or 'Downloads' for more)
>
>You also have hardware on your machine that requires drivers to interface
>with the operating system. You have a video card that allows you to see on
>your screen, a sound card that allows you to hear your PCs sound output and
>so on. Visit those manufacturer web sites for the latest downloadable
>drivers for your hardware/operating system. Always get the manufacturers'
>hardware driver over any Microsoft offers. On the Windows Update site I
>mentioned earlier, I suggest NOT getting their hardware drivers - no matter
>how tempting.
>
>How do you know what hardware you have in your computer? Break out the
>invoice or if it is up and working now - take inventory:
>
> Belarc Advisor
> http://belarc.com/free_download.html
>
>Once you know what you have, what next? Go get the latest driver for your
>hardware/OS from the manufacturer's web page. For example, let's say you
>have an NVidia chipset video card or ATI video card, perhaps a Creative
>Labs sound card or C-Media chipset sound card...
>
> NVidia Video Card Drivers
> http://www.nvidia.com/content/drivers/drivers.asp
>
> ATI Video Card Drivers
> http://ati.amd.com/support/driver.html
>
> Creative Labs Sound Device
> http://us.creative.com/support/downloads/
>
> C-Media Sound Device
> http://www.cmedia.com.tw/?q=en/driver
>
>Then install these drivers. Updated drivers are usually more stable and
>may provide extra benefits/features that you really wished you had before.
>
>As for Service Pack 2 (SP2) for Windows XP, Microsoft has made this
>particular patch available in a number of ways. First, there is the
>Windows Update web page above. Then there is a direct download site.
>
> Direct Download of Service Pack 2 (SP2) for Windows XP
> http://snipurl.com/8bqy
>
> Order Windows XP Service Pack 2 on CD
> http://snipurl.com/d41v
>
>If all else fails - grab the full download above and try to use that.
>In this case - consider yourself a 'IT professional or developer'.
>
>Tip (9):
>What about the dreaded word in the computer world, VIRUS?
>
>Well, there are many products to choose from that will help you prevent
>infections from these horrid little applications. Many are FREE to the
>home user and which you choose is a matter of taste, really. Many people
>have emotional attachments or performance issues with one or another
>AntiVirus software. Try some out, read reviews and decide for yourself
>which you like more:
>
>( Good Comparison Page for AV software: http://www.av-comparatives.org/ )
>
> AntiVir (Free and up)
> http://www.free-av.com/
>
> avast! (Free and up)
> http://www.avast.com/
>
> AVG Anti-Virus System (Free and up)
> http://free.grisoft.com/
>
> ca Anti-Virus (~$49.99 and up)
> http://snipurl.com/13e0u
>
> eset NOD32 (~$39.00 and up)
> http://www.eset.com/products/
>
> Kaspersky Anti-Virus (~$39.95 and up)
> http://www.kaspersky.com/kav6
>
> McAfee VirusScan (~$39.99 and up)
> http://www.mcafee.com/
>
> Panda Antivirus Titanium (~$39.95 and up)
> http://www.pandasoftware.com/products/antivirus2007.htm
> (Free Online Scanner: http://www.pandasoftware.com/activescan/)
>
> Symantec (Norton) AntiVirus (~$39.99 and up)
> http://snipurl.com/13e12
>
> Trend Micro (~$44.95 and up)
> http://www.trendmicro.com/en/products/desktop/tav/
> (Free Online Scanner:
> http://housecall.trendmicro.com/housecall/start_corp.asp)
>
>Most of them have automatic update capabilities. You will have to
>look into the features of the one you choose. Whatever one you finally
>settle with - be SURE to keep it updated (I recommend at least daily) and
>perform a full scan periodically (yes, most protect you actively, but a
>full scan once a month at 4AM probably won't bother you.)
>
>Tip (10):
>The most rampant infestation at the current time concerns SPYWARE/ADWARE.
>You need to eliminate it from your machine.
>
>There is no one software that cleans and immunizes you against
>everything. Antivirus software - you only needed one. Firewall, you
>only needed one. AntiSpyware - you will need several. I have a list and
>I recommend you use at least the first five.
>
>First - make sure you have NOT installed "Rogue AntiSpyware". There are
>people out there who created AntiSpyware products that actually install
>spyware of their own! You need to avoid these:
>
> Rogue/Suspect Anti-Spyware Products & Web Sites
> http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm
>
>Also, you can always visit this site..
