Install all these programs while your computer is able to.
Make sure you get the Vista or Beta version of each one.
By running all these programs you eliminate any software faults. If you still have problems then you need to start looking at hardware or configuration faults.
From my notes
Also while your computer is in good nick you should download these programs as a Save, then install from that file. All these programs do different stuff, the end result is your computer runs a lot better. Use all of them.
Clean Up Computer
CCleaner (about 10 minutes to install and run)
=========
google ccleaner and install it.from filehippo While it installs just untick the boxes as some you dont want.
run the cleaner in windows/applications but dont tick the bottom 11 boxes in the Windows Tab.
run the registry cleaner as well, when it asks to back up the registry , allow it to do it, then clean the registry. You may have to clean the registry a few times, but you do not need to save it each time.
Superantispyware (1 hour)
===============
http://www.superantispyware.com
Has a stop homepage from being altered which is good
Can reset windows defaults in various parts
Download and run superantispyware.
Install it and set the preferences to monitor your home page.
Set up tick boxes that you want in the other tabs as you require.
You don’t need to run it at startup unless you want the antispyware protection 24/7.
Note Superantispyware has powerful reset tools that will set stuff back to windows defaults.
To use these tools click preferences >repairs. This may be handy to reset IE URLS if you have annoying pop ups.
Superantispyware is a good program and remember to update it before scanning. A scan may take 45mins. Just run a scan for the first attack.
Spybot – Search and Destroy (1 hour)
=====================
Download spybot search and destroy. Through its immunize page and link to javacools spyblaster, spybot can manage activex problems which is extremely difficult for antispyware programs to find. Also just run the scan for first attack.
http://www.spybot.info/en/download/index.html
MalwareBytes (1 hour)
==============
http://www.malwarebytes.org
This is a neat little program to scan for annoying pop ups and adverts.
Windows Live Onecare (2-3 hours)
===================
Onecare safety scan fixes registry and finds temp files that nothing else seems to find.
Choose the Beta Edition link for vista users.
It does registry, spyware , virus , disk clean up and defrag
XP Users http://onecare.live.com/site/en-ca/defau...
Vista Users
http://onecare.live.com/site/en-ca/center/whatsnew.htm
Run the full safety scanner, it takes a few seconds to install the scanning files but when you start the scan, it takes 2 hours or more. Let it load the scanning tools, then start the Safety Scan. So once it starts to load the safety scans' x file of x , you can leave the computer and go to bed etc.
Then at the end of the scan it asks you to set it running full time.
Think twice about setting it to run in the background as it could be another thing to slow you down. However, it may be worth while if you have no other security programs running.
Now you should be flying and Onecare has even set up a new system restore point for you.
Note onecare does other stuff as well. Click on the menus on the LHS column., but all of this is done if you click Safety Scan.
add onecare to your favourites
Set up IE7 so it runs efficiently.
IE7 (2 minutes)
=======
Over time IE7 seems to set its own (or programs do) tick boxes in the advance tab.
In IE7 Tools >Internet Options >Advance Tab
Click Restore advance settings defaults button.
Then scroll the listings down to near the bottom and:
1. Tick empty temp files when browser closes (this empties the cache, which if not empty, will stop you from going online).
2. Bullet disable phishing filter (optional. Leave it on if you want that type of protection, usually for financial data like internet banking)
Delete Browser History, cookies, add ons, the whole lot regularly.
Close the browser to set the settings.
Phishing Filter
When first released, phishing filter slowed IE7. Apparently, Microsoft has fixed this through the windows updates. If you like you could try to run it - bullet the enable.
Ensure only one phishing filter program, and only one firewall program is used on the computer. Disable others that may be in other software.
.
Fixing Your Computer
Run the scans of the three programs above, generally is enough, but if your computer is still faulty then you have to go deeper with the features mentioned.
Compliments Chezzrob