The Ultimate Computer Help Thread(TUCHT)

[LoveTractor]

I said I was gonna do this, so here it is. A work in progress. Welcome to TUCHT!

This thread is a place to pool common computer tips and fixes as well as a place where anyone can post up and get help from 'Mud's computer dorks. You know who you are, fellas. By all means, hop in and answer questions. This thread ain't just for me.

I. PC Clean-Up:
I do this at least once a month. This can bring a slow computer back to life.

1)Run anti-virus and spyware scans.
"These scans tend to work much faster and are more successful at getting rid of stuff if you run them in Safe Mode."-KLF
To enter Safe Mode, reboot your PC and hold down F8 and choose "Safe Mode."

2)Delete files IN Prefetch folder(Not folder itself!)
Start>All Programs>Accessories>Windows Explorer>My Computer>C:>Windows>Prefetch>Edit(XP)/Organize(Vista)>Select All>Delete

3)Delete files IN Temp folder(Not folder itself!)
Start>All Programs>Accessories>Windows Explorer>My Computer>C:>Windows>Temp>>Edit(XP)/Organize(Vista)>Select All>Delete

4)Add/Remove unused Programs(A lean computer runs faster.)
Start>Control Panel>Add or Remove Programs(XP)/Uninstall a Program(Vista)

5)Disk Clean-Up(Old Restore Points too except for Vista)
Start>All Programs>Accessories>System Tools>Disk Clean-Up>More Options tab>System Restore>Clean-Up>"Yes"(see note)>Disk Clean-up tab>check boxes(see note)>OK
Note: Do not check the box "Office Set Up Files" or it will mess up Microsoft Office!
Note: This option is not available in Vista

6)Hard drive Error-checking.
Start>My Computer>right-click C:>Properties>Tools Tab>Error-Checking>Check Now>check both boxes>Start(will likely ask you to reboot)

7)Defrag the hard drive. My analogy to clients of a Windows hard drive: the hard drive is like a filing cabinet which gets terribly out of order over time. The CPU will take longer finding files and programs and not open them as fast. A defrag is a "secretary" that organizes the "filing cabinet" so files and programs can be found easier and faster.
Start>My Computer>right-click C:>Properties>Tools Tab>Defragmentation
In Vista, Defrag is automatic and you have the option to enable/disable auto defrag.

II. New or Factory-recovered Retail Laptop/Desktop Setup and Optimization:
1)Ethernet Internet Connection-faster than wireless for updates
2)Windows set-up wizard
3)Download/Install Windows Updates/Set Automatic Updates(see Item III)
4)Remove manufacturer-installed bloatware/crapware & unwanted Windows Components(See Item I #4)
5)Anti-Virus
6)Anti-Spyware(Windows Defender if XP and others)
7)FireFox + Add-Ons(if desired)(see Item X)
8)Additional program installations(if desired)
9)Install additional hardware(use plug n' play, disregard included CD unless Windows can't find driver)
10)Disk Clean-up(see Item 1 #6)
11)Defrag(see Item I #7)
12)Additional settings(see Items IV through VIII)

III. Automatic Updates:
I don't set my Automatic Updates to download and install the Updates automatically. I update a couple days after the second Tuesday of every month(called Microsoft Tuesday) when Microsoft uploads the updates. It's good to wait just in case a repair to updates needs to be implemented by Microsoft. Some automatic updates have been known to FUBAR a system hence why I always wait a few days in case Microsoft needs to iron some kinks out. Using the following setting, Windows will notify you in the systray of the task bar(lower right) with the yellow shield and bubbles will remind you that action is required. Just wait a few days and then update.
XP: Start>Control Panel>Security Center>Automatic Update Settings(XP)/Windows Updates(V)>check "Notify me but don't automatically download or install them"
Vista: Start>Control Panel>Security Center>under Windows Updates>"Turn Auto Updating on or off">check "Check for updates but let me choose whether to download and install them"

IV. Network Security
Cordon off your computer from outside attacks through a network; especially on your laptop that you may use on public networks.
XP:Start>Control Panel>Security Center>Windows Firewall Settings>Exceptions tab
Vista:Start>Control Panel>Security Center>under Windows Firewall>"Allow a program through Windows Firewall">Exceptions Tab
Uncheck:
File and Printer Sharing
Remote Assistance
Remote Desktop
Any other settings you don't want others to have access to. Leave Anti-Virus exceptions checked or you won't get updates.