> http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
>For more updated information.
>
>Install the first five of these: (Install, Run, Update, Scan with..)
>(If you already have one or more - uninstall them and download the
>LATEST version from the page given!)
>
> Lavasoft AdAware (Free and up)
> http://www.lavasoft.de/products/ad-aware_se_personal.php
> (How-to: http://snipurl.com/atdn )
>
> Spybot Search and Destroy (Free!)
> http://www.safer-networking.net/en/download/
> (How-to: http://snipurl.com/atdk )
>
> SpywareBlaster (Free!)
> http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/sbdownload.html
> (How-to: http://snipurl.com/ate6 )
>
> IE-SPYAD2 (Free!)
> http://www.spywarewarrior.com/uiuc/resource.htm#IESPYAD
> (How-to: http://snipurl.com/ate7 )
>
> SuperAntiSpyware (Free and up)
> http://www.superantispyware.com/
>
> CWShredder Stand-Alone (Free!)
> http://www.trendmicro.com/cwshredder/
>
> Hijack This! (Free!)
> http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/downloads.html
> (Log Analyzer: http://hjt.networktechs.com/ )
>
> Bazooka Adware and Spyware Scanner (Free!)
> http://www.kephyr.com/spywarescanner/
> (How-to: http://snipurl.com/ate3 )
>
> ToolbarCop (Free!)
> http://windowsxp.mvps.org/toolbarcop.htm
>
> Ccleaner (Free!)
> http://www.ccleaner.com/
>
> Browser Security Tests (Free Tester)
> http://www.jasons-toolbox.com/BrowserSecurity/
>
> Popup Tester (Free Tester)
> http://www.popuptest.com/
>
> The Cleaner (~$49.95 and up)
> http://www.moosoft.com/
>
>Sometimes you need to install the application and reboot into SAFE MODE in
>order to thoroughly clean your computer. Many applications also have
>(or are) immunization applications. Spybot Search and Destroy and
>SpywareBlaster are two that currently do the best job at passively
>protecting your system from malware. None of these programs (in these
>editions) run in the background unless you TELL them to. The space they
>take up and how easy they are to use greatly makes up for any inconvenience
>you may be feeling.
>
>Please notice that Windows XP SP2 does help stop popups as well.
>
>Another option is to use an alternative Web browser. I suggest
>'Mozilla Firefox', as it has some great features and is very easy to use:
>
> Mozilla Firefox
> http://www.mozilla.com/firefox/
>
>
>So your machine is pretty clean and up to date now. If you use the sections
>above as a guide, it should stay that way as well! There are still a few
>more things you can do to keep your machine running in top shape.
>
>Tip (11):
>You should periodically check your hard drive(s) for errors and defragment
>them. Only defragment after you have cleaned up your machine of
>outside parasites and never defragment as a solution to a quirkiness in
>your system. It may help speed up your system, but it should be clean
>before you do this. Do these things IN ORDER...
>
> How to use Disk Cleanup
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310312
>
> How to scan your disks for errors
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315265
>
> How to Defragment your hard drives
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314848
>
>I would personally perform the above steps at least once every three months.
>For most people this should be sufficient, but if the difference you notice
>afterwards is greater than you think it should be, lessen the time in
>between its schedule.. If the difference you notice is negligible, you can
>increase the time.
>
>Tip (12):
>SPAM! JUNK MAIL!
>This one can get annoying, just like the rest. You get 50 emails in one
>sitting and 2 of them you wanted. NICE! (Not.) What can you do? Well,
>although there are services out there to help you, some email
>servers/services that actually do lower your spam with features built into
>their servers - I still like the methods that let you be the end-decision
>maker on what is spam and what is not. I have a few products to suggest
>to you, look at them and see if any of them suite your needs. Again, if
>they don't, Google is free and available for your perusal.
>
> SpamBayes (Free!)
> http://spambayes.sourceforge.net/
>
> Spamihilator (Free!)
> http://www.spamihilator.com/
>
> MailWasher
> http://www.mailwasher.net/
>
>As I said, those are not your only options, but are reliable ones I have
>seen function for hundreds+ people.
>
>Tip (13):
>ADVANCED TIP! Only do this once you are comfortable under the hood of your
>computer!
