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Keiran2K8 · #1 13-10-06, 11:59 PM

This guide is not one to replace the current " Optimise Your Broadband Connection"!
This guide is to help you tweak out the last bit of performance out of your machine.

I wrote the guide judging most users are on XP/Win2000 as this guide is tried and tested with these only. Feel free to try it out on other O/S and post your results.

All the apps mentioned are freeware and is a free guide created by ME!

We have all experienced it.. When you first brought your computer you were probably amazed at how fast it was ..... Over the time your browsed the net and downloaded some stuff.... And as time went by you started loosing some performance from your computer.... But you thaught dont worry its getting old... But now due to some simple easy-to-use apps we can try and get back some of that peformance we hav lost over the time....
So i have wrote the following for people who may have experienced this... I have wrote the following intentioning it that the majority of users will be using the Windows XP Platform as their operating system.......

To achieve the best performance out of your computer I suggest doing these following:

Cleaning up cache, cookies and history: Daily
Disk Cleanup: Daily
Defragmenting: Bi-weekly
Error checking: Bi-weekly
Virus scanning: Weekly
Spyware removal: Weekly
Adware removal: Weekly
Trojan removal: Weekly

Since computers do not come with the spyware, adware and Trojan removal tool here are
addresses to download the programs I am typing the guides to.

Spybot Search and Destroy v1.3 :
Spybot - Search & Destroy - Free Software Downloads and Software Reviews - Download.com
Ad-Aware SE Personal Edition 1.05 :
Ad-Aware SE Personal Edition - Free Software Downloads and Software Reviews - Download.com
The Cleaner Professional 4.1 :
The Cleaner Professional - Free Software Downloads and Software Reviews - Download.com

If you do these tasks as recommended they will not take as long, if you don't
they will take longer when they are actually ran. It is also recommended when
you run these applications you do not do other tasks.

How to clean up cache, cookies and history:
1. Right click on the internet explorer icon on the desktop, then click properties.
2. Click delete cookies, a window will pop up then click ok.
3. Click delete files, a window will pop up then check the Delete all offline content box. Then click okay.
4. Click clear history, a window will pop up then click yes.

How to do disk cleanup:
1. Double click the my computer icon on the desktop. The my computer window will open. Right click on Local Disk (C):. Click properties. Under the general tab it will show a button that says disk cleanup click it.
2. It will automatically start scanning. (It may take a while.)
3. When finished a window will pop up. Check everybox then click ok. It will ask do you wish to perform these actions click yes. (This may also take a while.)

How to defragment:
1. Double click the my computer icon on the desktop. The my computer window will open. Right click on Local Disk (C

. Click properties.
2. Select the tools tab. Then click the Defragment now button.
3. A window will open name disk defragmenter. Then select the hard drive (c

and click defragment. This process may take a while depending on how often the disk volume is defragmented.
How to error-check:
1. Double click the my computer icon on the desktop. The my computer window will open. Right click on Local Disk (C

. Click properties.
2. Select the tools tab. Under the error-checking section click check now.
3. A window will pop up with options check the two boxes then click start.
4. It will say that it will run at the next restart. So restart the computer. This process will take a while (20 minutes). It will reboot itself when it is finished.

How to scan for viruses:
(This isn't very detailed because there are many different programs for this, and I didn't feel like installing each to type separate guides.)
1. Double click the virus scanners icon on the desktop.
2. Before doing any scanning I suggest you search for updates on virus definitions then restarting your computer if you update them.
3. When your virus scanner loads click Scan for Viruses. Then scan your entire computer for viruses. It'll start scanning a few seconds later. This process will also take about 20-30 minutes.
4. If your scan finds anything you should try to quarantine it or delete it all together.

How to use Spybot to remove spyware:
(Warning: Some programs send information about your computer across the web, which necessarily
isn't spyware. If you have programs that you commonly use show up in the list. Do not delete them.)

1. Open Spybot up by double clicking its icon.
2. When it opens there is an option to search for updates button. Click it, then it will goto the next screen when it is done searching for updates. Any available updates should be downloaded and installed before you scan. To download them check the box next to the updates and click the download updates button at the top.
3. On the lefthand side of the program there is a button that says Search & Destroy. Click it and it will open up to be able to scan. Now there is a Check for problems button, Click it and your scan will begin. This process varies in time depending on your system specs.
4. If anything shows up after the scan check the box. And click fix selected problem. This doesn't completely get rid of the problem, it moves it to a recovery area, in case you accidentally deleted something you didn't intend to.
5. To completely get rid of the spyware ,click the Recovery button on the lefthand side, select the items you wish to delete forever, then click purge selected items.

