Cleanup!

I'm so confused as to what is good and what isn't for keeping my computer running (almost) smooth and keeping my 'stuff' from prying eyes, I'm in a whirlwind figurtively speaking ! I came across a program called " Cleanup!", and it sounds good and simple to use (I really need simple to use ), but I want more input from others that are more 'tech' inclined than my self. Is this a good program , or is it just something to take up space in my computer ? If it's a good one, is it really easy to use? OOOOOOOhhh, it's a confusing 'space' (cyber) for some of us lil ol' grannies !!
Thank you & God bless,
WandaR

 

Yes, Cleanup! is a good cleaner but it doesn't get everything. I also use CCleaner and MRU Blaster as well. there are a whole host of cleaners here: http://majorgeeks.com/downloads12.html

You may find that you would get more advice if you posted this in Software rather than Programming, which is for computer programming and computer languages whereas Software is for general discussion about computer programs, i.e., software.

 

Yo, Grannie!
Ya've come to da right place!

OK, then for starters, there is no program or SET of programs that will protect your computer *absolutely* from all of the vermin out there. BUT, ...

If you arm yourself, you have MUCH, MUCH better than just a fighting chance. I am armed, and I haven't had a single pest bother me in three years, maybe more. Some of them GET HERE, yes, but they're all dealt with in a jiffy, before they do any damage at all.

Here's the advice part:

You need a software firewall. Look at Major Geeks for firewalls, and ask here about setting it, if you don''t have summuddy to help you at home.

You need several anti-spyware programs, and the best are Ad-Aware, Spybot, and Spyware Blaster. They do different things to different things, so most of us have all three, and keep them up to date by running them frequently and clicking the Check for Updates clicker. And when they update, we run them again.

And you need a good anti-virus program, and it ain't worth a tinker's toot if you don't check for updates to it every single day.

Now, then. A good cleaner? Well, that's a matter of opinion. But there are lots out there that will get rid of the trash on your computer now, and keep you free of most of the garbage. Try searching around in Major Geeks for software that will help you. Look at the menu on the left of the page at
http://www.majorgeeks.com/
And you don't actually have to BUY one of those. Many of the good ones are freeware (which means they're free to you if you just download them).

But none of this stuff works if you just install it, run it, and forget it. Put it on your calender, and make sure you do it all every Sunday (or Saturday, or ...). That way, you get the full benefit of all of this stuff.

 

Thanks guys, I appreciate your help. As for the fire wall, I think I have one, but I'm not sure . How can I find out? I have these to protect my computer : Spy Bot S&D , AVG 6.0 , Ad-Aware 6.0 , CCleaner, and I'm thinking of another cleaner , but I need something Verrrrryyyy simple to opperate, no choosing what to delete , (I don't know what to delete). I found these, please advise.: Internet Sweeper 1.5.1 , Tiny Disk Cleaner , and MRU-Blaster. Now you guys please tell me which is better , easier, and takes up less space on my computer. Guys I haven't always been this dense, I have bipolar disorder and my meds keep me so slow and discombuberated ( ) that I can't focus well so everything has to be SIMPLE !! And also, what about the SlimBrowser, is it easy to adjust to, or a maze to try to get around in ? And how much space does it take up? You guys are so wonderful to help a lil ol' granny out like this, (well, I'm actually not so lil )

Thanks,
Wanda

 

Wanda, You're on the right track. Please note that there is a new version of AdAware called SE.

Ad-Aware SE Personal http://www.majorgeeks.com/download506.html

Also make sure that you use the right Cleanup!. There are others with the same name that you pay for.

Cleanup! http://www.stevengould.org/

Also load and use

EmpTemp http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=1575

and CrapCleaner aka CCleaner http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=4191

Cleanup! and CCleaner run themselves. EmpTemp takes a little bit of human intervention but is easily learn't.

Zone Alarm comes highly recommended as a firewall.

Zone Alarm http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=744

All these are free, don't conflict with each other. I use them every day Bazza

===

 

BigBazza, thanks for the info, I realy like the thingys that run themselves. I was gonna ask if there's anything I should do to CClean other than click on run . About the new Avg , do I uninstall the older one or just download the new one ? And how does one go about deleting a "browser disk cache" ? What is a browser disk cache ? Never mind , just how do I delete it or clean it or whatever it is you're suppose to do. I really appreciate you guys helping me out. As for some of my family helping me......I'M the computer "Whiz" of the bunch !!! yes, isn't that SCAREY ? lol

Wanda

P.S.
If I already have a fire wall, how do I recognize it, and do I need to remove it to download the Zone Alarm ? So many questions, so much to learn, so little available memory space (in my head) !!

 

ok, another "grannyizim" Clean! says to back up hard disk , how does one back up a hard disk ? I use to have an online dictionary that told what all this stuff is and etc. but I lost it ! And my word pad also disapeared, but I found Jarte, which I like better.

Thanks again,
Wanda
PS
I'm gonna bake you guys a red velvet cake for all your help.