>
>There are lots of services on your PC that are probably turned on by default
>you don't use. Why have them on? Check out these web pages to see what all
>of the services you might find on your computer are and set them according
>to your personal needs. Be CAREFUL what you set to manual, and take heed
>and write down as you change things! Also, don't expect a large performance
>increase or anything - especially on today's 2+ GHz machines, however - I
>look at each service you set to manual as one less service you have to worry
>about someone exploiting.
>
> Service Configuration Tips
> http://www.tweakhound.com/xp/xptweaks/supertweaks6.htm
>
> Configuring Services
> http://smallvoid.com/tweak/winnt/services.html
>
> Task List Programs
> http://www.answersthatwork.com/Tasklist_pages/tasklist.htm
>
> Processes in Windows NT/2000/XP
> http://www.reger24.de/prozesse/
>
>There are also applications that AREN'T services that startup when you start
>up the computer/logon. One of the better description on how to handle these
>I have found here:
>
> Startups
> http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_content.php
>
>
>If you follow the advice laid out above (and do some of your own research as
>well, so you understand what you are doing) - your computer will stay fairly
>stable and secure and you will have a more trouble-free system.
>
>--
>Shenan Stanley
> MS-MVP
Have a good day,
RScotti
remove "nospam" in order to email me.
On Tue, 9 Oct 2007 19:46:02 -0500, "Shenan Stanley" <newshelper@gmail.com> wrote:
>RScotti wrote:
>> Is there anything I have to do to maintain the system besides
>> defrag and updates?
>
>
>Microsoft has these suggestions for Protecting your computer from the
>various things that could happen to you/it:
>
> Protect your PC
> http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/
>
> Outfitting a new computer for the Net
> http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/update/newcomputer.mspx
>
> Getting started with a new PC
> http://www.microsoft.com/athome/moredone/yournewpc.mspx
>
>Although those tips are fantastic, there are many things you should
>know above and beyond that. Below I have detailed out many tips
>that can not only help you clean-up a problem PC but keep it clean,
>secure and running at its best.
>
>I know this text can seem intimidating - it is quite long and a lot
>to take in for a novice - however I can assure you that one trip
>through this list and you will understand your computer and the
>options available to you for protecting your data much better -
>and that the next time you go through these steps, the time it
>takes will be greatly reduced.
>
>Let's take the cleanup of your computer step-by-step.
>Yes, it will take up some of your time - but consider what you use
>your computer for and how much you would dislike it if all of your
>stuff on your computer went away because you did not "feel like"
>performing some simple maintenance tasks - think of it like taking
>out your garbage, collecting and sorting your postal mail, paying
>your bills on time, etc.
>
>I'll mainly work around Windows XP, as that is what the bulk of this
>document is about however, here is some places for you poor souls
>still stuck in Windows 98/ME where you can get information on
>maintaining your system:
>
> Windows 98 and 'Maintaining Your Computer':
> http://www.microsoft.com/windows98/usingwindows/maintaining/
>
> Windows ME Computer Health:
> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsME/using/computerhealth/articles/
>
> Pay close attention to the sections:
> (in order)
> - Clean up your hard disk
> - Check for errors by running ScanDisk
> - Defragment your hard disk
> - Roll back the clock with System Restore
>
>
>Also - now is a good time to point you to one of the easiest ways to find
>information on problems you may be having and solutions others have found:
>
> Search using Google!
> http://www.google.com/
> (How-to: http://www.google.com/intl/en/help/basics.html )
>
>
>Now, let's go through some maintenance first that should only have to be
>done once (mostly):
>
>Tip (1):
>Locate all of the software you have installed on your computer.
>(the installation media - CDs, downloaded files, etc)
>Collect these CDs and files together in a central and safe
>place along with their CD keys and such. Make backups of these
>installation media sets using your favorite copying method (CD/DVD Burner
>and application, Disk copier, etc.) You'll be glad to know that if you
>have a CD/DVD burner, you may be able to use a free application to make a
>duplicate copy of your CDs. One such application is ISORecorder:
>
> ISORecorder page (with general instructions on use):
> http://isorecorder.alexfeinman.com/isorecorder.htm
>
>More full function applications (free) for CD/DVD burning would be:
>
> CDBurnerXP Pro
> http://www.cdburnerxp.se/
>
> DeepBurner Free
> http://www.deepburner.com/
>
> ImgBurn (burn ISO images)
> http://www.imgburn.com/
>
> Final Burner
> http://www.protectedsoft.com/products.php
>
>Another Option would be to search the web with Pricewatch.com or
>Dealsites.net and find deals on Products like Ahead Nero and/or Roxio.
