Panda Man's Maintenance Guide!

[Panda Man]

This is 100% about MAINTAINING your copmuter, not protecting/repairing. Some people have different ideas about maintenance. This is an effective way to Maintain your computer, and also how I maintain mine

1. Clean out teh Viruses! I would recommend cleaning once a week if your a novice/intermediate user, and maybe once a month if your an advanced user (i say once a month for advanced users b/c we know what we are doing, we know what we are opening, we only open the ports we know are safe, and we can usually repair stuff on our own if something goes wrong.) If you need a good AV, grab a free copy of AVG Antivirus, it will rock your sox. Also, if you want the absolute best, NOD32 is my recommendation. Give the free trial a chance and you will love it. It eats viruses that AVG left behind and uses so little resources, i forgot it was there!

2. Run a Spyware Scan every one or two weeks. My personal three choices for spyware detection and removal are Ad-Aware, Spybot-S&D, and AVG Antispyware

3. Run Disk Defragmenter about once a week. This will clean up fragments and help keep disk read/write speeds up to par. To run Disk Defragmenter, go to Start, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Disk Defragmenter. Try running Contig/Power Defragmenter also for a more thorough cleaning (Make sure both contig.exe and Power defragmenter GUI.exe is in the same folder)

4. Maintain Your Registry! Run a rapair tool about once a week, or if your computer seems to slow down (and the first 3 steps haven't worked). Good utilities are Baku, EasyCleaner, CCleaner and RegScrupXP PRO

5. Run CheckDisk about once a month. To run checkdisk, boot into safe mode, click on My Computer, right lick on C: and go to tools, and under error-checking click check now. Also, click on "Scan for and attempt recovery of Bad Sectors" before starting the scan. Alternatively, go to start, run and type chkdsk. This will check your HDD for disk and disk surface errors.
-NOTE: If you get a warning saying that paremeter F is not specified when running chkdsk, type: chkdsk C: /f

6. Clean out your case every so often, and vacume in the room where your computer is at least once a week. Make sure you have good filters in your case fans. To clean out the case, grab a can of compressed air, such as air duster, to blow off all the dust on the parts (Hold the can as upright as possible, just to make sure no moisture comes out, and i also recommend using short blasts rather than one long burst. Read the directions on the can for more info.). DO NOT USE YOUR OWN BREATH TO BLOW OFF THE DUST, as your saliva will most likely damage something. You'd be amazed at how many problems dust bunnies can cause you.

7. Dust and clean your monitor! For CRTs, using one damp paper towel and a dry paper towel to wipe off all the dirt, smudges, etc. is ok (its what i do anyways). HOWEVER: On anti-glare/anti-static surfaces (ALL LCD screens fit under this category), ammonia based chemicals will destroy the anti-glare and anti-static coatings on the monitor screens. You'll need to pick up some anti-static wipes. You can get them at Wal-Mart in the electronics department. You can probably pick them up at almost any PC store too.

8. Update your drivers! About once a month, you should always update your video drviers, sound drivers, and any other drivers for hardware that you use on a regular basis, such as you motherboards chipset drivers.

9. Install a fresh copy of your OS. Especially if you are using windows, you should install a fresh copy of your OS (Operating System) about once every 6 months.

10. Check all your fans and heatsinks, and keep an eye on heat. It causes the internal components and chips to wear out. Heat also lowers the performance of your system. The first thing to check is the ventilation around your system. Many of the standard computer desks force you to place your computer in an enclosed cabinet. If your system is in an enclosed space, move it out into the open or make sure there is an opening in the back so that the fans can bring in cool air.

----Recommended Utilities----
These are recommended maintenance/monitoring utilities that weren't already listed in the guide. Details can be found on the page the link leads to.

