Hello Folks!

Here is some of my personal notes on how to keep a computer happily humming along...

Windows 98:
1. Open Windows Explorer
2. Go to C:\Windows\Cookies - make sure it is showing on the left column. Delete everything in the right hand column of your screen. One file cannot be deleted “index.dat”. This is ok.
3. Go to C:\Windows\Temp - same thing, highlight (CNTL+A) everything on the right hand column/side of your screen. Delete.
4. Go to C:\Windows\Temporary Internet Explorer highlight (CNTL+A) everything on the right hand column/side of your screen. Delete.
5. Close Windows Explorer
6. Right click on Internet Explorer on your desktop/ click Properties
7. Delete Cookies, Temporary Internet Files, (check the box for off line files also), Settings set to 12 MB.
8. Clear History
9. Right click on Recycle Bin/Properties, set to 1%.

Windows 2K and XP
1. Go to Document and Settings folder in your Windows Explorer, click on your name, clear what is inside the Cookies folder.
2. Go to Local Settings. If you cannot see it, click on the Menu bar, Tools/Folder Options. Then View Tab, click show all files, uncheck the new two boxes (click yes to pop up window).
3. In Local Settings click on Temp folder, clear all files inside
4. In Temporary Internet Files folder, clear all files inside.
5. Close Windows Explorer
6. Right click on Internet Explorer on your desktop/ click Properties
7. Delete Cookies, Temporary Internet Files, (check the box for off line files also), Settings set to 12 MB.
8. Clear History
9. Right click on Recycle Bin/Properties, set to 1%.

Scandisk and Defragment your computer.
1. Double click on MY COMPUTER, then right click on your C: drive.
2. Click on TOOLS tab
3. Click on Scandisk for Win98, or ERROR CHECK in 2K/XP. Check only the standard scan, not full or through.
4. Click on Defragment Hard drive.

Do the above once a month at least.

If you wish to have maintenance or installation of the software I recommend below done to your systems, please let me know. My normal rate is $50/hr but I will offer a special rate of $35/hr for anyone on my mailing list. There is also a $20 fixed travel fee in Calgary unless you drop your machine off at my shop here in the NW. For those of you in the States on this list - send me a valid airplane ticket ;-)

If you wish to clean your machines below is a recommendation of what you will need to maintain a healthy computer.

- It goes without saying in having updated anti-virus on your computer (whether or not you click on the attachment doesn’t protect you. Some email virus codes propagate as soon as they hit the mailbox),
- Do not have the “Preview Pane” open in Outlook and Express (View/Preview pane, Uncheck.)
- Get updated versions of the freely available Windows patches and service packs, http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/en/default.asp
- Do the built in Scandisk and Defragmentation of your hard drives at least once a month. (Start/Programs/Accessories/SystemTools)
- Clean out all cookies, Temp Internet Files, and History every time you leave online banking site or before shutting down the computer.
(In Win98 - Windows/Cookies then Windows/Temp, then Windows/Temporary Internet Files)
(For 2K, XP, Document&Settings/your name/Cookies, Local Settings/Temp and Temporary Internet Files – view all files has to be enabled.)
- Get the latest version of Internet Explorer if you don’t have it.
- Or at least do this every time - Internet Explorer all versions, Tools/Internet Options/Delete Cookies, Delete Temp Files, Check mark in “offline files”, clear history. You can in Tools/Options/Advanced, check off the box where it says delete all files upon leaving.
- Set your Internet Explorer Settings to 12megs. Right click “E” on desktop/Properties/Settings
- Set your Recycle Bin to 1%. Right click Recycle Bin/Properties, move slider to 1%.

Remove all “free downloading” programs like Kazaa, Download.com, Rocket, Warez and so on.
- There is no warranty given for work done if these programs reside on the machines.

Antivirus
- Norton 2003/2004 any other version is outdated
- Panada Platinum 7.0
- F-Prot

If you wish to keep yourself protected, please download and install these programs:

SPYBOT – spyware cookie and registry cleaner
http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=download 

Install, click on CHECK FOR PROBLEMS button to run it. Once the spyware is found, at the bottom of your screen you will see “FIX SELECTED PROBLEMS”, click on it. You might have to reboot after it is done to totally catch the spyware.

Then click on IMMUNIZE, and click on “Install” under PERMAMENTLY RUNNING BAD…You might have to reboot after.

Once done, close the program, reopen it and click on “Check for Upgrades”. Get the updates (one box might be unchecked, that’s ok.)

Run Spybot again. You might have to reboot if you machine is seriously infected with spyware.

PANIC WARE – pop up stopper
http://www.panicware.com/popupstopper.html  - right colum, click on the Free Version
This kills all pop up and pop under programs.
To get a pop up window to work, say a legit link, hold CNTL then click on the link.

FREE ONLINE VIRUS CHECKER - if you can’t afford to update your antivirus for some reason:
http://www.grisoft.com/us/us_dwnl_free.php 
http://housecall.trendmicro.com/ 
http://www.pandasoftware.com/activescan/  - recommended.