>
> Ahead Nero
> http://www.nero.com/
>
> Roxio Easy Media Creator
> http://www.roxio.com/
>
>Tip (2):
>Empty your Temporary Internet Files and shrink the size it stores to a
>size between 128MB and 512MB..
>
>- Open ONE copy of Internet Explorer.
>- Select TOOLS -> Internet Options.
>- Under the General tab in the "Temporary Internet Files" section, do the
> following:
> - Click on "Delete Cookies" (click OK)
> - Click on "Settings" and change the "Amount of disk space to use:" to
> something between 128MB and 512MB. (Betting it is MUCH larger right
> now.)
> - Click OK.
> - Click on "Delete Files" and select to "Delete all offline contents"
> (the checkbox) and click OK. (If you had a LOT, this could take 2-10
> minutes or more.)
>- Once it is done, click OK, close Internet Explorer, re-open Internet
> Explorer.
>
>Tip (3):
>If things are running a bit sluggish and/or you have an older system
>(1.5GHz or less and 256MB RAM or less) then you may want to look into
>tweaking the performance by turning off some of the 'resource hogging'
>Windows XP "prettifications". The fastest method is:
>
>Control Panel --> System --> Advanced tab --> Performance section,
>Settings button. Then choose "adjust for best performance" and you
>now have a Windows 2000/98 look which turned off most of the annoying
>"prettifications" in one swift action. You can play with the last
>three checkboxes to get more of an XP look without many of the
>other annoyances. You could also grab and install/use one
>(or more) of the Microsoft Powertoys - TweakUI in particular:
>
> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/powertoys/xppowertoys.mspx
>
>Another viable (decently inexpensive) option is to increase the amount
>of memory (RAM) your computer has. You can get an idea of what you
>need by visiting:
>
> Crucial Memory AdvisorT Tool
> http://www.crucial.com/
>
>Then either buy direct from there or write down the specs you get and
>visit: http://www.pricewatch.com/ and locate the best price on what you
>need. 512MB up to 1GB total memory should be more than enough for
>the normal home user.
>
>Tip (4):
>Understanding what a good password might be is vital to your
>personal and system security. You may think you do not need to password
>your home computer, as you may have it in a locked area (your home) where
>no one else has access to it. Remember, however, you aren't always
>"in that locked area" when using your computer online - meaning you likely
>have usernames and passwords associated with web sites and the likes that
>you would prefer other people do not discover/use. This is why you should
>understand and utilize good passwords.
>
>Good passwords are those that meet these general rules
>(mileage may vary):
>
> Passwords should contain at least six characters, and the character
> string should contain at least three of these four character types:
> - uppercase letters
> - lowercase letters
> - numerals
> - nonalphanumeric characters (e.g., *, %, &, !,
>
> Passwords should not contain your name/username.
> Passwords should be unique to you and easy to remember.
>
>One method many people are using today is to make up a phrase that
>describes a point in their life and then turning that phrase into their
>password by using only certain letters out of each word in that phrase.
>It's much better than using your birthday month/year or your anniversary
>in a pure sense. For example, let's say my phrase is:
> 'Great new job in November 2006'
>I could come up with this password from that:
> 'Gr8n3wj0bNOV2006'
>
>The password tip is in the one time section, but I highly
>recommend you periodically change your passwords. The suggested time
>varies, but I will throw out a 'once in every 3 to 6 months for
>every account you have.'
>
>Also - many people complain that they just cannot remember the passwords
>for all the sites they have - so they choose one password and use it for
>everything. Not a good idea. A much better method would be to use a
>Password Management tool - so you only have to remember one password,
>but it opens an application that stores your username/passwords for
>everything else - plus other valuable information. One that I can
>recommend:
>
> KeePass Password Safe
> http://keepass.sourceforge.net/
>
>It can even generate passwords for you.
>
>
>Tip (5):
>This tip is also 'questionable' in the one time section however -
>if properly setup - this one can be pretty well ignored for most people
>after the initial 'fiddle-with' time.
