Are there any good FREE computer cleaning sites?

Question

My computer is seriously messed up, and I want to fix it. Are there any FREE things I could try, even if it's already on my computer?

Extra Details: I have Windows XP and a Wii so i cant use incompatible software.

Answer 1

try running the following two menus of ccleaner
cleaner > Analyze > Run Cleaner
issues > Scan For Issues > Fix Selected Issues

Read Howto of CCleaner on the link below
http://bestofrest.blogspot.com/2006/11/ccleaner.html

Answer 2

Firstly update and run your anti-virus product. You can also run a free online scan as well as some malware can actually corrupt or disable your resident security products. Here are a few online scans you can run:
Trend - http://housecall.trendmicro.com/
Panda - http://www.pandasoftware.com/products/ActiveScan.htm
Norton - http://security.symantec.com/sscv6/default.asp?langid=ie&venid=sym

Second download, update and run scans using the following products:
SuperAntispyware
http://superantispyware.com/
Spybot S&D (free version requires manual updating)
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/
AVG AntiSpyware
http://free.grisoft.com/doc/20/lng/us/tpl/v5
Adaware from Lavasoft (free version requires automatic updating)
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/products/ad-aware_se_personal.php

(These programs can be run in Safe Mode after downloading and updating)

Third, after cleaning your system, disable System Restore, reboot and re-enable System Restore when you log back on. This will clear the malware that may still be lurking in System Restore, which could be reinstalled should you need to rollback at some point. Additionally, a reboot may be required to complete the malware removal process.

Lastly, you may also want to install the following tool. It is free and requires you to check for and enable updates manually once a week or so. It uses no system resources.
SpywareBlaster (inoculates, not a spyware removal tool)
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html
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If you cannot get it removed after the above, you may want to join a tech group that specializes in providing manual instructions on malware eradication.

Free technical help forums

AumHa Forums
http://aumha.net/index.php
Bleeping Computers
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/
Spybot S&D Forums
http://forums.spybot.info/
Lavasoft Forums
http://www.lavasoftsupport.com/
Spyware Info Forums
http://forums.spywareinfo.com/index.php?showtopic=79038
GeekstoGo
http://www.geekstogo.com/forum/forums.html

Answer 3

Download a free program called Ccleaner it will clean out all sorts of garbage but leave the proper stuff alone.

Answer 4

i suggest not to use any tools for cleaning un necessarily. try cleaning yourself. win xp has very gud inbuilt tools on it like disk cleanup. use that or format the whole system if u want start from the scratch. if u want, u can raise another question how to format the system. alota guyz will be here to help u.

happy computing ;)

Answer 5

I'd reccomend these 2, run each in turn
ADAWARE fro www.lavasoftusa.com (Free personal version)
also SPYBOT S&D from www.spybot.org (Again free for home use)


Also worth having in toolbox is CCLEANER from www.ccleaner.com again a free download, and a good general windows tidyup utility.

Then if you haven't already got a reliably anti virus (Norton does not cound, as "reliable" try avast, also free
WWW.AVAST.COM

Answer 6

Comprehensive list of online scans

http://wiki.castlecops.com/Online_antivirus_scans

Comprehensive list of free antivirus,antispyware,antispyware

http://wiki.castlecops.com/Lists_of_freeware_antivirus
http://wiki.castlecops.com/Lists_of_freeware_antispyware
http://wiki.castlecops.com/Lists_of_freeware_antitrojan

If none of them work, them seek free help from professionals at ASAP forums like http://www.castlecops.com/f67-Hijackthis_Spyware_Viruses_Worms_Trojans_Oh_My.html

Answer 7

use a clean up tool and do an online scan
http://securitynewsfromthenet.blogspot.com/2007/05/spyware-fighter-essentials.html