Computer Whizzes....

[blaze383]

I am running windows xp on my Compaq and its kinda old now 2-3 yrs maybe and its just so full of junk and downloads, what are some things I can do to speed it up? I have defraged it already and tried deleting some stuff but I am sure its loaded with viruses too. Any help is cool, thanks!

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[brtnboarder3241 5,000+ posts]

u got any antivirus on it?

 

[blaze383]

u got any antivirus on it?

I have this thing called Ad Aware SE Personal, it usually finds a few but im sure it has more.

 

[skeptikal Premium Member]

Run defrag, disk checker, empty out the temporary internet files and history, run virus scan, uninstall programs that you no longer use or havent used in a while, get windows updates...

start there and if that doesnt help start looking at your hardware

Best free antivirus program

AVG Antivirus

Best Adware scanner

Spybot S&D

you have to do a couple things but its free and it works great.

 

[msimon 10+ year member]

Save all of your important files and then reformat your hard drive and reinstall windows.

 

[blaze383]

Run defrag, disk checker, empty out the temporary internet files and history, run virus scan, uninstall programs that you no longer use or havent used in a while, get windows updates...
start there and if that doesnt help start looking at your hardware

I delete the temp internet files and cookies almost every other day and I have went thru control panel to try and remove a few programs but I cant tell if some of the stuff in there that looks like non sense is important or not.

 

[skeptikal Premium Member]

i edited my post

 

[myflow 10+ year member]

the only surefire way is to completely reformat your computer. just for a reference, I've never used a firewall aside from my router. I've never had antivirus software. and I've never had a virus. you just have to be careful as to what sites you go on, and what you use to download (cough limewire is full of viruses cough), and you're pretty much safe. remember... the only safe **** is the kind you make yourself!

 

[skeptikal Premium Member]

Save all of your important files and then reformat your hard drive and reinstall windows.

please dont do that until you have no other choice. I have been fixing computers for 3+ years now (i'm 20) and the only time my computer was not fixed or sped up by the things i've listed was before i knew about antivirus

 

[faulkton 5,000+ posts]

Save all of your important files and then reformat your hard drive and reinstall windows.

x2

please dont do that until you have no other choice

why? thats the easiest and most effective way to solve the problem..

 

[skeptikal Premium Member]

He doesnt really have a problem though. He just wants to boost the performance. I swear you will spend more time reinstalling and getting updates for windows and looking for old files and whatnot than just trying to clean it first

 

[faulkton 5,000+ posts]

he said it's full of virus's.. its best to just start over.

 

[blaze383]

the only surefire way is to completely reformat your computer. just for a reference, I've never used a firewall aside from my router. I've never had antivirus software. and I've never had a virus. you just have to be careful as to what sites you go on, and what you use to download (cough limewire is full of viruses cough), and you're pretty much safe. remember... the only safe **** is the kind you make yourself!

I use limewire //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/frown.gif.a3531fa0534503350665a1e957861287.gif

 

[blaze383]

Hey skeptikal I cant get the AVG scanner to work.

 

[Eugenics 5,000+ posts]

it would be best to reformat it. start with a clean registry, no virus's, only the programs you need, etc.