>
> Why you should use a computer firewall..
> http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/viruses/fwbenefits.mspx
>
>You should, in some way, use a firewall. Hardware (like a nice
>Cable Modem/DSL router) or software is up to you. Many use both of
>these. The simplest one to use is the hardware one, as most people
>don't do anything that they will need to configure their NAT device
>for and those who do certainly will not mind fiddling with the equipment
>to make things work for them. Next in the line of simplicity would
>have to be the built-in Windows Firewall of Windows XP. In SP2 it
>is turned on by default. It is not difficult to turn on in any
>case, however:
>
> More information on the Internet Connection Firewall (Pre-SP2):
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/320855
>
> Post-SP2 Windows Firewall Information/guidance:
> http://snipurl.com/atal
>
>The trouble with the Windows Firewall is that it only keeps things
>out. For most people who maintain their system in other ways, this is
>MORE than sufficient. You may feel otherwise. If you want to
>know when one of your applications is trying to obtain access to the
>outside world so you can stop it, then you will have to install a
>third-party application and configure/maintain it. I have compiled a
>list with links of some of the better known/free firewalls you can choose
>from:
>
> BlackICE PC Protection (~$39.95 and up)
> http://blackice.iss.net/
>
> Comodo Free Fireall (Free)
> http://www.personalfirewall.comodo.com/
>
> Jetico Personal Firewall (Free)
> http://www.jetico.com/index.htm#/jpfirewall.htm
>
> Outpost Firewall from Agnitum (Free and up)
> http://www.agnitum.com/products/outpostfree/
>
> Sunbelt Kerio Personal Firewall (KPF) (Free and up)
> http://www.kerio.com/kpf_download.html
>
> Symantec's Norton Personal Firewall (~$49.95 and up)
> http://www.symantec.com/sabu/nis/npf/
>
> ZoneAlarm (Free and up)
> http://www.zonelabs.com/
>
>You should find the right firewall for your situation in that
>list and set it up if you feel the Windows XP firewall is
>insufficient.
>
>Every firewall WILL require some maintenance. Essentially checking for
>patches or upgrades (this goes for hardware and software solutions) is
>the extent of this maintenance - you may also have to configure your
>firewall to allow some traffic depending on your needs.
>
>** Don't stack the software firewalls! Running more than one software
>firewall will not make you safer - it would possibly negate some
>protection you gleamed from one or the other firewall you run. It is
>fine (and in many ways better) to have the software firewall as well
>as a NAT router.
>
>
>Now that you have some of the more basic things down..
>Let's go through some of the steps you should take periodically to
>maintain a healthy and stable windows computer. If you have not
>done some of these things in the past, they may seem tedious - however,
>they will become routine and some can even be scheduled.
>
>
>Tip (6):
>The system restore feature is only a useful feature if you keep it
>maintained and use it to your advantage. Remember that the system
>restore pretty much tells you in the name what it protects which is
>'system' files. Your documents, your pictures, your stuff is NOT
>system files - so you should also look into some backup solution.
>
>Whenever you think about it (after doing a once-over on your machine
>once a month or so would be optimal) - clear out your System Restore
>and create a manual restoration point.
>
>'Why?'
>
>Too many times have I seen the system restore files go corrupt or get
>a virus in them, meaning you could not or did not want to restore from
>them. By clearing it out periodically you help prevent any corruption
>from happening and you make sure you have at least one good "snapshot".
>(*This, of course, will erase any previous restore point you have.*)
>
> - Turn off System Restore.
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310405
> - Reboot the Computer.
> - Review the first bullet to turn on System Restore
> - Make a Manual Restoration Point.
> http://snipurl.com/68nx
>
>That covers your system files, but doesn't do anything for the files
>that you are REALLY worried about - yours! For that you need to look
>into backups. You can either manually copy your important files, folders,
>documents, spreadsheets, emails, contacts, pictures, drawings and so on
>to an external location (CD/DVD - any disk of some sort, etc) or you can
>use the backup tool that comes with Windows XP:
>
> How To Use Backup to Back Up Files and Folders on Your Computer
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308422
>
>Yes - you still need some sort of external media to store the results
>on, but you could schedule the backup to occur when you are not around,
>then burn the resultant data onto CD or DVD or something when you are
>(while you do other things!)
