HOUSECALL from TRENDMICRO - FREE online Virus scan and repair = (Check the autoclean box) = ( IT IS OK TO HAVE MORE THAN ONE ANT-SPYWARE/MALWARE PROGRAM ENABLED AND RUNNIBG AT THE SAME TIME) = Download Here >>>> http://housecall.trendmicro.com
FREE avast! Home anti-Virus- Vista-compatible, both the free and paid versions.(ONLY HAVE ONE A/V PROGRAM ENABLED AND RUNNIBG AT A TIME) = DOWNLOAD HERE >>>> http://www.avast.com
FREE Comodo Firewall PRO = http://www.personalfirewall.comodo.com = "Comodo Firewall, rated by PC Magazine Online as an Editor's Choice, constantly monitors and defends your PC from internet attacks. It's easy to install and use and passes the industry's most stringent firewall "leak" tests. Unlike some other 'free' firewalls, this is not a stripped down version but is the full, completely functional product. This free solution comes complete with continual updates that are free forever." Note - Not compatible with Windows 98 systems. For = "Windows XP – 32 and 64 bit versions. Windows Vista – 32 and 64 bit versions". Note – Windows 2000 users should download Comodo Firewall Pro 2.4. NEVER HAVE 2 OR MORE SOFTWARE FIREWALLS RUNNING ON THE SAME COMPUTER, as they will conflict with each other. So if you get a third party alternative be sure to disable the Windows firewall, and it is suggested that you do get a third party alternative, an the Windows Firewall leaves much to be desired.
DOWNLOAD HERE >>> http://www.personalfirewall.comodo.com
+ Hardware router with built in firewall + Whenever my cable goes out and I have to switch to dialup backup, I turn off the hardware router, and turn on FREE AnalogX PortBlocker = http://www.analogx.com/contents/download/network/pblock.htm
MS Windows Defender -- http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx = Windows Defender = http://www.microsoft.com/defender - http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=435BFCE7-DA2B-4A6A-AFA4-F7F14E605A0D&displaylang=en
FREE SUPERAntiSpyware = http://www.superantispyware.com/index.html
Spybot-S&D = Be sure to use the immunize feature, and as with everything else, keep it updated. When installing, probably best to uncheck TeaTimer. DOWNLOAD HERE >>>> http://www.safer-networking.org
and Ad-Aware = DOWNLOAD HERE >>>> http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=506
+ http://www.komando.com/downloads/categories.aspx?cat=Security = New
+ WinCleaner AntiSpyware 5.4, Free protection against spyware =
http://mail.vnunet.com/cgi-bin1/flo/y/e6oO0Hd7VN0ac60DtCf0E8
+ SpywareBlaster/SpywareGuard - Freeware = http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html
McAfee SiteAdvisor - Free = http://www.siteadvisor.com
AnalogX Script Defender- Freeware = http://www.analogx.com/contents/download/system/sdefend.htm
and
http://www.winpatrol.com = Freeware - WINPATROL
An important thing to keep in mind, regardless of which anti-virus, anti-trojan, anti-worm, anti-malware, anti-spyware and firewall you use -
( http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/default.mspx ) is to keep it UPDATED, just as it is important to make sure you have all windows critical and security updates +
http://update.microsoft.com/windowsupdate/v6/default.aspx?ln=en-us
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/Browse.aspx?displaylang=en&productID=38DF6AB1-13D4-409C-966D-CBE61F040027
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/downloads/list/webdev.asp
Note: The way I have mine set is to only notify me that updates are availiable, but to not download them automaticaly. Then I can check to be sure I get just the ones I want. I then click on "custom", and after the updates have been downloaded I look them over to see which ones I want, then disconnect from the net, disable firewall and anti-virus program, and then install the updates, and then re-enable the firewall and anti-virus programs before reconnecting to the net. = http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306525
FREE Security programs = http://www.komando.com/downloads/categories.aspx?cat=Security
http://www.dailyrotation.com
Calendar Of Updates= http://www.dozleng.com/updates/index.php?act=calendar
To speed up slow computer =
Slow startup could be caused by a hanging/bad driver or startup program., check your device manager to see if any drivers need updating. .Right click on the "my computer" desktop icon, and then select properties, select the hardware tab/ then click device manager and see if there are any "!" next to anything. Or start/settings/control panel/system/hardware/device manager
Also, you might need more RAM(Memory). = Go to and put in your system specs at = http://www.crucial.com/support/install.asp
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q307545
To manage your startup programs, use
http://www.snapfiles.com/get/starter.html = CodeStuff Starter (Not for Vista)
or
http://www.mlin.net/StartupCPL.shtml
Open up IE and go to Tools/Internet Options/General tab and Delete Temp files and History, then Boot into safe mode, = http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2001052409420406 , then enable CHKDSK, = Click your "My Computer" in the start menu, R-Click the C: Drive, go down and click on properties in the drop menu. When the properties folder opens, click on the Tools Tab, The first item in the list is to do CHKDSK. Put a check mark in all the boxes/start/yes/apply/ok . The PC should be rebooted in safe mode to do the scan. To view the results of a CHKDSK go to Administrative Tools > Event Viewer > Application, look for the most recent Winlogon event and double-click on it.