V. Consolidate your work under "My Documents"
Make your own folder under My Documents with your name. Makes Back-Ups easier. Make additional folders for additional users.

VI. Limit your use of the Administrator account.
The Admin account is the primary account where most of us do our daily computing. But it also grants a full pass to some stuff that shouldn't be messed with. I'm an IT guy and even I limit my use of the admin account. Make another User account through admin to do your daily stuff. This way, if you accidentally download executable files and try to run them, you'll get a warning that you don't have that privilege. Linux uses the Root account. Vista has already implemented this feature with the pop-up warnings which some find annoying. I actually really like it and it does help.

VII. Optimize your Virtual Memory
Virtual Memory is the hard drive equivalent to the RAM in your motherboard. It's good practice to set it to at least 2 times RAM size if you have the room or you can let your OS manage it automatically.
Start>right click My Computer>Properties>Advanced>Performance>Settings> Advanced>Virtual Memory>Change to "System Managed Size" or 2xRAM size

VIII. Lengthen Laptop Power
XP:Start>right click My Computer>Manage>Device Manager>double click device>General tab>Device Usage>Enable/Disable
Vista:Start>right click My Computer>Manage>Device Manager>double click device>Driver tab>Disable/Enable
Turn off stuff you're not using like:
IR functions
Firewire
Sound Functions
PCMCIA
Ports you're not gonna use
Etc

IX. My recommendations for spyware and antivirus protection:
You pay for what you get. The best antivirus and spyware protection is subscription-based and will keep your computer completely protected and up to date. The free stuff ain't that great and usually only fixes infections AFTER you've been infected or AFTER you've run a scan. The subscription-based programs actually STOP malware from infecting your computer in the first place by checking everything "at the door," so to speak. Nothing bad gets in.

Subscription-based Antivirus
Antivirus Software: Kaspersky Lab - Protection Against Malware and Cybercrime
Antivirus Software - Eliminate Spyware and Adware with ESET NOD32 Antivirus (not as intuitive as Kaspersky)(AV-Comparatives gave Nod 32 their "Best of 2007" vote)

Subscription-based Spyware Protection(Stops spyware from ever entering your computer. One or the other; not both.)
Spy Sweeper-Award-winning Antivirus and Antispyware Security
Spyware Doctor - Best Spyware Removal. Free Trial Download.

If you're a cheapskate and you don't want good protection for your computer:

Free Antivirus
AVG Free Advisor - AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition

Free Spyware "Protection"/Scanners(In most cases, you have to manually scan to find and remove infections. And use all three...or more.)
Ad-Aware 2007 Free - Lavasoft
The home of Spybot-Search&Destroy!
Windows Defender - Spyware Protection for Free(Now included with Vista)

I am not a big fan of Norton/Symantec or McAfee. Norton is a hog of a program that sticks its greedy little fingers all over your computer slowing it down. And uninstalling it is near impossible without special programs. McAfee = meh; AVG actually catches more.
To Uninstall Norton
Add/Remove+SymNRT+ccremove.reg
Google "symnrt" and choose product.

For some great comparative reviews of anti-virus programs:
AV-Comparatives

X. FireFox Rocks!
Get it. It is more secure than Internet Explorer or Safari and completely customizable and is great to use with the add-ons.
Firefox web browser | Faster, more secure, & customizable
Add-ons I use:
AdBlock Plus Add-On
NoScript Add-On
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/2410
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/26
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/636
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/5579
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/4458
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/2286
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/5408
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/2207

XI. Back-Up Your Data Regularly
Get into a schedule. You never think you need to until it's too late. I back-up at least once a month if not more often.
XP: Start>All Programs>Accessories>System Tools>Back-Up>Advanced Mode>Back-Up Wizard...
Vista: Start>All Programs>Maintenance>Backup and Restore Center>Back up Files