>
>Another option that seems to still be going strong:
>
> Cobian Backup
> http://www.educ.umu.se/~cobian/cobianbackup.htm
>
>A lot of people have wondered about how to completely backup their system
>so that they would not have to go through the trouble of a reinstall..
>I'm going to voice my opinion here and say that it would be worthless to
>do for MOST people. Unless you plan on periodically updating the image
>backup of your system (remaking it) - then by the time you use it
>(something goes wrong) - it will be so outdated as to be more trouble than
>performing a full install of the operating system and all applications.
>
>Having said my part against it, you can clone/backup your hard drive
>completely using many methods - by far the simplest are using disk cloning
>applications:
>
> Symantec/Norton Ghost
> http://snipurl.com/13e00
>
> Acronis True Image
> http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing/products/trueimage/
>
> BootItT NG
> http://terabyteunlimited.com/bootitng.html
>
>Tip (7):
>You should sometimes look through the list of applications that are
>installed on your computer. The list may surprise you. There are more
>than likely things in there you know you never use - so why have them
>there? There may even be things you know you did *not* install and
>certainly do not use (maybe don't WANT to use.)
>
>This web site should help you get started at looking through this list:
>
> How to Uninstall Programs
> http://snipurl.com/8v6b
>
> How to change or remove a program in Windows XP
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307895
>
>A word of warning - Do NOT uninstall anything you think you MIGHT need
>in the future unless you have completed Tip (1) and have the installation
>media and proper keys for use backed up somewhere safe!
>
>Tip (8):
>Patches and Updates!
>
>This one cannot be stressed enough. It is SO simple, yet so neglected
>by many people. It is really simple for the critical Microsoft patches!
>Microsoft put in an AUTOMATED feature for you to utilize so that you do
>NOT have to worry yourself about the patching of the Operating System:
>
> How to configure and use Automatic Updates in Windows XP
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306525
>
>However, not everyone wants to be a slave to automation, and that is
>fine. Admittedly, I prefer this method on some of my more critical
>systems.
>
> Windows Update
> http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/
>
>Go there and scan your machine for updates. Always get the critical ones
>as you see them. Write down the KB###### or Q###### you see when
>selecting the updates and if you have trouble over the next few days,
>go into your control panel (Add/Remove Programs), insure that the
>'Show Updates' checkbox is checked and match up the latest numbers you
>downloaded recently (since you started noticing an issue) and uninstall
>them. If there was more than one (usually is), uninstall them one by one
>with a few hours of use in between, to see if the problem returns.
>Yes - the process is not perfect (updating) and can cause trouble like I
>mentioned - but as you can see, the solution isn't that bad - and is
>MUCH better than the alternatives.
>
>Windows is not the only product you likely have on your PC. The
>manufacturers of the other products usually have updates. New versions
>of almost everything come out all the time - some are free, some are pay
>and some you can only download if you are registered - but it is best
>to check. Just go to their web pages and look under their support and
>download sections. For example, for Microsoft Office you should visit:
>
> Microsoft Office Updates
> http://office.microsoft.com/
> (and select 'Check for Updates' and/or 'Downloads' for more)
>
>You also have hardware on your machine that requires drivers to interface
>with the operating system. You have a video card that allows you to see on
>your screen, a sound card that allows you to hear your PCs sound output and
>so on. Visit those manufacturer web sites for the latest downloadable
>drivers for your hardware/operating system. Always get the manufacturers'
>hardware driver over any Microsoft offers. On the Windows Update site I
>mentioned earlier, I suggest NOT getting their hardware drivers - no matter
>how tempting.
>
>How do you know what hardware you have in your computer? Break out the
>invoice or if it is up and working now - take inventory:
>
> Belarc Advisor
> http://belarc.com/free_download.html
>
>Once you know what you have, what next? Go get the latest driver for your
>hardware/OS from the manufacturer's web page. For example, let's say you
>have an NVidia chipset video card or ATI video card, perhaps a Creative
>Labs sound card or C-Media chipset sound card...
>
> NVidia Video Card Drivers
> http://www.nvidia.com/content/drivers/drivers.asp
>
> ATI Video Card Drivers
> http://ati.amd.com/support/driver.html
>
> Creative Labs Sound Device
> http://us.creative.com/support/downloads/
>
> C-Media Sound Device
> http://www.cmedia.com.tw/?q=en/driver
>
>Then install these drivers. Updated drivers are usually more stable and
>may provide extra benefits/features that you really wished you had before.
