Computer Maintenance Guide

Many Computer Problems are caused by Spyware, Virus or simply a bad maintained System. For me incomprehensible, because it is rather easy to avoid such Problems. But reading through Forums let me shudder how little Experience many of you have, if it comes down to Basic Computer Knowledge.
With this (very basic) Article will i try to show you a way to a safer, and therefore better Computer, that you can enjoy a relaxed and problem free gaming.

Grab something to drink, sit back and read throughout this little Help-Article. Afterwards will you -hopefully!- be able to protect your Computer against threats from the Internet. Which means, that you will be able to maintain also a good overall Performance with a few easy Measures.
I try to explain some Basics, introduce some "must have" Tools and provide you Links that you can download the Tools right away.

Note: all the Tools are FREE available - so you don't have to buy anything!

(I'm absolutely aware of the fact, that many of you know the stuff in this thread already, and i'm glad you do. In that case simply move on and avoid flaming or pointless discussions, because this thread is meant for those who actually want to learn something about Computers... though, if you have *reasonable* suggestions or arguments don't hesitate to let me/us know about it.

This Article is written for Windows XP - no '95, no '98, no ME, no 2k and no Vista- ONLY XP!!

Guide Overview

Protect your Computer against Virus

Personal AntiVir - This Anti Virus Tool have proven many times, that it is one of the best free available AV-Tools out there. It is even better than some expensive AV-Tools and have won many Awards. It is very easy to use, because it does more or less the work all alone. After the Installation will it start a first Full System Scan, which can take a hour or more (depending how much data you have on your HD and how fast your system is). Best you let it finish this Test, even it take a while. (otherwise this tool would be useless, if you hinder it from it's work)
You should run such a Full Systen Scan once a Month, but better every 2 weeks!
This AV-Tool has a permanent Guard (symbol in tray) and should be updated minimum once a week! To do so rightclick the System-Tray Icon and choose "Internetupdate" to start the Update Function. This Procedure is self explaining and take only a few seconds (if you have fast internet.

The Tool is Freeware, so it has -unfortunately- also it negative Sides!
The main Minus-Point is the not included Email Protection. Yes, it does catch Virus that is send to you by Email, but only if it's in an Attachment. The Tool is not able to detect Scripts! But with a proper configured Email-Client is this also no Problem.

The Tool is Freeware, so it has -unfortunately- also it negative Sides!
The main Minus-Point is the not included Email Protection. Yes, it does catch Virus that is send to you by Email, but only if it's in an Attachment. The Tool is not able to detect Scripts! But with a proper configured Email-Client is this also no Problem.

I use Personal AntiVir since several years and never had any serious issue with a Virus - therefore would i recommend it to everybody who doesn't want to buy a "big name" Product.
IF you plan to buy a Professional Anti Virus Solution, get rid of the popular Norton Products. They are good in fighting Virus, but they are also enormous Resource Waster and pay back all it's good Sides in form of Problems. Very good commercial Products are Kaspersky or BitDefender. (Panda is also very good, because it use the BitDefender Engine [afaik])

Personal AntiVir - Homepage and Download

Guide Overview

Remove Spyware to keep your Privacy

Spybot - Search & Destroy - Is considered the best Spyware Removal Tool. It don't just remove Spyware, it also can immunize your System that Spyware don't get on your Computer at all. Like a AV-Tool should a Spyware Remover be up to date. This means, updates once a week, if available! The use of this Tool is as easy as the AV-Tool and generally self explaining. After the Installation will it run a Wizard with the most important Tasks (loading update, scan the computer for spyware and so on).

Note: Always tell the Program to make a Backup before you delete anything. It is possible that some Software don't work proper after the Tool cleaned Ad-ware! The Tool itself will warn you before it delete anything - Don't ignore the Warning by the Tool! If a Program stops to work because S&D deleted a needed File, simply use the Backup Function to roll back the last Step.

Spybot - Search & Destroy - Homepage and Download
Alternative Program: Ad-Aware - Homepage

Guide Overview

Know what Hardware you use with a System Information Tool

Everest Home Edition - Formerly known as AIDA32! It is absolutely mandatory to know what Hardware is inside the Computer Case, if you want to have an up to date System! It is impossible to install proper Driver, Patches, Hotfixes and Updates, if you have no Idea what components are in your Computer Case. This little Tool deserve the title "godly" for sure! Not only does it show you all possible Info about your Hardware, it also provide you with Weblinks to the Developers of the Hardware, that it is an easy to find up to date Driver. But this Tool can even more, because it is also able to read out Mainboard-Sensors and Information such as S.M.A.R.T., so it is an easy to detect possible Problems before they occur! (e.g. heat issues) You can not produce any nonsense with this Tool, so click on all and everything, that you learn something about your Computer.

