My computer does not work near as quickly as it used to. Do I need to erase old files or what.?

Question

I do not know how to clean out my computer of unwanted things. Please give me details on how to do this. I think I start at the tools bar but then what?

Answer 1

Restoration is the best way to make u'r system s fast s before. U can move u'r important files to a drive and make it off for system restore. To turn off drives for system restore go to 'System Properties' and click on 'System Restore' tab. Then click on the desired drive where u put only files no programs and u're sure there's nothing harmful. Then click on Settings at the right side and mark 'Turn off system restore on this drive'. Now u'r files r safe.
Click on Start - Programs - Accessories - System Tools - System Restore. Now go to the date where u wanna restore. and go on by pressing next. U'r computer will needs to restart. And I'm sure u"ll find it much faster the now. But u'll need to install those programs again what u installed after the date of restoration.
Good Luck....

Answer 2

First off, check down by the clock. Is there stuff there that you don't know what it is - or never use? If so, then click on each one and if not needed, check around the options to see if you can stop if from opening when Windows starts.

There's a couple of downloads that will help you 'check' your system

Adaware - it finds and deletes spyware
CCleaner - cleans out (very intelligently) a lot of stuff you don't need

Start/Accessories/System Tools - Disk Cleanup
click on everything EXCEPT compress files

Start/Accessories/System Tools - Defragment Disk
If you've never done this, wait until nighttime and let it run while you sleep...

Check for programs that you don't use anymore
Start/Control Panel/Start Remove Programs
Delete what you don't use

good luck.

Answer 3

yes. so many people on here holler for help after problems develop. These stupid machines require frequent cleaning and maintenance.
Make sure your Norton (or another brand) of anti-virus runs overnight at least one time a week and that automatic updates for whichever program you have are turned on.
Have some type of registry cleaner and run that a couple times a week manually.

Look for what you need at tucows.com or download.com. You can purchase programs or you can look around for a gew pages on these site and find programs for free download.

Windows has a free spyware called Anitspyware beta so you can go to windows update or windows.com and find this one.

In your system menus there are two very important programs that need running at least once a week. and if you are like me and online a lot, sometimes a couple times a week.
Click on start
move cursor to all programs
move cursor to accessories
move cursor to system tools
click on Disk Cleanup and follow through the steps. It will ask if you are sure and you can safely hit (yes)
Go Thru same steps till you get to System Tools again
Click on Disk Defragmenter and then click on defragment.

If you defragment weekly, it will run quickly. If you run monthly it can take 2 to 3 hours

AND if you have never run this program - start it running and go to sleep It will finish itself safely overnight.

These things will keep you running for years.

I also use evidence eliminator and no trace to thoroughly clean my hard disk. You generally have to purchase these programs though and everyone has different opinions on which of these cleaners are best. Evidence eliminator cleans even unused portions of your hard disk and will run a safe restart for you at the end of the program if you ask. I use Spyware Begone instead of the windows antispyware beta but it costs like $59 a year. I bought it for lifetime when it first came out so I still run it. I like it best because it is the one I am used to.

Hope this helps many so pass it on.

Answer 4

Performing the above folder by folder deletion procedure for Windows XP can be quite tricky because these temporary folders are placed into separate directories according to each individual user. But luckily Windows XP comes with Internet Explorer 6, which allows us to perform the above procedure in only six simple steps.

For best results, close all your programs until the Windows Desktop appears.

Then right click on the Internet Explorer icon on your Desktop until its menu appears.

Now left click on the word Properties until the Internet Properties Window opens for you.

Then locate the three buttons entitled: Delete Cookies, Delete Files and Clear History.

Now click on each button and select OK each time Windows asks if you want to delete these files.

Then click on the OK button at the bottom of the screen to exit the Internet Properties window.

Note: The above six step procedure will work for all earlier versions of Windows as long Internet Explorer 6.0 or higher is installed on that system. This is because Internet Explorer 6.0 now includes the new Delete Cookies button and its Delete Files button does a better job of really wiping out all Temporary Internet Files.
Also check your PC for spyware.
Here is a list of free scans.I would recommend running ewido first.
Spybots search and Destroy http://www.download.com/3000-8022-10122137.html?tag=pao
adaware se> http://www.download.com/Ad-Aware-SE-Personal-Edition/3000-8022_4-10399602.html?tag=lst-0-1
http://www.webroot.com/land/freescan.php
a-squared Free> http://www.emsisoft.com/en/software/free/
http://housecall.antivirus.com/housecall/start_frame.asp
http://housecall65.trendmicro.com/
X -Cleaner Micro Edition scan http://www.spywareguide.com/onlinescan.php
http://www.kaspersky.com/virusscanner
http://www.windowsecurity.com/trojanscan/
http://www.bitdefender.com/scan8/ie.html
http://www.pandasoftware.com/products/activescan/com/activescan_principal.htm

http://www3.ca.com/securityadvisor/virusinfo/scan.aspx
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html
Spywareguard too.
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareguard.html
http://www.ewido.net/en/onlinescan/
Get free anti virus for free click here.
http://free.grisoft.com/doc/1
http://avast.com

Answer 5

download and burn the .iso record to a CD for a software referred to as Dban and boot the laptop. it quite is a secure confusing stress erase and wipe software. as quickly as finished you will could format the stress and set up the residing house windows back on the laptop. making use of the production facility Default restoration will return the laptop back to the way it replaced into once you got it and could be o.k.. typical laptop customers don't have the understanding or skills to get counsel back,so this could be quite secure. I paintings on computers, I even have courses human beings don't have and a few which could no longer be down loaded to any extent further.

Answer 6

Instead of erasing old files you may want you may want to compress your files go to your all programs menu and defragment or compress files you should do this once a month it helps really.

Answer 7

Go to "Tools", then choose Internet options and delete your cookies, and temporary files.

You also would want to scan your computer for any virus and spyware and adware as they will slow your computer down also.

Answer 8

You need to scan for Spyware and Adware and Viruses.

Adaware:
http://www.download.com/Ad-Aware-SE-Personal-Edition/3000-8022_4-10045910.html

Spybot:
http://www.download.com/3000-2144-10122137.html

Antvirus:
http://www.download.com/AVG-Anti-Virus-Free-Edition/3000-2239_4-10320142.html

Install one at a time, update each then run one at a time to scan for crap.

Answer 9

get a spyware killer and stop looking at porn.

But you'll probably still have to wipe your harddrive completely to fix the problem.

Answer 10

yes, clean the thing out, you know they do provide manuals with those things.