>
>As for Service Pack 2 (SP2) for Windows XP, Microsoft has made this
>particular patch available in a number of ways. First, there is the
>Windows Update web page above. Then there is a direct download site.
>
> Direct Download of Service Pack 2 (SP2) for Windows XP
> http://snipurl.com/8bqy
>
> Order Windows XP Service Pack 2 on CD
> http://snipurl.com/d41v
>
>If all else fails - grab the full download above and try to use that.
>In this case - consider yourself a 'IT professional or developer'.
>
>Tip (9):
>What about the dreaded word in the computer world, VIRUS?
>
>Well, there are many products to choose from that will help you prevent
>infections from these horrid little applications. Many are FREE to the
>home user and which you choose is a matter of taste, really. Many people
>have emotional attachments or performance issues with one or another
>AntiVirus software. Try some out, read reviews and decide for yourself
>which you like more:
>
>( Good Comparison Page for AV software: http://www.av-comparatives.org/ )
>
> AntiVir (Free and up)
> http://www.free-av.com/
>
> avast! (Free and up)
> http://www.avast.com/
>
> AVG Anti-Virus System (Free and up)
> http://free.grisoft.com/
>
> ca Anti-Virus (~$49.99 and up)
> http://snipurl.com/13e0u
>
> eset NOD32 (~$39.00 and up)
> http://www.eset.com/products/
>
> Kaspersky Anti-Virus (~$39.95 and up)
> http://www.kaspersky.com/kav6
>
> McAfee VirusScan (~$39.99 and up)
> http://www.mcafee.com/
>
> Panda Antivirus Titanium (~$39.95 and up)
> http://www.pandasoftware.com/products/antivirus2007.htm
> (Free Online Scanner: http://www.pandasoftware.com/activescan/)
>
> Symantec (Norton) AntiVirus (~$39.99 and up)
> http://snipurl.com/13e12
>
> Trend Micro (~$44.95 and up)
> http://www.trendmicro.com/en/products/desktop/tav/
> (Free Online Scanner:
> http://housecall.trendmicro.com/housecall/start_corp.asp)
>
>Most of them have automatic update capabilities. You will have to
>look into the features of the one you choose. Whatever one you finally
>settle with - be SURE to keep it updated (I recommend at least daily) and
>perform a full scan periodically (yes, most protect you actively, but a
>full scan once a month at 4AM probably won't bother you.)
>
>Tip (10):
>The most rampant infestation at the current time concerns SPYWARE/ADWARE.
>You need to eliminate it from your machine.
>
>There is no one software that cleans and immunizes you against
>everything. Antivirus software - you only needed one. Firewall, you
>only needed one. AntiSpyware - you will need several. I have a list and
>I recommend you use at least the first five.
>
>First - make sure you have NOT installed "Rogue AntiSpyware". There are
>people out there who created AntiSpyware products that actually install
>spyware of their own! You need to avoid these:
>
> Rogue/Suspect Anti-Spyware Products & Web Sites
> http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm
>
>Also, you can always visit this site..
> http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
>For more updated information.
>
>Install the first five of these: (Install, Run, Update, Scan with..)
>(If you already have one or more - uninstall them and download the
>LATEST version from the page given!)
>
> Lavasoft AdAware (Free and up)
> http://www.lavasoft.de/products/ad-aware_se_personal.php
> (How-to: http://snipurl.com/atdn )
>
> Spybot Search and Destroy (Free!)
> http://www.safer-networking.net/en/download/
> (How-to: http://snipurl.com/atdk )
>
> SpywareBlaster (Free!)
> http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/sbdownload.html
> (How-to: http://snipurl.com/ate6 )
>
> IE-SPYAD2 (Free!)
> http://www.spywarewarrior.com/uiuc/resource.htm#IESPYAD
> (How-to: http://snipurl.com/ate7 )
>
> SuperAntiSpyware (Free and up)
> http://www.superantispyware.com/
>
> CWShredder Stand-Alone (Free!)
> http://www.trendmicro.com/cwshredder/
>
> Hijack This! (Free!)
> http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/downloads.html
> (Log Analyzer: http://hjt.networktechs.com/ )
>
> Bazooka Adware and Spyware Scanner (Free!)
