There is a thread on here about how good Ccleaner is. It is one of the better programs for cleaning up, especially if you tick 'all' the boxes so it cleans out everything, you should include the 'Advanced' tick boxes as well.

This wont by itself make you pc run faster as other things are slowing it down, things that are using memory and some of the chip power, so to help with this, you need to stop these 'not required to be running' programs from starting up when you boot up your pc.

Click 'Start and then Run' (XP) or Start and type in the search box (Vista/Windows 7), msconfig, another box will open with tabs along the top.

Clcik on the 'Startup' tab and you will see all the programs that are running in the background and slowing you down. There are probably a lot of them.

Untick 'all' the boxes except your security/antivirus programs. This will stop the programs from starting when you switch on your pc.

Don't worry if your not sure if you need a program or not, if something doesn't start that you are using all the time, you can go back in and put the tick back in the box.

The startup don't actually run programs, it keeps them ticking over in the background (using memory) so they start faster. Any programs you want to run are still controlled by the icon on the desktop.

One of the worse offenders is Adobe reader, it's not required, it will still automatically start when you click on a PDF file to read, and the same goes with Adobe flashplayer.

When you have done that and clicked 'Apply', then click on the 'Services' tab. Down the bottom you will see a tick box marked 'Hide all Microsoft services, click that and all that will be left are the programs that start up with the system.

Again, untick all except any security programs.

Click OK and you will be asked to restart your computer.

When you are back up and running, run Ccleaner to get rid of all the junk cluttering up your temp file and search box of things you searched for years ago.

When you delete something, you don't actually get rid of it, it is usually just renamed so it looks as if it has gone, but it is still there on the hard drive waiting to be overwritten by some other data or program you download.

This is why the police take away computers for investigation from naughty people, the info is still on there and can be retrieved.

To get rid of all these deleted things, you need to erase them and this can be done by a program called Cyberscrub. This will erase your hard drive to military standard but will not touch any of the programs or files that you put on there, only the deleted stuff.

When you have done both of those things, run the disc defragmentation tool you have, (All programs/Accessories), which will tidy up your drive so windows can find data without having to search for it. Something like having all the library books in alphabetical order, makes it easy to find a book.

There are a lot of 'con' programs on the internet that pretend to do a scan but in fact add viruses or spyware to your computer, Spybot is one such program that has others copy it's name, but is not the 'real' Spybot which to give it it's full name is 'Spybot search and destroy' and only comes from Safernetworking.org.

You will see close copies of the name with things like - Spybot search-destroy, just subtle changes, but they fool a lot of people.

Cyberscrub is a paid for program, but it has a 15 day trial of the full program, plenty of time for you to run it a dozen times if you want to.

To make sure you have the correct programs, I have put links to them.

Ccleaner - CCleaner - Home

Cyberscrub - CyberScrub - Downloads (you want Privacy Suite)

Spybot - The home of Spybot-S&D!

Using these three programs is the next best thing to doing a clean reinstall of Windows.

Happy playing.

Conniff

I'm going to try cyberscrub. It wont delete stuff I don't want it too will it?

It wont touch anything that is required. It will even clean the spaces inbetween files and not touch the files or the system.

It does install a monitor for bad stuff that will be by your clock, but that can be switched off in the Startup tab as well if you don't want it.

Jeez - I didn't realise I had so much cr@p on my laptop. It's still going and is only 25% done. This will free up so much space!!

If you click on the 'Erase previously "deleted" files beyond recovery, it will clear the entire disc of all the rubbish spread over it.

Again, it wont touch anything that is required, but this is a job to get it to do when you go to bed as it can take a while, especially if it is on a desktop with a 200 or 500 gig drive or if you have external drives you want cleaned up at the same time.

I suppose I had better add that I am nothing to do with Cyberscrub.

You will have entered you email address when you downloaded it, but they don't go chasing you to buy, all you will get over the two weeks are 6 tips for using the program.

Thats the one that is running now. Should I do any of the other options, or just leave it at that?

No, that does the lot. For a faster clean you could have used the Privacy Guard.

Feel left out now being an Apple Mac user and not suffering from such ailments. Useful info though.. wish i had been more 'clutter' aware when infected with (sorry, i mean using) windows machines.

I remember Spybot tho and it used to catch loads of nasties.

Wow Conniff - that is fab. Easy to follow for us tech dunces and trustworthy. Definitely sticky material methinks

Yup, it has freed up A LOT of space. About 17GB - Wow. So much junk

Feel left out now being an Apple Mac user and not suffering from such ailments. Useful info though.. wish i had been more 'clutter' aware when infected with (sorry, i mean using) windows machines.

 

I remember Spybot tho and it used to catch loads of nasties.

;) One day Davey boy, one day ;)

Yup, it has freed up A LOT of space. About 17GB - Wow. So much junk

Wow Conniff - that is fab. Easy to follow for us tech dunces and trustworthy. Definitely sticky material methinks

What no scales

You can't give rep in the bear garden:rolleyes:

Have tried elsewhere, but it won't let me

It has let me now. You deserve a tickle

As long as it's not the feet.

cyberscrub costs £46:eek:

cyberscrub costs £46:eek:

I know, that's why I only mentioned the free 15 day trial.

You can always tell when a program is good, they give a nice long trial knowing that once used you are very likely to purchase. I buckled and bought but it's worth it.

If I had the money, I too would purchase it. It is a really good programme!!

Many many thanks for the above posts, my PC has been a bit slow of late and I've run two of the above programs on it today, after using the msconfig program and it's a lot healthier.

I will continue to do this as part of my monthly cleanup. I download a lot of films from time to time and have learnt that a clean PC means viruses are less likely to attach themselves to me and the spam I recieve amounts to 1 or 2 per day.

I also automatically back up my PC when I have a big download session to get back to square one should I accidentally get a virus (only happened once so far and system restored in five minutes....)

oh dear, I didn't realise I've watched some much pornos since my wife left me.

oh dear' date=' I didn't realise I've watched some much pornos since my wife left me.[/quote']

 

:) :)

Haven't got any of that type on my pc and I don't share my films online...

Hey, an even better way of cleaning up your PC and speeding it up, is to remove Windows and use Ubuntu. You also have the added benefit of never having to install virus software (unless you are running an email server with Windows clients) or spyware software.

Very good Conniff,

I've done everything in *post 1* and this old steam powered PC is like new. No more annoying hour glass to watch for 10 mins while it starts up.

Very good post that really does work, stand by for a tickle , feet and all

Lex

Likewise, in 2 days have done 1 desktop, and 4 laptops.

Fantastic thread, will find you and tickle you for sure!!

PJ

Sorry conniff, you may not like this-

I did what #1 says and I've had trouble ever since!

I keep getting my screen freezing up with the message 'programme not responding' about every hour of use. I then click through when able and put through to windows who say it is 'caused by them!'

I used to have this before but only rarely, now it is about 3 or 4 times a day. What have I done wrong? I followed exactly what to do. And I've not noticed any quicker surfing-just hassle!!!