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Community Newsletter: Q&A: Advice for a clean start on a brand-new computer
- 9/21/07 10:37 AM
Clean Start
by amichaudjr - 9/15/07 6:27 PM In reply to: Advice for a clean start on a brand-new computer by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Well your not going to get the long life and troublefree service from a DELL no matter what software or maintenance you do. They are nothing but trouble. Sorry for the bad news. HP is the computers and trouble free service you can count on. Also have great tech support for any questions you may have.
About your question
by julesov - 9/15/07 7:34 PM In reply to: Advice for a clean start on a brand-new computer by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
It is good indeed tu buy and join a new computer , almost new!Don't expect Vista to run easy with him!Dell is indeed good , but the most brave is Mac after all!Buy an any version of Windows , but SP2 work great with all and run quick at your PC , don't be fullish to increase all forces to an Win firewall, you need an good firewall .
Also see the ofer , you don't wryte any configuration at your new PC, so buy it , but recomend some like Pentium D or better for you,
Good Luck!
New comp soon too
by rosiesh - 9/16/07 4:08 AM In reply to: Advice for a clean start on a brand-new computer by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
No advice other than heaps of common sense., oh and patience.. perserverence.. dicipline.. restraint.. resilience.. hair regain and yes hope:) .., anyway a big thanks and thumbs up for everyone elses'
Lets keep it simple
by randysvh - 9/16/07 4:54 PM In reply to: Advice for a clean start on a brand-new computer by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
First let me suggest a major security tip. Since you are likely logged into your Vista as an Administrator account, got to the "control panel/users or Manage users and create a new account for yourself with a password as a LIMITED user. The purpose of this is a major source of added protection from outside intrusions on the internet. To show the difference run a program PC Security Test 2007. You will need to download and install the program while in your current ID. When you go to your new ID, run the program again and you will see that you are well protected. Running as a LIMITED user will be your regular ID and the Administrator ID will be used when you need to make changes to your system or add new programs and so on.
Now the next important thing to do is to download and install the following programs, while in your Administrator ID. The following programs i recommend are as follows for security issues and your own protection: These programs are all FREE.
Winpatrol
Spybot
Ad-Aware
Spyware Blaster
Avast anti-spyware (avoid Norton, McAfee, AVG)
Comodo Firewall
Advanced Windows Care
Regseeker
Crap Cleaner (ccleaner)
Firefox
PC Security Test 2007
Belarc Advisor
This is a basic list as there are additional programs i do install for checking and cleaning up your system on a regular basis. But the main thing is to make sure you run the disk DEFRAG about one a week to keep things organized and when you run it, run it 3 times.
Each of the programs above need to be configured which is where time and dilgent work is involved.
Winpatrol - installs easily and requires no special configuration. It will monito changes to your system and you will approve them. If you are installing or making changes than of course approve them, but if you were surfacing the net, it is likely you wil want to deny the chnge.
Spybot Search and Destroy - The new version is even better and the TeaTimer works again. This is probably one of the most advanced programs available with manh configurations that need to be set and run. Go through the install completely first. Once installed, start the program and select Mode/Advanced Mode. After dooing the updates, click on Immunize and make sure the system is up to date. Next select Settings. Then select Settings and click on the box of the following items:
Program start
Run check on program start
Fix all problems on program start
Immunize on program start ...
Don't ask for fixing confirmation
System start
Run check on program start
Fix all problems on program start
Web ubdate
Search the web for new versions at each program start
Download updated include files if available online
Remind me to look for updates at program start
Look & Feel
Use interface optimized for blind users
Highlight information panels
Next select Scheduler and set up a scheduled time for Spybot to run on a daily basis. Make sure the fix problems and Close program boxes are checked.
Next select Tools: and make sure that all of the boxes are checked if not already. Then select resident and make sure that both boxes are checked. Next select Active X and make sure that the items listed are valid and remove any that have no information or do not match to any known programs. Next select BHOs and do the same as you did or Active X section. That finishes the setting up of Spybot and cleaning up extraneous stuff.
