Regular PC Tune Up for XP

(updated March 3 2009)
Monthly or quarterly depending on how many items you find:

Note: All the tools I recommend are free or at most ask for a donation unless otherwise noted as commercial.

1. Install and run CCleaner (free)(Run Cleaner and Scan for Issues/Fix all Issues)

2. Run a full, current antivirus scan (AVG Free, PC Tools Antivirus, Avira AntiVir PersonalEdition Classic, and Avast! Home Edition are all free for private use programs - (Major Geeks under Antivirus) If you have an MSN account use McAfee AV and Webroot Spysweeper found in the Member Center box. In my opinion the best low-overhead commercial antivirus is NOD32 . The new Norton Antivirus 2009 has been completely rewritten and is supposed to be more considerate of your computer resources.

3. Install Malwarebytes Antimalware (free but a commercial version with auto update and active protection is available) be sure to update before running a scan. Major Geeks under AntiSpyware. - There have been problems with Spybot S&D, a previous recommended program and PC Cillin and MS Word 2007, so I am recommending removal of S&D AFTER you start the program and "undo" the immunization. Install Malwarebytes Antimalware as a replacement. The free version still requires manual update and scanning, but it cleans every malware pest I have run across.) Another option for sticky situations that can be run from the command line in a DOS window is Combofix (WARNING: this program is a little "geeky" and you need to know what you are doing), which then can be followed by Malwarebytes Antimalware.

5. Install Mircosoft Windows Defender, allow it to update and run a scan. This is included with Vista. It gives you an active, in the background defense against the worst of spyware.

6. Install/run Startup Inspector for Windows (Major Geeks under Process Management) look for rouge programs or programs that start on boot that you do not need. Use with caution. If you don't know what it is, do not stop it.

7. Rootkit check. F-secure Blacklight online scan . Sysinternals Rootkit Revealer .

8. Run Secunia Online Software Inspector to find out of date and insecure software. Almost all problems found will have a direct link to download the updates.

Every 6 Months:

1. Install and run NTREGOPT .

2. Reboot and run checkdisk. (Start, Run, Enter: "chkdsk /f" no quotes, type "y" to run on reboot. Reboot)

3. Defrag the hard disk. (jkdefrag is good )

Now go do it!
G2C2