How do you maintain your Computer??

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Given 1/2 a chance, I think I can make a good hand here on sysnative and even help a little.
There has been some good stuff posted on this thread. Keep it coming! I'm sure there's some more good tips out there.
I'm learning a lot! Just a dumb old country boy that loves learning new things and passing it forward!!
Let's not quit now. Keep it going!!
 
Grave Digger said:
donetao said:
Hi This could help a little to maintain your PC!! No miracles,but Give it a look!!
Performance & maintenance - Windows Help
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With respect. It may come as a shock to you but most of us have the intelligence to google for answers to the issues we have with our own computers. We don't need a helping hand with links all the time.We are not Dummies.:smile9:
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Hi! Good for you! No one is implying there are dummies here. Do you have any helpful tips for maintaining your computer??
Thank you for your reply!!
 
Nothing that hasn't been covered many times on this site and a zillion times on the Net.
It would be rhetoric to keep posting the hints over and over.
I use Event viewer in preference to Reliability Monitor to check how my systems are running.
I don't use any Driver update third party software or touch Registry cleaners but that's my choice.
Regular maintenance and scans are very important.
Also important in today's world to have a cloned copy of your system (updated) on another Drive.
Good Insurance I think.
Did I get a little off topic?:smile9:
 
Two things I do is every 3 months I run CHKDSK /r as your HDD slowly gets messed up with heavy use.
I picked up 10 GIG's more free space yesterday running CHKDSK.Take note of before and after free space and you may be surprised. Also deleting all restore points bar the current restore point with "Disk Cleanup" is good maintenance as well,as malware can hide in restore points, as more free space is gained.
Another hint is to remove any Zip Files that are no longer in use.
My thoughts on the subject.:smile9:
 
I would still not install beta drivers, unless you know exactly what you're doing. And if you come on a forum and ask for assistance on how to update/uninstall drivers, I don't think you do. Alright so personally, here's how I maintain my system/computer:
  • Keep my programs updated: I manually check weekly (or every 2 weeks) for outdated software in my list of installed programs and I update them if needed. I put an accent on vulnerable software like Adobe programs and Java. As soon as a new version is available for them, I update them. I know that having them is a huge security risk, but since I need Adobe Flash Player and Java for development purposes, I can't uninstall then. I also use SecuniaPSI from time to time, just to check if I missed anything;
  • Uninstall programs I don't need/avoid useless installation: This is something I think more people should do. If you don't use a program anymore, or you have a program that you might need in the future, but you don't know when, I simply uninstall it. It frees space on the hard drive and also remove start-up entries/services if there's any associated with it. I also avoid installing programs when I can use portable versions of them or I can use standalone executables to do the work. I'm not a fan of installing a program to use it once and then uninstall it.
  • Have a good protection/protection habits: I'm using Kaspersky Internet Security 2015 with Malwarebytes Premium to keep my system protected against malware and other threats. Since I also have an interest for computer security and protection and I'm quite decent at it, I have good browsing habits to avoid being infected. On top of that, I also have VMs ready whenever I need to go on dangerous websites or download suspicious files for testing purposes. They are isolated and nothing that is even remotely close to malicious goes on my host OS. I also use these VMs for program testing if I need to look for a program for my host OS.
  • Keep Windows updated: I install every single Important Updates and Recommended Updates that aren't drivers related. Solely Windows and Office. I've been doing that for year and believe it or not, I never encountered a single bad Windows Update that slowed down my machine or caused issues (like the BSOD). I also installed that buggy update that caused Windows systems with Kaspersky products to reboot in a loop, never happened to me.
  • Cleaning temp files and folders: I don't do this often, I would say monthly, but I use TFC (Temp File Cleaner) to clean my temp files and folders and if needed, I delete the rest manually. If I see an empty folder belonging to a program I don't have anymore, I delete it. It doesn't change anything, but it makes my SSD and HDD looks cleaner.
  • SSD/HDD organization: My SSD and HDD are very organized. Everything is in it's place, I don't have a single file in my Downloads folder. When I download something, if I'm done with it I delete it, if I need to keep it I move it where it belongs. I also have Program Files and Program Files (x86) folders on my HDD where I install all my programs and games. Only the heavy duty programs and "essentials" are installed on my SSD to not take useless space. Hibernation is disabled on both my SSD and HDD, auto-defragging is disabled on my SSD, etc. I followed a lot of advice from Sean's Guide to HDD and SSD on Overclocking.net and I recommend that guide to everyone running that setup. It have really good tips inside that will help get the most of your build.
  • Update drivers manually, when needed: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." Like I mentionned in the Windows Updates bullet point, I never update my drivers unless I need to do so for troubleshooting purposes or if a program asks me for it (like Netbeans when I wanted to do JavaFX 3D, needed to update my Intel integrated graphics to a newer version) and when I do update them, I download and install them straight from the manufacturer website;
  • Managing startup programs and services: I would say that monthly I check what's starting automatically on boot, and disable what I don't need or I don't use. I don't touch Windows services, only third-party ones. I might also use Autoruns to get a more complete summary (since using msconfig and services.msc can be quite limited), but that's it.
I'm sure there's more and I'll add it as I think of it, but so far, it pretty much sum up what I do. You might think that this is "overkill" or it takes time, but it doesn't. I don't do all of this back to back at a set day every week or every month, I just do it by instinct when I'm watching a movie, video or when playing video games.