 

WandaR,
Welcome to Major Geeks!!
I'm Eric. I just got through reading this whole thread to my wife Cindy, and we've decided that you must come hang out in the Lounge with everyone, once you get your computer set up. You are awesome! (You can bring some of that red velvet cake along, too, if you want!!)
My poor grandparents can hardly open a picture when I send them one of the kids, so, be encouraged, you are doing really good!! I know this stuff can be overwhelming, but I myself have learned everything I know just from hanging out here at Major Geeks! And I've made some really nice friends, too!
Anyway, good luck to you, you are definitely on the right track with everything! Hope to see you around!!
Eric

 

Thanks Eric, you & your sweet wife, of course you can have some cake...and eat it too !! Do you just 'hang out in different forums or how exactly does one hang out ?

 

Wanda, what clean are you using? Are you using the one I suggested, or another. Beware there are a few with a similar name. Use the Cleanup! link

Cleanup! http://www.stevengould.org/ I use it every day, for over a year now. Don't think it has ever asked me to do a backup. Never had any strife with this program. Always a good idea to backup your drive on a regular basis, anyhow.

Gotta early start today so I will come back tomorrow to see how you are going. Bazza

===

 

Big Bazza, yes I used the link you gave, and it said to back up hard drive, which I don't have a clue how to do. And before I download the newer AdAware do I uninstall the older one or delete it or what do I need to do ?

Wanda

 

Hi Wanda When I installed the new AdAwareSE I just ran it in over the other one. As part of the install SE asks if you want it to uninstall the older one(AdAware6). Just click "yes" and it will take care of the uninstall for you.

 

WandaR, I would like to welcome you to Major Geek's as has everyone else. There is one neat feature that Clean It has that I like, and that is the sound of a toilet flushing when you rid your computer of what it found. I use it regularly along with others, and it has never caused me any problems. As for being a Granny, age is a state of mind, you're only as old as you feel and act, and I bet you aren't that old. I've seen plenty of young grandmothers

 

Wanda, only thing I can say again is that I use Cleanup! every day. I just let it run and do it's thing. I have never thought of backing up my PC before using Cleanup! I run regular backups using 2 different methods. One is a commercial program, 1 is a free cumulative backup program called

Karen's Replicator free from MG http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=3917

Not perfect, but pretty good. It takes almost as long to do a cumulative backup as the other program takes to do a full backup. Also it usually has about 10-15 files it cannot backup as they are in use by Windows when you are running the backup. Bazza

 

Thanks again guys, you are all so helpful and so 'kewl' ! Novice, you're right, I'm not really that old, I'm 53, but thanks to my oldest son (he's 33), I was a granny at the age of 37 ! He was a dad at 17.
Ok guys, I'm gonna quit being scared and "just do it"! Thanks BigBazza, I saw that one at Karen's but I wasn't sure if that's what I was looking for, 'preciate it.Thanks BillH, everyone has been very helpful. I had another question, but I can't remember what it was..... it's the lithium they tell me !! I'll be back after I download everything. Oh yeah ,I just remembered, it was about the Slim Browser thing. How hard is it to use as compared to IE, how much space does it use, and is it easy to uninstall if I don't like it. Guys, when I first got my computer I came across this" cute" little purple monkeyrolleyes: Bonzi Buddy) that I installed, and then couldn't get rid of the annoying little thing !! when my pc crashed and I got a new motherboard I got rid of him !!!
Thanks & God bless,
Wanda

 

Oh yeah ,I just remembered, it was about the Slim Browser thing. How hard is it to use as compared to IE,
Hi Karen SlimBrowser is as easy to use as IE(or MSEX, as we used to call it back in the day -- short for Microsoft Explorer, of course ) There are lots of more usable features, like: popup blocker, "Tabbed Browsing", the ability to clear all traces of where you've been on the web with one button in the task bar and just lots of other good stuff that IE doesn't even come close to. And yeah, it comes with a good uninstaller program PLUS if there's any leftovers after uninstall (which there probably won't be) we stand ready to assist you.
Bill

 

HELP !! Guys, I have TROJANS in the house !!! I've tried running AVG, it can't heal or remove them, AdAware says thy're quaretined, but when I run it again they're still there (plus when I try to do anything I get these black windows with "TROJAN VIRUS" I enter "NO", (no cursor),SpyBot S&D says it delets them, but I still have them !! HOW do I get rid of these things ?

DownLoader.DyFica.2.AN
C:\-Restore\temp\A0104544.cpy
c:\Restore\Temp\A0105597.cpy
C:\windows\wsem302.DLL
That's all I got wrote down,(not sure about caps), I was/am sooooo dismayed and upset I'm almost unfunctional. AVG says there are 6 trojans on my computer!!

 

It sound to me as though you haven't got a firewall installed. If you had one, you would know as it would intercept stuff like trojans. Others can comment on how to get rid of the trojans but I recommend installing Zone Alarm or Sygate, in the meantime.