Note: In case this tool installs in German Language, simply launch the Program and click on "Datei", "Einstellungen" and click right side on "English" and confirm with "Ok".

Everest Home Edition - Homepage and Download
Alternative Program: SiSoft Sandra - Homepage

Guide Overview

More Power with properly updated Driver

DriverCleaner Pro - The Source number one for Computer Problems are Driver issues! Very often is the reason incorrect Driver handling. The furthest spread common error is to install a newer Driver over an existing Driver. No matter what your Friends or "wannabes" tell you, do this never!
Here is the correct way to update a Driver at the Example of a Graphics Driver for nVidia Cards. (i presuppose the new driver is already downloaded)

The very first Step is to set a System Checkpoint, that you can Restore the System in Case the new Driver causes Problems! To do so click Start, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, System Restore and Create a Checkpoint. (this is also the place to roll back your system if necessary)
Next Step is to open the Control Panel, Software and uninstall the Driver. In our case nVidia Display Driver. Now restart the Computer and during the boot process -immediately after the BIOS screen disappear and before the Progress Bar appears- press the F8 Key (best do it repeatedly to not miss the exact moment when to press). This will let XP start in Safe Mode. Now abort the Windows Wizard that ask you for a Driver CD for the new found Hardware. Start DriverCleaner Pro, read and confirm the Warning. Click the pulldown and choose "nVidia", now click "Start". The Tool will now remove all remainings of the old Driver, to avoid incompatibly (possible troublemaker) between the remaining of the old Driver and the new Driver, which we will install in a minute.

If the Tool is done, close it and reboot the Computer and let it start normal. Once again, abort the Windows Wizard and browse to the downloaded nVidia Driver. Doubleclick it and follow the Instructions. Reboot again after the new Driver is installed. Now go straight to the Graphics Driver Panel and set your desired Resolution, Hz and whatever you want to adjust.

DriverCleaner Pro - Homepage (Turned into a commercial Product. Please use Google to find a free version)
Guru3D - Download

Guide Overview

The Heart of your Computer - The Windows Registry

RegCleaner - Very slim, a bit outdated, but still a great Tool! Unfortunately did happen to this Tool what happens every Day to other Tools - once popular, do the Developers think they must make it commercial and utterly fail! But luck for you and me, that the almighty Internet keep things alive for us.
The Tool is easy to use and very powerful. After you have downloaded it, doubleclick the File. Tell the Tool where you want to install it to and proceed. Now browse to the Folder you just installed RegCleaner to and doubleclick the "RegCleanr.exe" to start the Program. It offers alot Functions, but what we need is a bit hidden. Click "Tools" and "Registry Cleanup", now click on "Do them All" and let the Tool do it's work. Now click on an Entry and then press "CTRL + A" to mark all Entries. Click "Remove Selected" and bye bye useless Registry Crap.
Do this regularly, maybe once every 2 weeks, to keep your Registry as thin as possible.

RegCleaner - Homepage

Note: This Tool is not any longer available on the Homepage. If you visit the Homepage of the Developer you will only find the newer jv16 Tools, which is a commercial Software!
Alternative Program: Windows Spring Cleaning

Guide Overview

The all-in-one Wonder

TuneUp Utilities - This is a commercial Program! But if there is any Tool out there that is worth the 40 Bucks then it is TuneUp Utilities! It is for Computer Experts as well as Beginners very useful and rather easy to use. You can clean up your HD and Registry with it, optimize System Settings, fix Problems, tweak the System Performance, change the Windows optic and many many more.
This Tools is very handy if you are Computer Beginner, because it have 1-click Wizards that Guide you through System clean up and System Optimization.
I could write a 5 Page Report about it's Functions, but it is best if you download the Shareware-Version and test it for yourself. All Functions are very detailed explained and if you get lost or don't understand something, simply press F1 and the excellent written Help will explain you what effect the changes will have.
I use this Tool since the veeeery old version TuneUp Utilities '95 and it always did an excellent job.

TuneUp Utilities - Homepage and Download (Shareware - commercial Tool)

Guide Overview

The Controversy - Firewalls

Sunbelt Personal Firewall - Hmm, i think no other Software was Subject of so many Diskussions as the Software-Firewalls. While one is convinced from it's Advantage, is the other of the Opinion that it's a piece of useless Trash. Independently the fact which side is correct is it better to have one installed than be completely without one.

Firewalls don't only block attackers from outside, but also let you control which Application is allowed to send data to the Internet. The advantage of this is obvious: you will be alerted if a Trojan or some other App try to phone home and you can stop this from happen.