Also deleting all restore points bar the current restore point with "Disk Cleanup" is good maintenance as well,as malware can hide in restore points, as more free space is gained.
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You can delete Restore Points without using Disk Cleanup (cleanmgr.exe). Just go in the System window, go in the "Advanced System Settings", and under the "System Protection" tab, you have a "Configure" button you can press. From there, you can delete all your Restore Points by clicking on "Delete" and also decide of the maximum size allowed for the System Restore service.
 
Thanks Aura.
Many helpful hints there.
What's your view on Windows optional updates? Do you bother with them?
I normally only do the critical updates.
 
I install them. Since I never had a single bad experience with Windows Updates in my life, I see no harm in installing them. Plus, I like my OS and programs to be up-to-date. As it's usually part of a troubleshooting process: make sure everything is updated, Windows is no exception.

Edit: However like I said, I select them manually and I leave out the updates for drivers, devices, etc. as I install those manually only when needed, and from the manufacturer website.
 
Wow! I don't know where to start. I have never heard of gaining 10GB's of free space from running chkdsk /r. I'm not even going to attempt to explain what chkdsk does. You can read for yourself or Google like you like to do! https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/187941/
You can definitely gain free space by deleting restore points. I suppose you could gain 10GB's if you had a whole bunch of restore points. If your not in a big hurry to get your PC back up and running after a HD failure, cloning a drive is not what I would choose. I'm not going to attempt to explain that to someone with your knowledge and this thread is not the place for that.
Malware would be in restore points if your PC was infected when the restore points were created. Removing any programs or files that you don't need will free up disk space and is good maintenance
The event viewer has good information and can be helpful, but it also shows a lot of errors that will drive you crazy and most errors are really nothing to worry about.
That's a whole different ball game that I'm not going to try to explain that in this reply. The reliability monitor is just a event viewer with a graph.
I agree! Never use and kind of software that has a registry cleaner.
No you didn't get off topic, but you need to use Google a lot more as you say you know how to do, because some of your facts leave a lot to be desired IMHO.
Thank you for your reply!
 
I'm pretty sure that doing a "CHKDSK /R" doesn't clear up hard drive space. A CHKDSK /R looks for bad sectors on the drive, marks them as such so Windows won't use them in the future, and try to recover data from these sectors if possible to write it somewhere else.

I agree! Never use and kind of software that has a registry cleaner.
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CCleaner is an excellent software, recommended by a lot of professionals. You just have to stay away from it's Registry Cleaner.
The event viewer has good information and can be helpful, but it also shows a lot of errors that will drive you crazy and most errors are really nothing to worry about.
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Usually, if you Google your Event Viewer errors, you'll most often get on Microsoft Support pages that explains you what that error is and if you need to pay attention to it or not.
 
Aura said:
Also deleting all restore points bar the current restore point with "Disk Cleanup" is good maintenance as well,as malware can hide in restore points, as more free space is gained.
Click to expand...

You can delete Restore Points without using Disk Cleanup (cleanmgr.exe). Just go in the System window, go in the "Advanced System Settings", and under the "System Protection" tab, you have a "Configure" button you can press. From there, you can delete all your Restore Points by clicking on "Delete" and also decide of the maximum size allowed for the System Restore service.
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Lots of good info on this thread. As an add on to the above, Vista and 7 don't have a "configure" button in the system protection tab (at least in the home versions), so you must use disk cleanup. CCleaner can also remove selected restore points, and I've used it occasionally when I wanted to leave more than just the latest one. It has never caused me any issues.
 
