Computer Self-Defense v1.1

Computer Security in Plain English: Tune-Ups

Enter your search terms Submit search form

• Home
• Backups
• Anti-Virus
• Firewalls
• Updates
• Spyware
• Browsers
• Email
• Encryption
• User Mgm't
• Vista

The 2-Step Method

CCleaner is a freeware system optimization and privacy tool. It removes unused files from your system - allowing Windows to run faster and freeing up valuable hard disk space. It also cleans traces of your online activities such as your Internet history. But the best part is that it's fast (normally taking less than a second to run) and contains NO Spyware or Adware! It's easily the best of its kind.

Here's some good tutorials on working with msconfig:

NetSquirrel's msconfig tut

MSconfig on YouTube

InControl's msconfig tutorial

Again, all you need to get started with msconfig is the Startup tab. It's going to seem intimidating at first, but after you've done it once or twice, and learned how to google the displayed processes to find out exactly what they are, you'll feel like a pro. Remember, easy does it. Don't disable everything in the startup. :)

Why Windows Gets Slow and Tuning It Up

Windows, whatever version you're running, piles up a lot of junk files in a hurry. Over a year or two, it's amazing how much space all these temporary (aka temp) files take up. For instance, files from every website you visit are often cached (saved) on your harddrive. Temp files build up from just ordinary programs used day in and day out, week in and week out.

Then there's the issue of 'startups'. Typically software is written these days to perform faster by partially loading (starting) when Windows starts (when you turn on your computer). Adobe Reader, Sun's Java, and Quicktime all come to mind for using this methodology. And while it's true such a startup may help an app load sooner or automatically update, pretty soon you have a very slow computer because all these programs are doing their own thing.

The 2-Step Method

Getting Windows back on its feet and running faster for you can be as easy as running two programs: Ccleaner and msconfig. Ccleaner will need to be downloaded and installed if you don't have it already. It's pretty easy to use, just use the defaults. Msconfig can be tricky, so some caution is in order. Before using msconfig, take some time to read a good tutorial and then be conservative. If you want to get real technical, then you can go here...

What YOU need to know about msconfig

In the msconfig windows you'll see several tabs. All you'll be using is the Startup tab, and ONLY the Startup tab, which will be on the right side of all the tabs (may vary with Vista).



On the left will be listed the "Startup Item" column. these are the apps that are starting up with Windows and often slowing things down. It's going to look cryptic and intimidating, but all we're doing here is toggling a few settings like we would a light switch. You're not going to be familiar with all that you see, so google (search) for what program a file name belongs to. For instance, if I google "wfxsnt40" for more info, I find out it belongs to a fax program called WinFax, which I use. So I'll leave that one alone. Whatever I uncheck and thus disable on startup, I can always go back and re-enable that item later, just like switching a light back on. Whenever you config the startup, you'll be asked to reboot afterwards. After you've rebooted, you'll get this small Window after Windows has restarted:



Check the box in the lower left and you won't see that one anymore. that should do it, be sure to check other tutorial in the right-side column. Remember, msconfig is NOT a blunt instrument. Easy does it, you'll be fine. You aren't going to do anything you can't undo.

Last updated May 2nd, 2008
Powered by The Big Blue Web