Like the title says. What is your favorite or preferred way to go about maintaining Windows? Reason I ask, is that I get so many requests from family and friends to maintain/speed up/clean their computers. And I was wondering if there are better or more efficient ways of doing this.
Here's the routine/method that I usually use:
EDIT* Actually one of the very first things I do is install Firefox. Then install Adblock and all the necessary plug-ins.
I go to the BIOS to disable anything not being used, and re-arrange the primary HDD as the first boot priority.
1 - I ask what programs they don't use, so I know what uninstall to help free up some space and resources.
2 - Then I look at the system tray to see the many unnecessary apps running in the background....and head to msconfig to disable some of the startup programs.
3 - I uninstall their anti-virus, because the majority of them use an expired Norton(or some other unknown AVs), and then install AVG. And with that I also install Ad-Aware. Then I give the computer it's scan throughs with them.
4 - Alot of them had a wireless network, so I checked if it was secured or not.
5 - I go to Windows Update and install any major and optional updates that they would need. I also update any of their programs/drivers that need updating. Like Adobe Reader 8 to 9.
6 - I install this defragmenter called AusLogics Defrag, which I think is a pretty fast and reliable defrag software compared to Windows' own. Then I run that.
7 - Then I just do a quick double check run through of everything to make sure everything is smooth.
That's about it. If you guys have better free software to recommend over the ones I use, please feel free to share.
Here's the routine/method that I usually use:
EDIT* Actually one of the very first things I do is install Firefox. Then install Adblock and all the necessary plug-ins.
I go to the BIOS to disable anything not being used, and re-arrange the primary HDD as the first boot priority.
1 - I ask what programs they don't use, so I know what uninstall to help free up some space and resources.
2 - Then I look at the system tray to see the many unnecessary apps running in the background....and head to msconfig to disable some of the startup programs.
3 - I uninstall their anti-virus, because the majority of them use an expired Norton(or some other unknown AVs), and then install AVG. And with that I also install Ad-Aware. Then I give the computer it's scan throughs with them.
4 - Alot of them had a wireless network, so I checked if it was secured or not.
5 - I go to Windows Update and install any major and optional updates that they would need. I also update any of their programs/drivers that need updating. Like Adobe Reader 8 to 9.
6 - I install this defragmenter called AusLogics Defrag, which I think is a pretty fast and reliable defrag software compared to Windows' own. Then I run that.
7 - Then I just do a quick double check run through of everything to make sure everything is smooth.
That's about it. If you guys have better free software to recommend over the ones I use, please feel free to share.