It wouldn't surprise me if that button isn't there in Home Basic (Vista) and Home Premium (7). I'm using Windows 7 Professional right now, and the button is there. Also, if you disable and re-enable the Shadow Volume Copy Service, it'll delete all the Restore Points on the system, as well as the previous version of your files.
 
Hi Aura! Are you explaining these things to me as it seems your quoting me??
I appreciate it, but I already know those things. Event viewer errors are not that easy to explain and Microsoft leaves a lot to be desired. It can however be very helpful at times. If your going to check every error in the event viewer, you will be spending a lot of time chasing a dog with out a tail IMHO.
I have been there and I gave that up and now I just pay attention to the reliability monitor!
Good info in your other reply.
PS The only programs you need on start up is your security programs. CCleaner has a tool that shows you what's running on start up!!
You can disable them or enable them there!! CCleaner has a lot of tools, but you need to know what you're doing to use some of them!!
 
Hi Aura! Are you explaining these things to me as it seems your quoting me??
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I'm quoting you so my reply makes sense. So in a way, my reply is to you, but also to anyone else reading this thread.
PS The only programs you need on start up is your security programs.
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Not really to be honest. The "need" here is defined by how you use your system. Windows will boot normally even if you disable your Antivirus on startup, that's not an issue. For example, I have a few programs starting normally on my desktop computer. There's no "need" for Windows to have them on startup in order to function properly, but I "need" them to start for what I do on my system. So that's not completely true.
 
You know me well, Gary. You can't teach me anything. I am DSTM
I am outa here.
Don't chastize me Pal
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Yes sir! I know you very well. I see Cindy has also registered here!
Welcome to sysnative DSTM (Dougie.)

Not really to be honest. The "need" here is defined by how you use your system. Windows will boot normally even if you disable your Antivirus on startup, that's not an issue. For example, I have a few programs starting normally on my desktop computer. There's no "need" for Windows to have them on startup in order to function properly, but I "need" them to start for what I do on my system. So that's not completely true.
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Lets keep this thread open and not just be between you and me. Disabling a program on start up doesn't stop it from working, but I'm not going to tell you how to run you're machine. Not a good idea to disable your security on start up. You might forget to turn it on. How-To-Geek explains this very well. Much better than I could!
Beginner Geek: Everything You Need to Know About Disabling Startup Programs on Windows

I have been told by someone very knowledgeable, it you see none in the right hand column, you don't need to worry about those errors in the event viewer. I'm not a expert so I don't know that for a fact! I use that for my guild!!
 

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Lets keep this thread open and not just be between you and me. Disabling a program on start up doesn't stop it from working, but I'm not going to tell you how to run you're machine.
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This isn't "between you and me" donetao. I'm simply telling you that what you said isn't true and that the definition of "need" in this context depends on the user. Windows doesn't need Antivirus to start on startup in order to function properly, however, you want to keep them this way in order to stay protected. That is all.
 
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You can go into MSCONFIG and disable every start up program and you system will still boot up fine.
Windows will start the programs when needed.
Don't play with processes is a good rule of thumb.
You don't even need CCleaner ever.
 
I run Chkdisk /f every month or so, but almost never use the /r switch. /f always finds some filesystem errors, and I do sometimes get disk space back that was marked as allocated.

As for /r, it also scans for and tries to recover/repair bad sectors, which takes forever and in my opinion isn't worth the time anymore. I think it's a throwback from the days when storage space was at a premium and file systems and drives themselves were less reliable.

It's my understanding that the /r switch runs /f and then deals with the physical disk itself. Bad sectors are automatically marked as such by Windows, while chkdsk /r tries to fix them. If you notice, most of the time CHKDSK /R is running is spent scanning your free space.

I run it once in a blue moon for the hell of it, but I've never actually seen it fix anything.:noidea:
 
Running CHKDSK /R is one of the first troubleshooting step you take when you are working on a system that throws file system errors. That is to eliminate the file corruption possibility (or if you confirm it, take proper actions). In a certain way, there's no point in running /f alone. Imagine you run CHKDSK /F, it finds bad sectors with file systems on it, but just mark them as bad and leave the data where it is. You had the possibility to solve system file corruption, but you didn't. Also, if you think that running a CHKDSK /R scan is long, simply do it overtime or during a period where you're not at your computer. This is what I do and recommend to the users when I make them run it and there hasn't been any problem in doing so.
 
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