Sygate- http://majorgeeks.com/download3356.html
Zone Alarm- http://majorgeeks.com/download388.html

I use ZA so cannot comment on Sygate. Both will probably drive you slightly mad in the beginning asking you whether you want to allow it to contact various sites. As you answer yes or no, it will learn what programs you use (and trust), and if you tick the "allow" box, it won't ask you again. Don't tick the "allow box", in the beginning but allow it to contact the site, if you are not sure. It will ask you every time until you are happy and permit it to contact site/sites by ticking the box. Depending on how you set it up originally, it will also tell you how many intercepts it has made on your behalf to stop naughty stuff being loaded onto your PC, like trojans, viruses, etc.

So 3 steps are required.

(1) Load a firewall and let it do it's thing.
(2) Get rid of the trojans. Not necessarily in this order.

and (3), always keep your antivirus software and firewall software up-to-date. Bazza

===

 

You may have to jump over to the spyware section and look at this thread for help. START HERE:
http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=35407

 

Re: Zone Alarm

I used Zone Alarm, changed to Sygate....changed back to Zone Alarm

Great thread to read:
http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=41094&highlight=zone+alarm+settings

It's a little tricky at first...definitely look at the above post and it will save you a lot of questions and guessing about what to do and not do with Zone Alarm if you choose to use that Firewall program.

 

Hi Wanda, Pegg's advice is the best thing for you to do. Pay particular attention to turning off your restore points. Looks like that's where your baddies are hiding from what you said.

 

Guys, I've been 2 days trying to get all the "bugs" out , I'm in the last stages (per Major Attitude's instructions), Thanks Pegg. The CWShredder, Kill2Me, and about:Buster are zip things, I don't know how to opperate Zip things, I downloaded them to a file, but now I don't know how to work a zip thing. I also have to do these things in Safe Mode, but when I go into safe mode I have an old desktop that is not opperational with my dialup, and I don't know how to get rid of the old desk top. (don't ask me how I did that, I don't know !!) Please advise, and yes all laughter is permitted!!

Almost bug free, (I pray)
Wanda

 

Oh man, Zone Alarm just kicked me out of my Post, and now I gotta do it again. I did get Zone Alarm installed, and it keeps showing all these little popups every few minutes. But guys, NOBODY has told me what to do with the programs with the zipper thingys, I don't know how to opperate them, PLEASE somebody respond !! I ran all the spywares and cleaners and antiviruses I downloaded (the ones without the zips), and I no longer get a warning shield from AVG . Thanks to my Lord and you guys , I like have people around that are smarter than me, it's not so scarey !! SOMEBODY PLEASE tell me what to do about the programs CWShredder....Kill2me.....about:Buster

God bless,
WandaR

 

WandaR, all those little popups are stuff that ZA is blocking from attacking your PC. I've forgotten how to turn the alerts off. I've turned mine off a long time ago, and can't remember.It's 5.37am and the brain is still getting into gear. I've just clicked on everything to try and find it but have missed it. Another MG 'er will soon put us right. Don't worry ZA is doing it's thing. Once you get your settings right and approve various programs to access the net, it is almost "set and forget" with ZA. Bazza

===

 

Hey guys, I'm virus and trojan free !! At last. I want to thank everybody who helped me get cleaned up !! Special thanks to chaslang for your extra patience witn a lil ol granny woman !! I'm feeling good, I'm gonna go try downloading Slim Browser now. If I run into any problems.....yep, you guessed it, "I'll be back"

Luv & God bless,
WandaR

 

Re: ZA and zip files

RE: Zone Alarm -- when a box pops up asking about a program there is a place to check or uncheck a "little box" saying to not warn/or ask me again. If you're sure or your answer -- check that box before saying yes or no.

Did you go here? ( I think the link I gave before wasn't good -- this should work)

http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=41094

I had posted earlier and said: "It's a little tricky at first...definitely look at the above post and it will save you a lot of questions and guessing about what to do and not do with Zone Alarm if you choose to use that Firewall program"

It is a great post and should explain how to put the settings the way they need to be.

RE: ZIP FILES -- you need to download a program, like WinZip to "unzip" them unless you're Operating System is Win XP. So before anyone explains further (unless you've got it all straightened out by now) -- tell us whether or not you have Windows XP and we can go from there.

 

Thanks a bunch, Yes I got the zip thing going and I think I got the ZA figured out. I'm very afraid of anything that's new to me, so I do the reasonable thing, I ....PANIC !!

WandaR

PS
Thanks again chaslang

 

Im running windows xp and tried to run a disc cleanup in c drive. It populated the list and to my suprise i had 1522000.old compressed files. when the cleanup is run it does not do anything . whats up

 

AVG 6.0, I believe 8.0 is the latest version, but I just gave that up and went back with Avast. For a firewall I use Online Armor free. Disabled the Windows firewall through the Control Panel immediately after install. All available from MG's. Keep trying Wanda, we learn from our mistakes, some say they are the only things we can truly call our own.

 

Old thread hijacked - new one is here http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=174157