Motherboard Monitor (great for monitoring motherboards, as the name suggests )
SpeedFan (Can help with fan speeds, voltages, and monitors temps)
CPU-Z (Great for general info, particualarly about memory)
Memtest86 (For testing Memory stability)
PowerStrip (Great for monitoring and adjusting any video card)
Fraps (See how many Frames Per Second you getting)
PCMark05 (Measures general performance of your PC)
MetaBench (Another benchmark program w/more than 55 different tests)
3DMark05 (Kind of like PCMark, only this will benchmark 3D capabilities of your comp)
Everest (Home Edition) (I LOVE this program. It will pretty much tell you anything you could possibly want know about your comp)
Hijackthis (good for maintaining browser security and keeping other misc. proggies safe)
TweakUI (Great for tweaking hidden settings)

If there is anything else that should be added to this guide, let me know.

[CryixDijonrit]

1. Clean out teh Viruses! I would recommend cleaning once a week if your a novice/intermediate user, and maybe once a month if your an advanced user

No, advanced users never need to scan their computer on a regular basis since if their computer is running well, they can sleep at night. Because:
a. True advanced users don't need an antivirus - they run stuff in Virtual PC before they use it and look for virus-like activity
b. Real-time scanning
c. They have a constant knowledge of exactly what processes and drivers are running on their computer and check it obsessively
d. Not to mention they probably have many viruses on their computer with intent to use them

2. Run a Spyware Scan every one or two weeks. My personal three choices for spyware detection and removal are Ad-Aware, Spybot-S&D, and Microsoft Antispyware

Microsoft Anti-Spyware doesn't do crap. Neither does its malicious software removal thing or whatever. You need to remember HijackThis, and AdAware is a COMMERCIAL utility - you're just asking for it.

3. Run Disk Defragmenter about once a week. This will clean up fragments and help keep disk read/write speeds up to par. To run Disk Defragmenter, go to Start, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Disk Defragmenter.

I agree - However, I have torrents running nonstop so it's like one every month for me :O

4. Maintain Your Registry! Run a rapair tool about once a week, or if your computer seems to slow down (and the first 3 steps haven't worked). A good utility is Registry Drill, however I personally Registry Mechanic.

That's something I never pay attention to but I need to look around in the registry cleaners department.

5. Run CheckDisk about once a month.

Windows XP likes to be wierd about this. You have to restart to do this (even if it's a enclosed drive I just attached!), and sometimes it doesn't do it after I restart. Maybe Windows 2000 will give be better luck.

6. Clean out your case every so often

I have nothing but laptops
That would be a warranty remover right there.

7. Dust and clean your monitor!

I personally just use a lens cleaner cloth.

And yes, Everest rules.

Refer to http://forums.emuparadise.org/showthread.php?t=39363 . And, eventually I'll put up a guide to taking the Microsoft out of Windows 2000, so to speak.

[Anonymous]

Cheap easy solution for cleaning monitors:

Go to walmart, in the auto-care dept, and pick up a chamois (pronounced shammy, for those non-car-guys). great to have handy, usually under $3 for a somewhat small one.

[Panda Man]

b. Real-time scanning

real time scanning doesn't always pick up the viruses, you need to at least scan about twice a month. unless your linux or a mac, then don't worry!

And microsoft antispyware is better than ad-aware and Spybot combined. http://mip.typepad.com/mips_scan/200...ntispywar.html. Your the first person out of around 300 that i know about to actually bash it.

Also, i said that you will have to restart for chkdsk

Refer to http://forums.emuparadise.org/showthread.php?t=39363 . And, eventually I'll put up a guide to taking the Microsoft out of Windows 2000, so to speak.

This is 100% about MAINTAINING your copmuter, not protecting/repairing.

[CryixDijonrit]

I just ran Windows Anti-Spyware. Not the Microsoft Anti-Spyware I remember. It found some bits and pieces that NetPumper left behind but that's it. And amazingly it doesn't open ports like Microsoft programs tend to use. However, it hasn't improved the security of my computer any, and eventually they'll start charging a monthly fee. In its current state, it kind of reminds me of the old Microsoft programs back when Microsoft used to be good, but don't expect that to last forever. There isn't anything it can do (besides hard drive scanning for spyware) that Spybot S&D and HijackThis in combination can't also do; Anti-Spyware also has a confusing interface in some areas.
Oh, and an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure

[McGuinty]

i went to the everest website and it said that as of Dec. 1 2005 it has discontinued support of its freeware so it can concentrate on making FILTHY, FILTHY MONEY. So, are there any places i can grab the freeware?