XII. Good and Secure Passwords
A good and secure password is NOT just a single common word. It's not your initials or your birthday or even the name of the street you grew up on. A good password is a random string of upper and lower case letters and numbers all jumbled together. Common words and personal phrases can either be broken by social engineering or dictionary attacks.
Ex:QdZi7s10aKfCEyI8wo5G(not mine...woody's)
Likewise, you can use an old and UNIQUE nickname or something that only you and maybe your wife knows(in upper and lowercase letters) mixed with a number only YOU know like your old high school locker combo or something.
You should get in the habit of ALWAYS using secure passwords with everything in this day and age.
A good password generator that generates passwords that only you can see using SSL(secure socket layer) and refreshes every time you refresh the page:
https://www.grc.com/passwords.htm

XIII. Malware Removal
If your computer gets infected by spyware or a virus and your malware protection is not getting rid of it:

Before we begin, I'd like to throw this out there. amos715 has brought up a good point: "It takes about 1.5 hours to reload all computer software and updates. Why spend more time than that trying to clean something(malware) that is still not going to run like a fresh load will?" What he's saying is that instead of going through all the trouble of trying to remove stubborn malware(virus/spyware), it might be easier to back-up everything important on the computer and just do a clean install.

To start malware removal, you can try a System Restore which may or may not work. Go back as far as possible without losing any of your own important files that may have been created recently. A System Restore is like a computer's time machine reverting it back to a previous(and hopefully uninfected) state.
Start>All Programs>Accessories>System Tools>System Restore

Go into Add/Remove programs and remove/delete any suspicious programs that shouldn't be there. And even delete programs you just don't need. A lean computer runs faster.
Start>Control Panel>Add/Remove Programs/Uninstall a Program

1)Identify the infection.
Run your spyware and antivirus scans and find what is infecting your computer. As KLF suggested in Item I #1, "These scans tend to work much faster and are more successful at getting rid of stuff if you run them in Safe Mode."
If your antivirus/spyware programs are not indentifying the infection, you must first disable your current antivirus program(2 antivirus programs running at the same time will cancel each other out) and run some online scans.:
Free Virus Scan - Kaspersky Lab
ESET Online Scanner
Trend Micro HouseCall - Free Online Virus and Spyware Scan - Trend Micro USA
BitDefender Online Scanner - Free Online Virus Scan
Infected or not - Find out if your PC has virus, spyware...

2)Viruses are very specific and have unique names. Hopefully one of the above scans has identified the infection. With the malware identified, now it's time to figure out how to remove it. Go to one of the next sites and find the malware's definition and removal instructions:
Security Response - Symantec Corp.
F-Secure.com > Overview
Google

3)Now it's time to remove the infection.
Important: Disable System Restore before removing a virus!! You don't want to go through this lengthy process only to have your system restore itself back to a time when you had the virus.
Start>Right-Click My Computer>Properties>System Restore tab>Check "Turn off System Restore"
Print out the instructions and follow them to a T checking off items as you go. If it involves going into the registry to delete registry data, I'd recommend you backup your registry before deleting anything in case you mess up. Take notes as you go of everything you do incase you have to backpedal.
To get into Registry Editor
XP: Start>Run>"regedit"
Vista: Start>All Programs>Accessories>Run>"regedit"

Here are some other tools that remove specific malware as well. Look here to see if your specific infection may be removed using these programs:
TrendSecure | TrendMicro™ HijackThis™ Overview
SmitFraudFix

Remember to turn System Restore back on after you've removed the malware.

Last resort is a clean install.

XIV. Completely and totally wipe a hard drive clean.
If you either want to do a very thorough reformat in order to reinstall your OS or if you're selling or tossing a hard drive, OregonCruzer has presented this nifty piece of software that "nukes" everything on the hard drive. This is a great tool to protect your privacy by wiping out all your personal data before throwing it out into the wild.
Darik's Boot and Nuke (Hard Drive Disk Wipe)
........or you can take the old hard drive to a shooting range with a 12ga. and blow it to bits.

