PC Performance

Mac_Attack · #1 01-02-2006, 07:37 PM

What tools do you use to keep your PC's operating? McAffee, Norton any of the free downloads etc. What works best for you? Bill Mc ;D

macojoe · #2 01-03-2006, 01:26 AM

To keep it going with out to much problems,

I use Norton, Free Adaware, delete cookies and temp files, and defrag.

Do all once a week and you will be fine!!

I have 1 brand new build 1.8 ghz, 1 Emachine 2.5 ghz, 2 years old, and 2, 500 mhz HP's 6 years old and, a 233 mhz Laptop 8 years old.

All scream on high speed Comcast with a Linksys router

I run 5 computers here in my house,

I have shown my friend all this in his office,
they use to go and get new computers every 2 years or so, Now they have computers that are 5 years old, and they run 20 of them on a wireless set up I put in for him.

I will say that Ram makes a huge difference!! Its a cheap easy upgrade and makes a world of difference!!

all machines IMO should be no less then 256 but better at 512 ram!!

My two old HP's have 256 , Laptop max's out at 160 and is at the max, the emachine is 512 and the new build is 1 gig!!

Skools Out · #3 01-03-2006, 01:59 AM

yeah Mj Mem is a hugh helper i have 5 gig of 1600 meg mem in this new computer it screams. but it is running fire wire 300 gig harddrive and a 6.4 gig processor with 1600 meg backbone mother board.

chumbucket · #4 01-03-2006, 03:52 AM

Cut it out! Start speaking English NOW! >:(

bigshrimpin · #5 01-03-2006, 05:26 AM

Couple of suggestions to add to the stuff everyone else mentioned:

1. remove unwanted programs from starting up:

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup

and

C:\Documents and Settings\ "your profile" \Start Menu\Programs\Startup

2. Check registry keys for unwated programs and remove them. (start => run => msconfig may be an easier way to do this)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\Run
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\Run

3. If you have over a GB of files sitting on your desktop, your PC will boot really slowly. Moving files to a directory on your C: drive will speed up the boot time of your PC.

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SPYWARE, VIRUSES, ETC.

It's nearly impossible to stay on top of this crap. The best suggestion I have for solving this problem is not to use Windows at all (OSX is not susceptable to viruses or spyware)

The best suggestions I have for protecting your PC are:

1. Keep your PC patched with the latest windows updates.
2. Use Firefox as your web browser.
3. Get a router with a hardware firewall
4. Avoid installing Peer to Peer software like (Limewire, Morpheus, etc.)

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macojoe · #6 01-03-2006, 11:42 AM

Yes I forgot about the start up!!

I have firefox, but I use windows for some reason, I don't like firefox??

I have the router with Firewall

And I use limewire all the time. So far I have been lucky there, I have 3000 songs and some 20 movies never a problem so far.

Keeping my fingers crossed!!!!

Mac_Attack · #7 01-03-2006, 09:40 PM

Thanks everyone. I'm not having any problems with mine. I like to stay up with anything new to keep it running at its peak. Only MJ mentioned MacAfee or Norton anyone else. I was wondering about MacAfee quick Clean. Bill Mc ;D

bigshrimpin · #8 01-03-2006, 10:34 PM

MAC - I'm not a fan of those utilities . . . I don't even have an anti-virus program installed on my PC's.

The best way to maintain your windows PC . . . hands down is Symantec Ghost and an external HD.

Once you have your PC setup the way you want . . . with all your programs, windows patches, tweaks etc. . . . make an image of the PC using ghost and store it on the external drive.

Once a week- Back up all your data files, MP3 collection, boat porn, bookmarks, etc. to the external drive.

Three months later when your windows OS gets jacked up by the lastest flavor of spyware/virus/browser hijack . . .

You'll have a good image of your PC . . . and a current back up copy of your data on the external drive.

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Depending on the number of programs you have installed on your PC . . . It should take about 5 - 10 mins to rebuild your PC using ghost (i.e. bring PC back to where it was when you imaged it)

All you have to do . . . boot from the PC using ghost, select image to disk, and the image you made 3 months ago will be copied to your drive (take about 10 minutes to rebuild a PC using ghost)

Then . . .

1. update the OS with current windows patches.
(make a new image if you like)

2. copy the back up data from the external drive onto your PC.

bigshrimpin · #9 01-03-2006, 10:50 PM

One utility I do like is called WinDirStat.

http://windirstat.sourceforge.net/

This utility provides you with a graphical representation of all the data on your drive. You can easily identify what directories are HOG the space on your Disk.

You don't need to install windirstat utility to run it . . . just uncompress the files into a directory and click on the windirstat executable.
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Also since I'm on this subject . . . .

http://osswin.sourceforge.net/ is an excellent resource for opensource windows software.