[polobunny]

LOL @ Cryiijonrit. Assuming you're spyware free won't make the real threats go. And don't make me laugh, you're starting a virtual machine for every download you make only to test it? You have too much time on your hands my friend, gimme some.

BTW HijackThis is not by any mean a COMMERICAL software, it is maintained by Merijn and can be found at merijn.org

I consider myself being a med-advanced user, and do my maintenance tasks at night, while the CPU has about no cycles to do anyway. It just can't hurt to use those...

Also REAL ADVANCED USERS!!!111 don't use Windows XP firewall if they're unsafe about those open ports you're talking about. Actually they probably use Knoppix STD, because it is badass.

McGuinty->majorgeeks.com


This guide looks fine, a bit short but good nontheless, might I add a few intesting programs for cleaning temp files and other stuff not needed.
EasyCleaner (http://personal.inet.fi/business/toniarts/ecleane.htm)
CCleaner (http://www.ccleaner.com/)

[McGuinty]

polo---> thankyewverymuch

[CryixDijonrit]

Assuming you're spyware free won't make the real threats go.

Not assuming it, only knowing exactly what programs are running on the computer. Instead of targeting known "bad" programs, the plan would be to only allow good ones instead.

you're starting a virtual machine for every download you make only to test it? You have too much time on your hands my friend, gimme some.

I never said -I- did, only that hardcore advanced users do (i.e. the ones that have read and understand certain Microsoft source code for example). I'm not a true advanced user, I haven't even touched Linux yet for example :O

BTW HijackThis is not by any mean a COMMERICAL software, it is maintained by Merijn and can be found at merijn.org

Bad English on my part - I mean that HijackThis should be included in the recommended list.

Also REAL ADVANCED USERS!!!111 don't use Windows XP firewall if they're unsafe about those open ports you're talking about. Actually they probably use Knoppix STD, because it is badass.

Most likely, or Slackware. Most likely though they're surrounded by an array of five computers because they can't decide

[polobunny]

The Matrix has you.


I mean, you watched it too many times.

I agree HijackThis should be added to the list. NOD32 is a great antivirus, with one of a hell fast algorithm. Another utility really useful for tweaking a load of hidden settings is TweakUI that comes in the Windows Reskit. You can download it free on microsoft website.

[CryixDijonrit]

The Matrix has you.
I mean, you watched it too many times.

Yeah, it'll come handy though when we start seeing Microsoft Windows Human Brain Edition.
My goal though is to go completely over to open source software (although for quite a while I'll still be using Windows...just not XP). For antiviruses (which, yes, I use) I'm getting mixed signals on which is best - Avast or AVG? I've been looking for independent reviews without success.
And yes, I'll have to remember to add TweakUI to my Windows 2000 hardening list although Autopatcher 2000 includes it anyway

You can download it free on microsoft website.

I also plan on never connecting to them again :O

[polobunny]

I'd say AVG. I tried Avast in the past, and was using it before swithcing to AVG. It is a cool antivirus, but the warning when he finds a virus is, freaking. I felt like i was in a neo redlight district where SS's would try to shoot me down using various weapons. Thanks to the flashing light and the computerized female voice.
Also it had the bad habit of locking on me somehow. I don't know if it was my computer or the program itself, but I couldn't be happier with AVG.

[Xaenn]

Ironic that the fortunate "advanced" users don't have to do deal with any of this...

[polobunny]

Tss, i saw your little game, you don't look cool not even a tiny bit Xaenn.

[Vivi]

a tip to everyone,

Use Black Box Lean. It pwns explorer.

Screenshot:

<img src="http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b99/dserge/Wallpapera.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">