Home Construction Website Computer TiVo Modifications Other Sites Pics Projects Contact
KEEPING YOUR COMPUTER CLEAN (updated 12/22/05)
1st Step: Download and Install Required Programs
New browser window will open on all download links. If you have pop-up protection, hold down your CTRL key when you click on the link.
  1. AVG Virus Protection - Download the free version of this virus protection software. When you click on the download link, select OPEN on your computer and follow the instructions after the file downloads.
  2. SpyBot - Finds and removes spyware. When you click on the download link, select OPEN on your computer and follow the directions. Do run the wizard they offer to you. De-select the "Tea Timer" unless you want to be notified after every registry change. It may drive you nuts, so make sure it's not checked.
  3. Spyware Blaster - Catches the Active-X controlled spyware. Picks up where Spybot leaves off.
Weekly to Bi-Weekly Maintenance Step by Step
Since I wrote this page, AVG and Spybot came out with totally new versions. Even if you followed these directions before, you may not be totally protected. If you've noticed that your AVG and Spybot programs never seem to have any new definition updates, then you need to update the software by going to the sites above. If you haven't gone through any of this yet, the links above are still accurate. The steps below however may have changed. I will adjust them as soon as I can.

These steps should be run twice a month. Weekly if you have young-uns using your computer. It will take about 45 minutes to perform all this, but you only have to occasionally monitor the progress during this time.
  • Full Drive Virus Scan - If you're pretty tame on your browsing, file copying, etc., you can move this to the once every two months category. AVG will keep an eye on your system in real time, so it would be unusual for anything to get past it.
    1. Double-click AVG icon on desktop
    2. Click on "Test Center"
    3. Click on "Scan Computer"
    4. Sit back. This will take anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour depending upon the number and size of files you have. If you have any viruses, do whatever it tells you to do. If it can't fix them, let me know.

  • SpyBot
    1. Click on START button.
    2. Click on PROGRAMS > SPYBOT SEARCH & DESTROY> SPYBOT SEARCH & DESTROY
    3. Click on "SEARCH FOR UPDATES"
    4. If any updates, make sure all updates have a check in the checkbox and click on "DOWNLOAD UPDATES" (Note: SpyBot does have download problems. I'd say half the time I try and download an update, it stalls. If this happens to you, select a different mirror from the pulldown just to the left of the download updates button. I've had good luck with the Europe sites.)
    5. Click on "SEARCH & DESTROY"
    6. Click on "CHECK FOR PROBLEMS"
    7. This will take about 15 minutes. At the end of the search you'll start seeing problem items show up.
    8. Make sure all entries are checked.
    9. Click on "FIX SELECTED PROBLEMS"
    10. Click on "IMMUNIZE" and confirm that "All Known Bad Products are Already Blocked"
    11. Scroll down and confirm that the pull-down menu at the bottom says "Block all bad pages silently"

  • Spyware Blaster
    1. Click on START > SPYWARE BLASTER > SPYWARE BLASTER
    2. Click on "UPDATES" in left blue area.
    3. Click on "Check for Updates"
    4. If there were updates, click on the link that says "Enable Protection for All Unprotected Items"
Every Two Months
  • Disk Cleanup (and later Defrag)
    1. Defrag needs to be run in "Safe Mode". Restart your computer, and keep tapping on the F8 key about the rate of once per second. You need to do this as soon as you see text on the screen and BEFORE you see the Windows screen. It *may* bring up a "boot screen" first. If that happens, select "Boot to IDE-0" and hit ENTER then continue with the F8's.
    2. When you see the "Safe Mode" menu, select "Safe Mode" (number 1??)
    3. When Windows loads, it may remind you that you're in Safe Mode, and it will also load a help file. Just close the help file. Then go to START > PROGRAMS > ACCESSORIES > SYSTEM TOOLS > Disk Cleanup
    4. Click OK for your "C" drive.
    5. After it has scanned your drive (2 minutes), make sure ALL the items are checked and click OK and YES.

  • Disk Defragmentor
    1. Go to START > PROGRAMS > ACCESSORIES > SYSTEM TOOLS > Disk Disk Defragmentor.
    2. Click OK for "C" drive. Defrag will take anywhere from 30 minutes to 18 hours. It's best to set up before going to sleep. But keep an eye on it for the first 15 minutes. If there are any serious errors, it will stop and tell you what you need to do to fix them.

Having Problems?

Having problems like programs crashing or errors popping up? The easiest way to figure out these often times cryptic messages is to simply go to Google and enter the exact error message into the search box. Word for word. Enclose the phrase in quotes. That means they'll search for only that same exact text.

Example. If you get a message that says:

An exception error has occured in #B744AB1

(I totally made this up). Go to Google, and type in WITH the quotes:

"+An exception error +has occured +in #B744AB1"

The + sign tells Google to include these common words. Google omits common words like "a" and "the" in searches.