Need To "clean House". What Do I Do?

One of my computers is running slower and slower. I haven't seen any overt signs of malware, but I think it's time to "clean house". I want to do a really thorough job. What do I do?

 

By far the most effective way to speed up an old computer without purchasing a SSD is to do a fresh Windows install, but if that isn't practical then right click your C drive > Properties and click Disk Cleanup. Check off the items you want cleaning and let it run. Then run Clean up System Files. You could also follow up by installing and running Wise Care 365 -

http://www.majorgeeks.com/content/page/mg_search.html?cx=partner-pub-6960825562757852:6029691205&cof=FORID:10&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=wise+care+365&sa=Search+Files

After cleaning run a defragger, but only if you are not running on a SSD.

Transferring the entire system to a SSD would completely transform its performance. If you are thinking of that then do the cleanup and defrag first.

 

A program called "SpaceMonger" would help you graphically see where your 'hog files' are. I've used it for for years and it's free.

The version I use is 1.4.0. I think the newer versions include additional bloatware but might work for you. I use it on XP, 7-32/64. and 8-64.

It's downloadable from many download sites.
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If you find your hard drive is nearly full, you might just replace it with a larger one. This greatly helped my notebook out.

Now would be a very good time to backup your computer.

 

>...right click your C drive > Properties and click Disk Cleanup. Check off the
>items you want cleaning and let it run. Then run Clean up System Files.

In Disk Cleanup, I checked all the boxes and ran it.

But searching online for "Clean up System Files", I keep coming right back to a description of Disk Cleanup. A little help, please?

BTW, what happened to the Quote button?

 

>If you find your hard drive is nearly full, you might just replace it with a larger one.

But I've got 9½ GB free.


>Now would be a very good time to backup your computer.

I do that about twice a week.

 

Right, and then edit out what I don't want to include in the quote. Thanks.

 

It's a button on the Disk Cleanup dialog box

 

Well, in Windows XP Pro, the only buttons on the Disk Cleanup dialog box are "View Files", "OK" and "Cancel".

 

Bet you have a bunch of programs you don't need or want any more. Best way is to uninstalled them using something like this: http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/revo_uninstaller.html it can uninstall programs without leaving garbage behind or most of it anyway.
To get rid of double files: http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/duplicate_cleaner_free.html there are few more on same page.
http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/uncleaner.html very small, fast and safe cleaner of files and prats of files that most other cleaners miss.

 

I also recommend Wise Care 365 as I have used it extensively on three computers without issue, and I have been pleased with its performance. I use the Pro edition, but the free edition is pretty much the same. I recommend using CCleaner in conjunction with Wise Care http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/ccleaner_slim.html as it gets some detritus that Wise Care doesn't. If you have never used such programs on your system, the first time you run them you will be amazed at the junk they remove, and the space freed up.

Like others have said, most computers have programs on them the user never needs . . . often a tool bar or other such app will be installed with another wanted program without your knowledge. Such "bundle ware" is common, and while not usually nefarious or harmful, can load up a PC with useless junk. I use extra caution when I am installing a program, to make sure there are no tag along programs being installed as well. I routinely scan my Add/Remove programs list for anything I missed or for programs I just no longer use.

 

I think I should ask at this point exactly what the current official MajorGeek recommendations are for security software (antimalware, firewall, etc.) for both my online computers:

computer #1

Lenovo ThinkCentre M75e 5042A7U
machine type: 5042
model number: A7U

System:
Processor: AMD Athlon II X4 640 2.99 GHz <-- 4 of these
RAM: 4.00 GB (3.75 GB usable)
System type: 64-bit
Rating: 4.2 (needs refresh)

Windows edition:
Windows 7 Professional
Service Pack 1

Browser:
Internet Explorer 11
Version: 11.0.24 (KB3093983)
installs new versions automatically (so far I had been declining installation of Windows 10)


computer #2

System:
Processor: Pentium 4 1.80 GHz
RAM: 1.25 GB
System type: 32-bit

Windows edition:
Windows XP Professional
Version: 2002
Service Pack 3

Browser:
Interner Explorer 8
Version: 8.0.6001.18702
Update versions: 0

 

Or maybe I should have created a new thread for this question...?

 

I can only speak to what I have used. For a good number of years I have used Avast for antivirus (http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/avast_free_edition.html) There are a number of good free AV programs, but I've found Avast works well for me, and does not have a large system footprint like others do. For that matter, Panda Anti-virus is cloud based and has a very small footprint (http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/panda_cloud_antivirus.html) but I have not used it enough to vet it properly. I keep meaning to set up a virtual PC and do some rigorous testing, but I haven't had the time. The computer I have it on has not suffered any problems, but my actual usage of it is probably less than a year. If your computer has limited resources, you might do some research on it and see if it could be an option.

