Many of the newer Windows operating systems come with their own firewall, cleanup, and desk defragment utilities. For accessing them you have to go to the start button in the lower left corner of the task bar. For firewall, from the start button you go to the control panel and left click twice on the Security center icon, You will see that firewall is on. Also your virus protection and if any updates are on. These can be scheduled to go at your convenience. They are important ones from the Microsoft site. A large number of them fix hackers and bugs. It is very important to schedule updates.
I feel that the best virus protection is AVG. They have a free program and I have used it for many years. I got the information about it from a very highly trained person in the field when I once faced hacking. I like it so much because it is very reliable and for this reason I have bought my 2 year agreement. It offers real time protection and is easily usable. The price is also reasonable. As compared to this McAffee does not have all that this one has. My first one was Norton Anti virus but my computer got shut because of the virus. Norton is very difficult to uninstall because it goes into everything.
For accessing the operating systems maintenance utilities you again go to start and click on All Programs. Then go to accessories and then System tools. I first do the disk clean up for C:. You have to be careful that no useful files get deleted. It happened with me once.
When you start the clean up the box will show you a list that requires cleaning up. You should check this list and download the program files, temporary internet files, office web page, Microsoft office temporary files, recycle bin, web client/publisher temporary files and compress old files. This operation will enhance the efficiency of your computer.
The other tool which is required weekly repetition is defragmentation of the disk.The method is the same as the other only take care that it is the disk c: that will be defragmented. The second disk is your recovery disk. In case you don't use it there is no need for clean up. This process helps in keeping the files together and searching becomes aeasier. This device runs very slowly.
By doing this your system will remain in good shape. I do weekly scans with free version of Spybot Search. and Destrot adware. A very trusted site is CNet. You can download these. You will have to do the operation after understanding the process properly.They will scan things like adware and track cookies that come in y surfing.
I bought my computer desktop a few years back and it is my third computer. It is very powerful and expensive. It runs beautifully because I keep it fit and fine.
Owning a computer leads to having to maintain it, and unfortunately for many of us this can be seen as a cumbersome process. But if you follow the simple guidelines listed below you'll find that maintaining your computer is really not as hard as it may appear. These steps will not only aid in giving you better performance but can prevent future problems with the operation of your computer.
Here are the top 8 tips for maintaining your computer and ensuring you get the most out of it...
1. Windows Updates. Although this is often seen as a chore, it's important to have your windows updates set to ?Automatic?. This ensures that your computer is receiving all the latest updates and patches from Microsoft automatically. By having this enabled you'll be protected against all the latest security holes that may infect other computers that are not updated.
2. Defragmenter. It's a known fact that defragmenting your computer on a bi-monthly basis can result in smoother performance. This aids in making your hard drive faster (and we all want a faster hard drive).
3. Virus, Spyware, Adware Protection. It's crucial to ensure proper maintenance of your computer that you have real time protection for viruses, Spyware and Adware. This aids in the smooth operation of your computer.
4. Disk Cleanup. Windows has a built in disk cleanup system that will clean and free space on your hard drive. You should run this monthly or bi-monthly to ensure your hard drive is optimized for space. To find this option you can go to start, program, accessories, system tools, disk cleanup.
5. Startup Limit. You should limit the number of applications that load at startup. You can edit this option using the ?msconfig? option that can be typed as a command in windows using the run command. You'll then be able to edit the programs that load at startup. By limiting the number of applications at startup, you'll have a better operating computer at boot time, while operational, and at shut down.
6. Windows Firewall. By default Windows has a built in firewall. This is especially important for users with high speed connections. Ensure that you have your firewall enabled to limit any intrusions.
7. Temporary Files. Be sure to remove temporary internet files and windows temp files periodically as these can lead to unnecessary disk space that can further slow down your computer. By clearing these files you free space on your computer.
8. Shutdown Computer. Many of us get lazy and just leave the computer on overnight. This can actually lead to memory issues and will slow down the overall performance of your computer. Ensure that you shut down your computer overnight or when not in use. Also try to never turn off the computer without Windows completely shutting down first or it can lead to drive failure.
These are just basic computer maintenance tips you can follow to aid in maintaining your computer. It will lead to overall better performance, and will give your computer more durability.
Both Chris Jensen & John Daye are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Chris Jensen has sinced written about articles on various topics from Health, Food And Drink and Flirting Tips. Chris Jensen is a contributing Author of Jetfly Blog. For more related articles and reviews visit Jetfly Computers & Tech Blog now. Also, for the Bes. Chris Jensen's top article generates over 450000 views. Bookmark Chris Jensen to your Favourites.
John Daye has sinced written about articles on various topics from Paralegal Legal Assistant, Education and Computers and The Internet. If you'd like to get your hands on one of the most useful computer maintenance tools around, then visit http://www.cureyourregistry.com and learn about. John Daye's top article generates over 12100 views. Bookmark John Daye to your Favourites.