XV. If your computer is running slow and it doesn't seem to be malware:
Check the processes running on your computer. Bring up the Processes under Task Manager.
CTRL>ALT>DEL>Processes tab>click the CPU column(twice) so the higher percentage is on top.
Look at what processes are hogging CPU cycles. You can pause the processes screen:
View>Update Speed>Pause
Now check what the hogging processes do and whether the process(es) is malware or if it can be Ended.
ProcessLibrary.com - The online resource for process information!!
Google

XVI. Audit your Windows PC:
Know exactly what software and hardware in is your PC. Software serial numbers too.
Belarc Advisor - Free Personal PC Audit

XVII. If you accidentally delete something and want to try and get it back:
It's worth a shot. This is a highly regarded program for "undeleteing" files.
Undelete Plus - Free file recovery software. Retrieve accidentally deleted files.

XVIII. Build your own PC(work in progress)
Building your own PC is the way to go. Unlike a few years ago, it's a bit more expensive to build your own as opposed to buying a mass-produced PC these days, but there are benefits.
1)It's a great learning experience. You'll know the ins and outs of your machine and can more easily fix or upgrade it yourself if something should start to go bad or break entirely.
2)You know what components are actually in your machine. There is no law stopping computer manufacturers from using refurb parts in their "new" computers and it does happen. When you build your own, you can find the most highly regarded products(through reviews) to incorporate into your system.
Each computer is an equation with different variables. You have to make sure each variable is compatible with one another. I'll discuss this individually by component.
My computer shops:
Newegg.com - Computer Parts, PC Components, Laptop Computers, Digital Cameras and more!
TigerDirect.com Best Deals - Computer Parts, PC Components, Computers & Electronics
A Computer.(And this is my order of picking stuff out and assembling it):
1)Case - Tower or desktop. ATX or mATX(smaller).
2)Power Supply Unit - Future-proof and get a big one. 600 or 700 watts. This way you'll have enough overhead to add more components should you ever want to.
3)CPU - Intel or AMD. I like Intel now. AMD has been having heating issues. At This time, go for at least a Core 2 Duo.
4)Motherboard - Again, ATX or mATX(dependent on case) and Intel or AMD(dependent on CPU). Make sure it's compatible with the video card(PCI express) or hard drives(SATA/IDE) you want.
5)RAM - The type is dependent on your motherboard's specs. Get at least 2GB(2x1GB)
6)Hard Drive(s) - I prefer a small drive(40/80GB) as the master for my operating system and programs. Then you can add additional drives for files, music, pictures,video, etc. A smaller drive is faster. As far as interface, I'd go SATA. It's faster and the thinner wires increase airflow.
7)Optical Drive - DVD or BluRay
8)Video Card(if necessary) - Some motherboards have onboard video, but usually you'll still want a separate card to achieve better video. Between ATI and Nvidia, I'm partial towards Nvidia. For Nvidia, you need at least 7600GT to get high definition.
9)Sound Card(if necessary) - most motherboards come with onboard digital audio outputs(Optical/SPDIF or coaxial).
10)Keyboard and Mouse - I'd suggest you get ones with PS/2 connections over USB connections. USB jacks on a motherboard are limited.
11)Monitor
12)Operating System - Windows($$) or Linux(free)
If you're interested in or want help with Linux:
http://forum.ih8mud.com/chit-chat-se...read-tult.html

[LoveTractor]

<saved>

[dfmorse]

Good work!

...

[OregonCruzer]

nice!

[cruiser88]

bunch of high tech rednecks

[calphi27]

I thought you had a Mac. What do you do for that?

[LoveTractor]

I do have a Mac triple-booted with OSX Tiger, Vista, and Ubuntu Linux.
Macs use the HFS(Hierarchical File System) file system so they don't need to be defragged like NTFS.
And security-wise the Mac's UNIX kernal is much more secure than Window's...although with Mac's popularity growing, I'll bet the days of virus free Macs will be coming to an end soon.

I do uncheck unneeded stuff under the System Preferences>Internet and Network>Sharing>Services Tab & Firewall Tab & Internet Tabs to isolate my Mac from any network.