In conjunction with Avast, I use Spyware Blaster (http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/spywareblaster.html), which is a program that hardens your browsers against (quote) known unwanted websites including Active-x installs, malware, viruses, cookies and more. For malware scanning, I use Malwarebytes Anti-malware (http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/malwarebytes_anti_malware.html) . . . I regularly update and run both programs.

I also use a software firewall. Windows since XP comes with a built in firewall, but I have never trusted its effectiveness for regulating outgoing information . . . in fact I don't think XP's firewall regulates outgoing traffic at all. I use Zone Alarm, and have been happy with it for many years. I've seen some people say you don't need a firewall on your computer, especially if you are behind a hardware firewall like a router. Balderdash, I say . . . especially if you are on a LAN with other computers. You may have sterling surfing habits, but your teenager in the basement might not be as finicky. If something gets past the router firewall, the only thing preventing it from affecting everything on the LAN is individual software firewalls on every PC. I for one like to have something pop up and tell me if something on my computer is trying to connect to the internet.

All the above programs I have used in excess of three years. In fact, ccleaner I mentioned in my first post I have used for many years. Wise care 365 I have only used since August . . . there was a free Pro version promo on MajorGeeks for a limited time, which is good unless the program is updated. So far I am very happy with it . . . but something the Major said got me thinking: The Pro version has a Startup Manager which allows you to turn on or off startup items, and keeps a list of what you have turned off in case you go overboard with the tweaking. I think the non-pro version has the same feature, but I am not 100% certain . . . if it doesn't, then the items in your startup list would need looking at separately should you decide to use Wise.

All this is simply my opinion, of software I have used for a number of years (except Wise and Panda). There are many other good options out there.

 

On the Pentium 4 / XP machine, I've been using Avast, Malwarebytes, Spyware Blaster, Super AntiSpyware, PC Tools Firewall Plus, Glary Utilities, and CCleaner.

The Lenovo computer is the one that got the recent malware infection. I recently inherited this machine, so I hadn't installed any security software on it yet. All it had when I got it was Windows Defender and Windows Firewall. And as I saw, that clearly doesn't get the job done.

 

Ok . . . now I am just confused? Based on your posts I thought you were having issues with the/an XP machine. Now you are posting about a recent malware infection on a Win 7 OS based computer. Please clarify the issue you are having, and the specs of the computer in question. First you need to "clean house" on a slow XP machine, and now it's a malware infection?

I suspect this entire thread is bogus.

 

If you read post #13 in this very thread, you will see complete specs for BOTH of my online computers, which are identified as such.

Here is my thread pertaining to my Win 7 machine.

malware infection

And THIS thread, the one you are reading right now, pertains to my XP machine.

So it would appear.

As you can see, you are mistaken.

 

AFAIK MG has never given hard recommendations as to which security software is best, and it's certainly a topic guaranteed never to get a consensus opinion here. But there is one thing that will probably get a consensus, and that is to take all XP systems offline. Security updates ceased 18 months ago and it's a sitting duck for those disposed to exploit the situation.

 

OK. As I mentioned aboved: the machine currently running XP has the following specs:
Processor: Pentium 4 1.80 GHz
RAM: 1.25 GB
System type: 32-bit

Any recommendation as to what OS I could upgrade this machine to?

 

He's my 2 cents worth of advice. To clean, Ccleaner, to help speed up, Simple System Tweaker, to protect, Bitdefender Free, Malwarebytes, SpywareBlaster.

http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/ccleaner_slim.html
http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/det...aker_(formerly_simple_performance_boost).html
http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/bitdefender_free_edition.html
http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/malwarebytes_anti_malware.html
http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/spywareblaster.html

 

HERE are the minimum specs required to run Win 7 according to Microsoft, but I don't think I would want to use such a system. Adding another 2 GB of RAM might make it usable but TBH it's not worth the effort or expense IMO. Better to pick up a used Win 7 system on an auction site - decent machines are available for very modest sums.

 

This is from another thread, but I think it applies here:

 

I am not mistaken, but bogus may be too broad a word. You seem to be going out of your way to obfuscate the facts in this thread. You started with one issue and morphed into a completely different one.

I read your first post, which dealt with one computer. Your post about a malware infection is a different issue, about a different computer, and NOT related to your original post which states: One of my computers is running slower and slower. I haven't seen any overt signs of malware, but I think it's time to "clean house". I want to do a really thorough job. What do I do?. Based on your posts the issue was with your XP based machine.

One of your computers, not two. Your second computer is not mentioned until #13 in this thread, and I'm not seeing where you mentioned a malware issue for either PC prior to #13. If you suspect a malware issue, I suggest you post details of that in the malware thread . . . jumping back and forth between multiple computers with different issues in a single thread is not conducive to constructive feedback.

 

Spad, this thread got severely damaged during the forum software changeover and many posts disappeared. That is why the topic appears to be inconsistent.

 

I see. That would explain my confusion, then. I was at a bit of a loss overall

 

Here are the minimum specs to run Windows 7. I suggest you upgrade the RAM to the maximum capacity and speed supported by the motherboard.
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/products/system-requirements