Computer Maintenance Tips

Virus & Spyware Cleanup Tools
Having problems lately with virus and spyware infections? Here's what works well for me.

I suggest running Ad-Aware, Spybot Search & Destroy, and Microsoft AntiSpyware programs with current program and spyware definition updates.

Ad-Aware Personal

Spybot Search & Destroy

Microsoft Windows Defender

I highly recommend AntiVir. I learned on a hi-tech discussion board that this software is exactly the same as Vexira, its extremely expensive, commercial counterpart. It has FAR outperformed Norton AntiVirus, in my opinion.

AntiVir

Run these online, commercial-strength cleanup tools. This is what computer shops use to clean up viruses:

Housecall

Panda ActiveScan

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Microsoft Windows XP Professional Post-Installation Tips
Here are some post-installation tips I learned from a computer guru. You may want to choose some of your own settings instead.

Customizing your Desktop

1. Right-click on an empty space on your Desktop and select "Properties.
2. Click "Desktop" tab and select "Customize Desktop."
3. Select Desktop icons you want to appear on your Desktop.
4. Finally, deselect "Run desktop cleanup Wizard every 60 days" and click "OK" or else the Wizard will automatically wipe out your Desktop icons periodically.
   

Customizing Power Management

1. Right-click My Computer icon on Desktop and select "Properties."
2. Choose "Hardware" tab and click "Device Manager."
3. Click plus sign (+) beside "Universal Serial Bus Controllers."
4. Right-click "USB Root Hub" and select "Properties."
5. Choose "Power Management" tab.
6. Deselect "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power" and click "OK" twice.

Resetting More Power Management Controls

1. Go to "START" and select "Control Panel."
2. Click "Performance and Maintenance.
3. Click "Power Options."
4. Change all to "Never." (Here I set my monitor to turn off after 20 minutes' idle time.)
5. Click "Advanced" tab and deselect "Prompt for password when computer resumes from standby."
6. Select "Hibernate" tab and deselect "Enable hibernation."
7. Click "Apply" and "OK."

Clean Up Startup Programs

1. Go to "START" and select "Run."
2. Type: msconfig and click "OK."
3. Select "Startup" tab.
4. Remove Microsoft Messenger and Microsoft Office if you have a limited amount of memory. (For more help recognizing software programs which hog your startup memory, check the Startup Applications List.)
5. Click "Apply" and "Close."
   

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Updated August 7, 2008