[calstyl2]

Do you do partys? just had my hard drive crash....off to the shop

[LoveTractor]

Originally Posted by calstyl2

Do you do partys? just had my hard drive crash....off to the shop

Yeah. I'm the stripping IT geek. You should see me fling off my pocket protector.

[OregonCruzer]

Originally Posted by LoveTractor

Yeah. I'm the stripping IT geek. You should see me fling off my pocket protector.

His space pen is a registered weapon

[KLF]

Originally Posted by LoveTractor

1)Run anti-virus and spyware scans.

These tend to work much faster and are more successful at getting rid of stuff if you run them in Safe Mode.

(You may have mentioned this in there somewhere but I didn't see it...)

[projektdotnet]

my computer clean routine:
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade
sudo apt-get clean
and relax

[LoveTractor]

Originally Posted by projektdotnet

my computer clean routine:
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade
sudo apt-get clean
and relax

Wrong thread, smartass.


KLF, good point about safe mode.

[hammer1]

Great bit of info. Sorry to say, 12..count 'em TWELVE hours to clean my POS and NOTHING worked. I am still getting the real time talk show through my speakers, even though no widows are open...

[LoveTractor]

Originally Posted by hammer1

Great bit of info. Sorry to say, 12..count 'em TWELVE hours to clean my POS and NOTHING worked. I am still getting the real time talk show through my speakers, even though no widows are open...

When you get into Task Manager(CTRL+ALT+DEL) and click the Applications tab, anything show up?

Did you turn off your current anti-virus scanner and run all the online scans I listed? Amazing if none of them found something wrong. In fact, I'd be dumbfounded.

[OregonCruzer]

Originally Posted by projektdotnet

my computer clean routine:
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade
sudo apt-get clean
and relax

Originally Posted by LoveTractor

Wrong thread, smartass.


KLF, good point about safe mode.

whatev-- and use aptitude, sonny jim!

[hammer1]

Originally Posted by LoveTractor

When you get into Task Manager(CTRL+ALT+DEL) and click the Applications tab, anything show up?

Did you turn off your current anti-virus scanner and run all the online scans I listed? Amazing if none of them found something wrong. In fact, I'd be dumbfounded.

If there are no open windows, no applications show up. If there is an open window, ( IE MUD ) this shows.
I disabled my current anti-virus scanner, ran all the ones sugested ( ione would not work, but i cant remember which one ) and nothing.
I still get the hotjob.com pop-ups, and the real time talk show is still there.

[KLF]

Originally Posted by hammer1

If there ae no open windows, no applications show up. If there is an open window, ( IE MUD ) this shows.
I disables my current anti-virus scanner, ran all the ones sugested ( ione would not work, but i cant remeber which one ) and nothing.
I still get the hotjob.com pop-ups, and the real time talk show is still there.

Sounds like there is a service running in the background that is virile or spyware.

Here is a tool that some of my students (I teach an IT class) use a lot, they have claimed that it has fixed many of their problems:

The End It All Program

You install this, then select the process that SHOULD be kept running, it kills all the rest. There are tools there to help you identify what should stay running, and what is bad stuff.

I don't have any experience with it, I don't have a lot of patience with dealing with crap like this. I keep my machine running very lean, no toolbars and stuff. When it starts to act up, I've found the best way to deal with it is FORMAT C:. You really should do this to your computer every 2 years or so anyway.

[hammer1]

Originally Posted by KLF

Sounds like there is a service running in the background that is virile or spyware.

Here is a tool that some of my students (I teach an IT class) use a lot, they have claimed that it has fixed many of their problems:

The End It All Program

You install this, then select the process that SHOULD be kept running, it kills all the rest. There are tools there to help you identify what should stay running, and what is bad stuff.

I don't have any experience with it, I don't have a lot of patience with dealing with crap like this. I keep my machine running very lean, no toolbars and stuff. When it starts to act up, I've found the best way to deal with it is FORMAT C:. You really should do this to your computer every 2 years or so anyway.

ran the enditall. Froze the machine up so the cursor would only hover around the lower right corner, by the time display.
thanks, but no good. still have the talk playing in the speakers

[LoveTractor]