I'm sure most of you already know this . . .

[Floogeldy]

Another poster (sorry, I didn't save the name) shared his or her maintenance information, which I copied for future reference. It is basic stuff, but maybe it will be helpful to some of you someday:

"Get these programs on the internet:

Spybot Search & Destroy

AdAware

Spyware Blaster

KMCS Deluxe System Suite

RegSupreme

Diskeeper Lite(If you don't have a good defragger. The M$ one sux)

SafeXP

PageDefrag.

Here is the plan, by the numbers:

Install SpywareBlaster. Run, update, select all protection. Quit.

Install AdAware. Update, Run. Clean out any Spyware it finds.

Install Spybot S&D. Set it to run "TeaTimeR" on startup. This stops bad software from installing itself without your permission. Run SBS&D. Update. Immunize. Scan. Delete any other Spyware it finds.

Put SafeXP and PageDefrag, after de-archiving them, in a folder you create in your top C: drive level. Run SafeXP and set to "recommended settings. Also set it to "Delete Page File" on each reboot. Save settings. Quit.

Run PageDefrag. Set it to defrag system files on each startup, after 3 seconds. Quit.

Install KMCS and RegSupreme. Run Cleanup wizard on KMCS. Set it to clean out everything. Start KMCS. Run Disk Cleaner mode. Generate scripts. Run the cleaner. Wait for it to finish. Quit to KMCS control panel.

Run RegSupreme. Generate cache, then run "Deep Scan". Select "All" from menus. Select "Fix". Save backup(a precaution). Let it clean out the registry. Quit.

Run KMCS "Registry Compressor". Compress Registry. Quit.

Reboot.

Let PageDefrag run as long as it needs to. Do not freak out if it takes a while, because you have really fragmented system files.
Defrag your drive when the system finishes booting.

You will not believe the speed you will pick up. Better than a fresh install.

Most are free programs. Others are generous trial programs.

I do this all the time. It works and will not blow up your computer."

[Nite Owl]

1. A very good idea to copy/paste

this. I caught it in the original thread and saved it. To give credit it was DUer Tandalayo_Scheisskopf who originally posted this. Such a wealth of talent and sharing here at DU!

[Floogeldy]

2. Thank you Tandalayo!!

B-)

[Matilda]

3. Re MS Defragger ......

I've been pretty religious about defragging for the past couple of
years, but for at least six months, when I set it to analyse, it
comes up with "no need to defrag at this time." Lately, I've begun
to wonder if this is right - can it be possible that there is nothing
for it to do after months and months of daily use, albeit not ultra
heavy usage. Is it possible that it's wrong?

[Goldom]

4. it wont say you need to

until it is -horribly- fragmented. you can do it any time you want though, and I'd reccommend you do. (If you're on XP or 95, you can check the % fragmentation. Anything over 5 is worthy of a defrag. Note that xp averages file/blank fragmentation, and since blank is almost always 0, looking at solely the file fragmentation is more accurate than total. For some reason, the 98 and ME defraggers do not let you see this information).

On edit: Be sure to turn off your paging file (better known as virtual memory) before defragging. (right-click on my computer, properties, advanced tab, 1st settings button, advanced tab, change, no paging file, then restart). That gets rid of the "unmovable data" (or green chunk on XP), so that it can be defragged too. Last time I did this, though not normally, it had some error about overwriting the old paging file, when I turned it back on, but I did and it was fine. On which note, don't forget to turn it back on before you run any other programs!

[Matilda]

5. Ah, so that's why it always takes hours when it does defrag.

I'll have a try at doing it manually when I come in to work tomorrow.
Thanks for the info.

[Matilda]

6. I've done it, and it's heaps quicker. Great.

Thanks for the advice.

[dweller]

7. one question

as i am about to download and run this process.
I have win2000.
so is safexp necessary for my system?

thanks
dp

[dweller]

8. answered my own question

n/m.

:)

dp