Sunbelt Personal Firewall works silently in the background and watch the incoming and outgoing Traffic and ask you what to do, if something unusual happens. You can set Rules for every Application and Sunbelt will remember this and will not ask you again in the Future. For Example, if you start the first time Counter-Strike after you installed Sunbelt, will it immediately popup a Alertbox and informs you, that the Application "Steam.exe" tries to access the Internet. Then you have the option to tell Sunbelt to allow it or to block it. Once Steam has started and launches Counter-Strike and you click on "Find Server" will a Alertbox popup again, because now "HL.exe" tries to access the Internet. You can allow or block this too. This will happen for every Application that tries to access the Internet or your local Network.

Note: this can be annoying if always popup appears, whenever you try to access the Internet with a Program. But remember, that you need to set only once a rule and Sunbelt will not ask you again. DO NOT click always "allow" only to get rid of the annoying Message! It have a reason why this is called "ALERTbox". Verify if this Application is really allowed to access the Internet. If you have not clicked anything and out of the blue pops up a Alert and tells you that a Program you never heard of tries to contact some Server over the Internet, think twice before you click "allow", just to get rid of the message.

Note: If you are connected to the Internet through a NAT-Router (e.g. as DSL User) or any other Router with integrated Firewall, then you don't need an extra Firewall to block attacks from the Internet. Also XP Service Pack 2 has an included and by default activated Firewall.

Sunbelt Personal Firewall - Homepage and Download
Alternative Program: Outpost Firewall Pro - Homepage
(commercial Product, but one of the best FW Solutions. It offers much more than just Application Control. It has also included Plug-Ins to block Web-Threats and filters out unwanted Ads and Graphics from Internet-Sites [similar to adblock for FireFox], plus it has a "Net-Nanny" to block illegal and unwanted Websites)

Guide Overview

Improve your System with Windows XP Tools

Frequently Updates and a Clean Up now and then and you will be rewarded with a smoothly running System. It is important that you keep your Windows up to date! Microsoft releases Security updates and bugfixes, to make your System invulnerable against threats from Internet. It is very easy to update your Windows. To do so start your Internet Explorer, click "Tools" and "Windows Update". Choose a Update Method and follow the Instructions.
Note: if you never updated your System before, will this take a while and a fast Internet Connection (or alot time) is highly recommended! Check for Updates twice a Month.

To maintain a smooth working System is it recommended to free up wasted Space and defragment your HD from time to time (once every 2-3 weeks should be enough).
Before we start the Clean Up, set a System Checkpoint! (click Start, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, System Restore and Create a Checkpoint)
Now open "My Computer", rightclick on your Drive C: (windows partition) and click "Properties". On the "General Tab" click the "Disk Cleanup" button. A new Window will open with the Disk Cleanup Dialog Box. Click on all Entries to set a check-mark and then click the "More Options Tab". Click the Clean Up Button in the "System Restore Box" and then click Ok. (Note: it will always keep the last checkpoint that was set, that we can undo our actions) Confirm again and Windows will start to free up Space on your HD.
Write down or remember how much free space you had on C: before this clean up and compare it after the clean up finished - so you can see if it was worth the effort.

But to clean up the Disk alone is not enough. You have to defragment the Disk in order to get a smoothly working System! Open "My Computer", rightclick your Drive C: and click "Properties". At "Tool Tab" click "Defragment Now" which opens the Disk Defragmenter. Highlight your Drive C: and then click "Defragment". If you have more than one Drive (respectively Partitions) repeat this process for each disk.
Note: if you never used defrag on your disk before, will it take quite a while. This means, that it -depending how fast your computer is- can take up to several hours! Best you let the Defragmentation run over night or when you are not at home. If you defragment your Computer regularly, will this only take few minutes.

Guide Overview

Windows Spring Cleaning

It is time consuming and often tricky to make a complete System cleanup to get rid of all the garbage that piling up in the course of time. Fortunately for us, did some coding genius out there had the same problems and developed great tools for our convenience. One of these great tools is CCleaner (Crap Cleaner). It is more or less a complete Cleanup Suite that is capable of cleaning the normal crap and also Software-related unneeded files. A Highlight of this tool is the included Registry-Cleaner! The Registry-Cleaner is not as powerful as the one in the TuneUp Utilities (see above), but it's doing a good job nonetheless. The Website is excellent with many Screenshots, a Quick-Tour for new user and a competent Support Forum.
The first configuration took me about 15 minutes, because i did not like the default cleanup settings. But this is maybe just me, because i'm someone who look behind the default and like to keep the one or another thing this software would erase. (for example certain Cookies, browser history and so on)
Generally is to say, that the Default Cleanup Settings are okay for the most user and you can use them without fear. This Software is certainly of the category "a must have", so don't hestitate and get your free copy right now. Make sure to read the Quick-Tour before you start.
And remember: backup is your friend!
CCleaner will ask if you want to make a backup before it clean the Registry - say YES!

CCleaner - Homepage and Download

Guide Overview


Ok, that's it...
I hope this Article will help you a little bit to improve your Computer Knowledge.

© 2007 by Bossi