Caring for Your PC

This is for the never-ending number of people that know how to operate their computers, but really do not know how to maintain their computers. I know some people that can program but can't seem to figure out how to deal with viruses or spyware on their computer(s). Then there is the another group that assumes that all that they need to do is install the anti-virus software and that will stop all viruses from getting onto their computer. Lastly, there is the group of people that think that a virus is a cold, something only humans can get. Do a few simple things each month to keep your computer running in tip-top condition. These things that I refer to are scanning for viruses, scanning for spyware, cleaning the registry, and deleting temporary internet files.

Scanning for viruses seems to be the most simple thing to start out with. I personally use AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition for virus protection. For Spyware I use either Malwarebytes, Spybot Search and Destroy, or Ad-Aware 2009. For registry cleaning I use Ccleaner.

First, update your anti-virus, spyware, and registry cleaning software. Second, restart your computer in safemode:

1. Turn off your computer.
2. Turn your computer on.
3. Immediately start tapping the F8 key.
4. A list of options in black and white should appear.
5. Use the arrow keys to navigate to safemode and press enter.
6. Login to your account.
7. Click "yes" to tell the computer that you want to work in safemode.
8. navigate through the start menu to find your anti-virus software.

Congratulations you are now in safemode and ready to scan for viruses! Most anti-virus software has options for a quick, custom, or full scan. Run a full scan. Be warned that this may take 1 or more hours depending upon how large your hard drive is and if your computer has many viruses on it.
...waiting...
Great, its done...what now? Now check and see if it found any viruses if it did remove them and if it cannot remove them quarantine them. Close your virus scanning program.

Thirdly, clean your computer of spyware! Open your spyware scanning program from the start menu. Then tell it to run a full scan it may also say something like check for problems. This can also take 1 hour or more.
...waiting...
Nice! Its done, now what? Now look and see if it found any infections and tell it to fix them or remove them depending upon the program.

Fourth, its now time to clean your registry and delete any temporary internet files. I like to use Ccleaner to clean my registry and clear out my temporary files. If you use something different find that or Ccleaner in the start menu. On the Windows tab tell it to "Run Cleaner." This should only take a few minutes unless you have a really bogged down system.
...wait...
Then on the applications tab click "Run Cleaner."
...wait...
Then click the Registry Button and tell it to scan for issues. Finally, tell it to fix selected issues. Now you have gotten rid of your old temporary files and any registry issues.

Is your computer still running slow. Now might be the time to tell your computer to check for errors the next time you restart and to run disk defragmenter to help speed things up. Open "My Computer" and right click on drive C: and choose properties. Then click the tools tab and tell it to "Check for Errors." It will ask if you want it to do that the next time your computer restarts, say yes. Then choose Defragment Now. Click the Defragment button to start. Wait until that finishes and then tell your computer to restart and let it run error checking before it goes to your login screen. Now, your computer should be happy and healthy for another month.

Other Tidbits:
Do NOT click on pop-up windows unless you clicked a link in a website and it belongs to that website.
Reputable anti-virus or spyware cleaning software will NEVER pop-up and tell you that you have however many viruses on your computer, don't buy or install this crap under any circumstances!
Use alt+F4 to close unwanted pop-up windows.
If your computer seems to be slowing down start looking for issues by completing the steps above.

I hope that this helps anybody that has been wondering why their computer is slow.