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Here are some tips and some software you can use to avoid a lot of these problems.

1.  MSConfig

To start “msconfig”, click Start and then click Run.  If you don’t see it, hold your Windows Key and press “R”.  This should bring up the run box.  Now type “msconfig” and hit enter.  You now have your “System Configuration” window open.  At the top, Navigate to the “startup” tab.  This list of software are the programs that will run when you turn your computer on.  Disable anything you don’t need and be wary of suspicious looking programs.

2.  CCleaner

Formally called “Crap Cleaner”, CCleaner is another cleanup utility many people use.  It can scan your computer for junk files that you don’t need that will be taking up space, tell you how much space it is all taking up, and then you can clean it all up.  Think of it as the “Disk Cleanup Wizard” from Windows, but better (in all ways possible).  CCleaner also has a registry cleaner which I have noticed works quite well.  Caution : Never forget to make a backup of your registry before making changes to it!

CCleaner (Download from FileHippo)

3.  Hard Drive Defragging

De-fragmenting (aka defrag) is a special process where windows can re-arrange the Physical location of files on the hard drive.  Imagine this; you walk into a library looking for a particular book but everything is out of order.  How long do you think it will take you to find the book you are looking for? Same thing with a hard drive.  It will take longer and put more of a strain on your hardware having to go searching for everything instead of it being clean and orderly.  Recommendations for defragging software?  You can use one that comes with windows; or you can use “Defraggler”; created by the same company as CCleaner (See above).  Only defrag about once a month as over-doing it can put more of a strain on your hard drive.

4.  Make regular scans for malware.

This is one of two musts.  There’s billions of spyware, scareware, and almost-anything-else-you-can-think-of-ware.  There’s plenty of software you can use for this although most of us techies will use multiple ones.  Suggestions?

MalwareBytes Anti-Malware (Download Here) – I have always had good luck with this program.  Can find almost anything I throw at it.

Spybot Search and Destroy (Download Here) – Have seen it find problems that Malwarebytes has missed, but at the same time I’ve seen it the other way around (This is why we use more than 1 program).  It has a really nifty “Immunization” feature where I noticed it will also add a MASSIVE list of known malware sites to your hosts file (127.0.0.1   <malware>) so that if you DO try to load it, it will just time out because you are trying to connect to yourself.

Super Anti-Spyware (Download Here) – Another one used at the office; but personally I haven’t used it.  From what I hear from all my co-workers it works really and no one has reported it causing any problems.

5.  Make regular Antivirus Scans.

This is another must.  There are plenty of antivirus programs out there, most are subscription based on a yearly renewal but there are also a lot of very good and free alternatives.  Most of us at the office use Avast! free edition, others use a subscription based AV from Computer Associates.

…but if you are “browsing naked” as it’s called (not using any antivirus), then you can still run normal scans with ESET Online Scanner (which is another popular one; requires IE and ActiveX).

ALL of these methods can help keep you protected (to an extent) and keep your computer running at optimal speeds.  When I have a client that has problems with their computer going slow, etc.  This is the extact list I use and go down with.  Msconfig, CClean it, Malware and Spybot scan it, then ESET Online scan.  Reboot and hope for the best.

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FileHippo stores programs and all the versions they have ever had.  Want to find the version of Adobe Reader from 2004?  They have it.

Filehippo also has a program of their own called the “FileHippo update checker”.

This application gets a list of most of the applications on your computer, then checks Filehippo if you have the latest version.  I’ve tested and used it and it works great.  Give it a shot.

http://www.filehippo.com/updatechecker/

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Instead of going to Task manager, finding it in the process list (or easier, the Applications list..), try a program called “Super F4″.

Super F4 allows you to, what I like to call, snipe the said frozen application.  The shortcut is…

WindowsKey + F4

This will turn your mouse cursor into a skull with crossbones.  Click whatever is bothering you and POOF! It’s gone.

Download Here.

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