> http://www.kephyr.com/spywarescanner/
> (How-to: http://snipurl.com/ate3 )
>
> ToolbarCop (Free!)
> http://windowsxp.mvps.org/toolbarcop.htm
>
> Ccleaner (Free!)
> http://www.ccleaner.com/
>
> Browser Security Tests (Free Tester)
> http://www.jasons-toolbox.com/BrowserSecurity/
>
> Popup Tester (Free Tester)
> http://www.popuptest.com/
>
> The Cleaner (~$49.95 and up)
> http://www.moosoft.com/
>
>Sometimes you need to install the application and reboot into SAFE MODE in
>order to thoroughly clean your computer. Many applications also have
>(or are) immunization applications. Spybot Search and Destroy and
>SpywareBlaster are two that currently do the best job at passively
>protecting your system from malware. None of these programs (in these
>editions) run in the background unless you TELL them to. The space they
>take up and how easy they are to use greatly makes up for any inconvenience
>you may be feeling.
>
>Please notice that Windows XP SP2 does help stop popups as well.
>
>Another option is to use an alternative Web browser. I suggest
>'Mozilla Firefox', as it has some great features and is very easy to use:
>
> Mozilla Firefox
> http://www.mozilla.com/firefox/
>
>
>So your machine is pretty clean and up to date now. If you use the sections
>above as a guide, it should stay that way as well! There are still a few
>more things you can do to keep your machine running in top shape.
>
>Tip (11):
>You should periodically check your hard drive(s) for errors and defragment
>them. Only defragment after you have cleaned up your machine of
>outside parasites and never defragment as a solution to a quirkiness in
>your system. It may help speed up your system, but it should be clean
>before you do this. Do these things IN ORDER...
>
> How to use Disk Cleanup
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310312
>
> How to scan your disks for errors
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315265
>
> How to Defragment your hard drives
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314848
>
>I would personally perform the above steps at least once every three months.
>For most people this should be sufficient, but if the difference you notice
>afterwards is greater than you think it should be, lessen the time in
>between its schedule.. If the difference you notice is negligible, you can
>increase the time.
>
>Tip (12):
>SPAM! JUNK MAIL!
>This one can get annoying, just like the rest. You get 50 emails in one
>sitting and 2 of them you wanted. NICE! (Not.) What can you do? Well,
>although there are services out there to help you, some email
>servers/services that actually do lower your spam with features built into
>their servers - I still like the methods that let you be the end-decision
>maker on what is spam and what is not. I have a few products to suggest
>to you, look at them and see if any of them suite your needs. Again, if
>they don't, Google is free and available for your perusal.
>
> SpamBayes (Free!)
> http://spambayes.sourceforge.net/
>
> Spamihilator (Free!)
> http://www.spamihilator.com/
>
> MailWasher
> http://www.mailwasher.net/
>
>As I said, those are not your only options, but are reliable ones I have
>seen function for hundreds+ people.
>
>Tip (13):
>ADVANCED TIP! Only do this once you are comfortable under the hood of your
>computer!
>
>There are lots of services on your PC that are probably turned on by default
>you don't use. Why have them on? Check out these web pages to see what all
>of the services you might find on your computer are and set them according
>to your personal needs. Be CAREFUL what you set to manual, and take heed
>and write down as you change things! Also, don't expect a large performance
>increase or anything - especially on today's 2+ GHz machines, however - I
>look at each service you set to manual as one less service you have to worry
>about someone exploiting.
>
> Service Configuration Tips
> http://www.tweakhound.com/xp/xptweaks/supertweaks6.htm
>
> Configuring Services
> http://smallvoid.com/tweak/winnt/services.html
>
> Task List Programs
> http://www.answersthatwork.com/Tasklist_pages/tasklist.htm
>
> Processes in Windows NT/2000/XP
> http://www.reger24.de/prozesse/
>
>There are also applications that AREN'T services that startup when you start
>up the computer/logon. One of the better description on how to handle these
>I have found here:
>
> Startups
> http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_content.php
>
>
>If you follow the advice laid out above (and do some of your own research as
>well, so you understand what you are doing) - your computer will stay fairly
>stable and secure and you will have a more trouble-free system.
>
>--
>Shenan Stanley
> MS-MVP
Have a good day,
RScotti
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