Then reboot into safe mode = http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2001052409420406?OpenDocument&src=sec_doc_nam , or Start/run/msconfig/Boot.ini tab/check /safeboot - reboot. Afterwards uncheck it and reboot., then go to Start/all programs/accessories/system tools/disk cleanup , and run disk cleanup: Start/All Programs/Accessories/System Tools/Disc Cleanup and put a check in ALL the boxes(Note: Only check the "compress old files" box if you are running very short of disk space, as those files which haven't been accessed recently will be compressed to save disk space, but at the cost of slightly slower access times to those files. Nothing will be deleted or "cleaned up" as a result of checking "Compress Old Files."). Click OK then Yes in the next little window. Let it finish. = http://www.deltatranslator.com/chkdsk.htm
Then run Disk Defrag from safe mode. After booting into safe mode go to Start/all programs/accessories/system tools/Disk Defragmenter. When you open "Defrag", click on "analyze", and it will tell you if you need to defrag or not. (or see = http://www.dirms.com ).
10+ things you should know about troubleshooting a slow PC = http://downloads.techrepublic.com.com/download.aspx?docid=172694
http://software.techrepublic.com.com/download.aspx?docid=261141&tag=nl.e175
http://www.speed-up-computer.info/index.php?t=speedup
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=122339
http://www.pcnineoneone.com/training_videos
Windows Powertools (exe) = http://software.techrepublic.com.com/download.aspx?docid=276277&tag=nl.e138
http://www.tweakguides.com/TGTC.html
http://www.sparklexp.com/
TweakVI Basic = http://www.vnunet.com/2169913
Registry tweaks to accelerate Windows XP = http://downloads.techrepublic.com.com/abstract.aspx?docid=173620&tag=nl.e138
23 Ways To Speed WinXP = http://www.techbuilder.org/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=59201471
Take charge of Windows XP with these 10+ power tips = http://downloads.techrepublic.com.com/download.aspx?docid=313424&tag=nl.e112
Game XP = http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=game+xp&spell=1
http://www.driverguide.com/
http://driversplanet.com/default.aspx = "Find the driver you want in just a few clicks of the mouse."
Try first updating the drivers from the manufacturers' websites.
Here is a list of some of the ones that I use.
HouseCall 6.6 - FREE online Virus scan and repair = (Check the autoclean box) = http://housecall.trendmicro.com
FREE avast! Home Anti-Virus- Vista-compatible, both the free and paid versions.
http://www.avast.com/
FREE Comodo Firewall PRO = http://www.personalfirewall.comodo.com
+ Hardware router with built in firewall + Whenever my cable goes out and I have to switch to dialup backup, I turn off the hardware router, and turn on FREE AnalogX PortBlocker = http://www.analogx.com/contents/download/network/pblock.htm
Spyware Doctor™ Starter Edition - FREE for Google™ Pack users = http://www.pctools.com/spyware-doctor/google_pack
FREE SUPERAntiSpyware = http://www.superantispyware.com/index.html
Spybot-S&D = http://www.safer-networking.org = Be sure to use the immunize feature, and as with everything else, keep it updated. When installing, probably best to uncheck TeaTimer.
and Ad-aware = http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=506 + http://www.komando.com/downloads/categories.aspx?cat=Security = New
+ WinCleaner AntiSpyware 5.4, Free protection against spyware =
http://mail.vnunet.com/cgi-bin1/flo/y/e6oO0Hd7VN0ac60DtCf0E8
+ SpywareBlaster/SpywareGuard - Freeware = http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html
McAfee SiteAdvisor - Free = http://www.siteadvisor.com
AnalogX Script Defender- Freeware = http://www.analogx.com/contents/download/system/sdefend.htm
and
http://www.winpatrol.com