So basically these are some general things you can do, to make your computer work faster and to be more secure. Did a thread like this at the old PJ forum, but it was not moved to the new board...

Follow the images.

1.Check your Windows User Profile size:

Right-click “My computer” – either on Desktop or Start Menu – choose “Properties”


Go to “Advanced” -tab -> “User Profiles” -> “Settings”


Check the size from “Size” field:


If the user profile is over 100MB some actions should be taken.You should never save anything on Desktop or My Documents, including My Music, My Pictures etc. (shortcuts on Desktop are okay). When you save files here, your computer – for reasons which are way too long to explain here – starts to slowdown, it takes more and more time to load the desktop at startup etc.

Instead, create new folders on the root of drive C or D, and move/save all your files here, where you can create folders like C:\Music, C:\Pictures etc. You can create shortcuts to these folders on Desktop, so they are quickly available.

Check the profile size again, it should be smaller now.

2. Check that your Internet web-browser is up-to-date. If you’re using Internet Explorer it should be version 8, Mozilla Firefox should be 3.5.3 (2009-10-14). Make sure that you web-browser always deletes all the history-data after you close it (because it’s THE place for viruses and spyware).

Here’s how you make sure IE8 deletes the history-data:

Goto Tools -> Internet Options

Select “Delete browsing history on exit” and press “Delete…”

From new window (Delete Browsing History) select all but the first box and press “Delete”


From the previous window, click “Browsing History” -> “Settings”


In Mozilla Firefox, go to Tools -> Settings… -> Privacy tab

Select “Use custom settings for history” and choose settings shown in the pictures below:





3. Scan your system from spyware and viruses. Several free antivirus programs are available, Antivir, Avast, Microsoft Security Essentials (only for legal copies of Windows).

http://www.free-av.com/
http://www.avast.com/
http://www.microsoft.com/Security_essentials/

Check that the antivirus-program has the latest virus-definitions. After that do a full system-scan.

For spyware, use Spybot Search & Destroy, IObit Security 360 and any other spyware-removal tool you might have.

Spybot Search & Destroy is available at http://www.safer-networking.org/index2.html

Always update the program before running the scan:






Start the scan:


IObit Security 360 is available at http://www.iobit.com/


First update the program: “Check for Update”


Then do a full-scan: “Scan” -> “Full Scan”



4. After scanning your system from viruses and spyware, defragment the hard-drive. Third party tools are available, one such is Defraggler, which is free and available at:

http://www.filehippo.com/download_defraggler




Start the program and press “Analyze” and then “Defrag”


It might take several “runs” before all the files are defragmented. When the amount
is less than ~200mb, you don’t necessary have run the program anymore.


And last but not least, ALWAYS take backups, because one day your computers hard-drive will break. Burn the data on cd or dvd, or buy separate hard-drive that you use only for backups.

UPDATE: Made some changes for suggested Mozilla Firefox settings.

My tip to all PC users: Stop downloading porn.

Thanks

Holy shit

My profile is 60GBs

Delete browsing history, really? Seems weird to me.

quit storing things on your desktop!

I've don't it either. I've never known anyone that has does it either. I don't think it is a serious problem. Deleting history is usually used so people don't find your porn.

Avoidance is the best. You can reduce your chances of infection 99% by refraining from risky behavior. It is also a lot easier than going through the frustrations of trying to use linux.

I just did this stuff except for the defragment... I will do that later. Will see if it helps. Thanks.

I use linux everyday on my home PC and it's never been frustrating to the point of quitting the thing.

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