Assumption – you have one active and current Antivirus and Anti Spyware program. WARNING: Computer must be connected to AC power. Do not do the following on battery power. Use Google to find the following programs and download the "free" personal home version. Every week Clean up garbage files (temporary files, system dump files, internet temp files, etc) For each user account on the computer, do the following- - From the desktop, click CCleaner - “CCleaner” click “Analyze”, and then click “Run Cleaner” Note: Review the default selected items to clean. You may want to un-select some of the items (i.e. Windows - Recent Documents, Applications - Office 200X, etc). Also, do not use the Registry option. Registry cleaners remove more than they should. Run Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware – Time Approx. 10 minutes - From the desktop, click Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware - Click ‘Update’ tab - Click ‘Check for Updates’. When update complete, click OK - Click ‘Scanner’ tab - Select ‘Perform quick scan’ and click Scan. When completed, click OK - Click ‘Exit’ to close program Every 30 days Backup / copy important data to USB drive or external hard drive. What to backup? If the computer died, what would you miss? Email address books, financial data, photos, recipes, children’s school work etc Run Windows Update (Note: Microsoft updates come out the second Tuesday of the month.) - Start – Windows Update - Scan the system - Download critical updates and service patches Outlook maintenance (Compact folders – Defrag email) - Outlook Express, click File – Folders – Compact all folders - Outlook 2010 - Click the File, click Account Settings, and then click Account Settings. On the Data Files tab, click the data file that you want to compact, and then click Settings. Click Compact Now. Defrag the hard drive - From the desktop – click Defraggler – under Drives (at the top) select “(C:)” – click Analyze button – click Defrag button Check for software updates - Click Start – All Programs – Secunia PSI – under “Patch Your PC” click ‘Scan your PC’ – click ‘Start Scan’. When scan completes, click View Scan Results. Review items tagged red “end-of-life” and “Insecure”. Click Install Solution. Every 3 months Check Hard Drive for errors - From the desktop – click Defraggler – click “Action” menu – click “Advanced” – click “Check Drive for Errors”. Troubleshooting Vista Troubleshooting Right click Computer – click Manage – expand ‘System Tools’ – expand ‘Reliability and Performance’ – expand ‘Monitoring Tools’ – click ‘Reliability Monitor’ ‘Red with White X’ = Failure, scroll down to see details. Windows XP and Vista Restore Point (Restore computer to earlier time, before problem.) Start – Programs – Accessories – System Tools – System Restore Windows XP- Select ‘Restore my computer to an earlier time’ and click Next Select appropriate Restore Point (Note: time before problem started) on the calendar and click Next Confirm Restore Point selection and click Next -the computer will restart to the restore point Windows Vista Select ‘Choose a different Restore point and click Next Select appropriate Restore Point and click Next Confirm your restore point and click Finish Click Yes |