I need to know the best steps I can do to clean up my?

Question

Computer because it is running too slow. I have Norton Security but I feel I have some viruses or too much on computer and it needs proble cookies deleted, defraged and what else is good to do?

Answer 1

Knowing which operating system we are talking about would best help other assist in answering your question most accurately. Since you assume we know, I'll go ahead and assume I'm talking to a Windows XP user.

Computer speed can be determined by several factors, here are the factors that I consider in order of importance when evaluating a system's speed degradation:

1. What are the system's hardware specifications (e.g., How much RAM, How much available hard drive space [not always total, if the drive is partitioned how much available space on the partition which houses the OS files and Virtual Memory], Age of the system (entropy)
2. How many running process are there running. TSR Programs.
3. Has new software been installed that would require more hardware requirements (Check the Event Viewer, considering lately that Microsoft has added IE7 to the automatic updates arsenal)
4. Spyware or Virus removal
5. Hard Drive Fragmented

Cookie don't slow computers down, they are intend to create a more customized experience when browsing previous viewed websites. The amount of space that they take up on a hard drive is minimal.

Good Luck

P.S. If you right click on My Computer and select properties there is an Advanced Tab that has Performance Settings, on Visual Effects you can select "adjust for best performance" and that setting works well for machines that are over whelmed from all of the eye candy that really isn't necessary to most users.

Answer 2

I don't know, but I did one of the things that Michael said.... If you right click on My Computer and select properties there is an Advanced Tab that has Performance Settings, on Visual Effects you can select "adjust for best performance" and that setting works well for machines that are over whelmed from all of the eye candy that really isn't necessary to most users

ANd I didn't like what it did and now I can't undo it. Im peeved now!!!!

Answer 3

Good day. Norton products is well documented to cause system drag. Get AVG Antivirus, Avast! or the new AOL Antivirus center. Its all free. I suggest AOL:

http://www.activevirusshield.com/antivirus/freeav/index.adp?

Spyware, get windows Defender:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=435BFCE7-DA2B-4A6A-AFA4-F7F14E605A0D&displaylang=en

Firewall, windows firewall is enough but u can get Zone Alarm if u wish:

http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/catalog/products/sku_list_za.jsp;jsessionid=F0qcRp4HFN23EKcmzxoeOc5X69Jf8vcEaxI19IuIlYLY6ABLdXpH!-132631593!-1062696903!7551!7552!NONE?dc=12bms&ctry=US&lang=en&lid=nav_za

Things sound bad tho. I suggest u backup yur important stuff on a CD or USB Stick and reinstalling windows. Format yur hard drive since this eliminates all viruses, spyware etc and reinstall windows then u can install d software above. After u install everything, defrag, Laterz.

Answer 4

Why don't you scan your computer for spyware and adware with Spybot Search & Destroy and Ad-Aware SE Personal. It's free and very good.

You can also try cleaning your registry using registry cleaner. I suggest you to use RegSeeker and Eusing Free Registry Cleaner.

Also delete your temporary files in you 'temp' folders. if you're using windows XP,change your performance setting in control panel->system->advanced->performance setting->adjust for best performance and set your virtual memory higher also.

Uninstall the softwares that you don't need.