How to use Ad-aware to remove adware:
1. Open up Ad-aware by double clicking its icon.
2. When Ad-aware open there is an option to check for updates now. Click it, then a window will pop-up, when this happens click connect. And it will search for needed updates. If it prompts you to download them, do so. When the updates are done click finish.
3. Now you are ready to scan for adware. On the main screen click start. Then it will goto a screen to select which mode to use. I suggest doing a doing a smart system scan, so select it and click next. The scanning will take a lil bit of time, normally under 10 minutes.
4. After the scan is finished it will tell you how many critical object there are. Click okay, then select the ones you wish to delete, and click next. It then tells you how many objects will be removed and asks you to continue. Click okay. This also does not fully delete the object, in case you selected something you did not want to delete.
5. To completely get rid of the adware, on the main screen open the quarantine list. Select the file, and click delete. It doesn't harm you to keep the file in quarantine though.

How to use TheCleaner to remove Trojans:
1. Open up Thecleaner by double-clicking its icon. Since it is an evaluated 30 day trial. Click evaluate.
2. This program you have to set it to update at startup to get the necessary updates. So at the top click options, a window will pop-up, then click the update tab. Select Check for updates at startup, then click the connection settings which apply to you. And click okay.
3. After you are updated now you can scan for Trojans. So on the main screen click scan system.
4. If anything shows up in the list, right click it and click quarantine. This moves it to the quarantine manager, which you can permanently delete it through there.

Copyright (r) FibreOptic - SkyUser.co.uk

NewsreadeR · #2 14-10-06, 12:03 AM

Thanks Fibreoptic I have stickied it for a bit so members can take advantage

Keiran2K8 · #3 14-10-06, 12:04 AM

lol... its all about sharing hey!

Keiran2K8 · #4 14-10-06, 12:53 AM

Another thing which some people dont realise is that, If you connect with ETHERNET you should set your NIC to 100Mbps/FULL Duplex. Changing this setting mean your computer will get files faster from the router!

I will show you how to do this...

Start be entering the Computer Management Console in XP.
To do this Right Click - My Computer from the Start Menu! Then hit Manage (see pic)

Then, Hit Device Manager, Locate Network Adapters, Find the one you use and click Properties!

Finally, on the top-panel hit Advanced, Scroll on the list for Speed&Duplex, Make sure its set as 100Mbps Full Duplex.

Then you can Reboot and See the Slight Difference it can make!

Regards,
FibreOptic!

garyb · #5 14-10-06, 01:41 AM

If I may hijack your thread..
Wireless Security...

G

Keiran2K8 · #6 14-10-06, 01:20 PM

This is a great little app which combines, Computer Tweaking, Internet Browsing Tweaking.
The app lets you clean your Windows Registry and delete all those stubborn unwanted temporary files for good.

In this Tutorial I will show you how to use it to tweak your computer a little more!

[ The following has been tried&tested on Windows XP/2000, If you don't use XP/2000 Still try it and post your experience]

TuneUp Utilities - Download Link [Download Link Is For Demo]

The Basic - Disk Cleaner & Registry Cleaner

Disk Cleaner -
This little app will scan your selected disks and clean them of either, Junk Files, Temporary Files and Files that have been left behind by apps that you have previously UnInstalled!

Select the Drives/Disks as shown!

Then the cleanup process will start and at the end it will show you all the files and stuff its found!

Registry Cleaner -
This app will scan the windows registry and clean it of any errors or defects.

I advise you do a Complete Scan, This will scan everything!

Wait for the scan to complete and then select show errors, It is reccomended that you select Start Cleaning! Everything you do in this app is reversible!

(c) - FibreOptic, SkyUser.co.uk

Keiran2K8 · #7 14-10-06, 01:58 PM

Could someone try it and post their experiences... As all feedback is welcome... Im currently writing-up more tutorials on various subjects... All to do with Broadband & IT. if anyone wants something specific PM Me and I will post one!

Thank You

FibreOptic