Ad-Aware - Install and setup following the prompts and information on the screen.
Spyware Blaster - Installs easily and requires no special interaction other than to do the updates and then enable all protection.
Avast - Installs easily and requires a restart to complete and make sure you allow it to do the complete scan and start up, which it does thoroughly once. Other than that it will monitor all changes and files in the system for viruses and trojans. Updates are automatically at each day and startup.
Comodo Firewall - Installs easily an requires no special changes, just follow the directions onscreen.
Advanced Windows Care - installs easily and requires an update. Select Option and update. Once the updates are complete, select scan and then fix when it completes as this will find the greatest amount of problems to your system and this program should be run once a week with your Administrator ID.
Regseeker - Comes as a ZIP file and once extracted to a subdirectory, all you need to do is run regseeker.exe. Select Clean the Registry and then when it finds the entried, select all and then delete.
Crap Cleaner - is problably one of the programs you should install first, and it install easily. Once installed, start the program and uncheck Recent URL's, Last Download Location, Recent Documents, Run, and Search Assistant. Next select Analyze and then when it completes select Run Cleaner. Once this completes, select Issues and select Scan for Issues. When it finishes select the Fix selected issues. Select Options and then settings and make sure that all boxes here are checked. Now select Advanced and make sure that only these three items are checked: Close program after cleaning, Show prompt to backup registry issues, Save all settings to INI file. Reselect Cleaner and run cleaner.
Install Firefox and use it instead of Internet Explorer. Make sure you install the Adobe Reader, Adobe Flash, Java, and Shockwave plugins.
Install PC Security Test 2007 - and then run it in both the Administrator ID and then log in as your limited ID user and run it again for comparisons.
Last, install Belarc Advisor - which will give you a complete view of your system and do not forget to print out a copy and save it and print for reference if need be at a later date and time. This will also give you a security risk value and information as to what you can do to make things more secure.
With all of this said there are plenty of other things you can install that will inhance your system usability. A few of those programs i recommend are as folows:
Irfanview - picture viewing program (very fast)
VLC - media viewer
OpenOffice.org - Complete OFFICE that will replace your temporary MS Office and MS Works, both big hogs.
Hope this helps update your system and protect you.
randy
HAHA
by dave32264 - 9/16/07 7:35 PM In reply to: Lets keep it simple by randysvh"Now the next important thing to do is to download and install the following programs, while in your Administrator ID. The following programs i recommend are as follows for security issues and your own protection: These programs are all FREE.
Winpatrol
Spybot
Ad-Aware
Spyware Blaster
Avast anti-spyware (avoid Norton, McAfee, AVG)
Comodo Firewall
Advanced Windows Care
Regseeker
Crap Cleaner (ccleaner)
Firefox
PC Security Test 2007
Belarc Advisor
This is a basic list as there are additional programs i do install for checking and cleaning up your system on a regular basis. But the main thing is to make sure you run the disk DEFRAG about one a week to keep things organized and when you run it, run it 3 times.
Each of the programs above need to be configured which is where time and dilgent work is involved."
Holy cow!! It's like arming for war LOL 1/2 of that stuff is totally redundant and superfluous. If you are THAT paranoid to have your RAM and resources ate up by all that its way past time to get away from windoze altogether and go Linux, Mac or better yet BSD
Recommending and using Linux
by randysvh - 9/17/07 12:57 PM In reply to: HAHA by dave32264This is why i recommend using Linux and convert many and more and more of my customers over to Linux. You may laugh at the list, but all of those items are unique and do different things all aimed at a goal of keeping the system clean. Paranoid, maybe, but it is a fraction of getting the job done. If you are not using the main core of the upper half of those programs you are likely infected with viruses, trojans, spyware, and even possibly malware. without running those programs though you will not know, unless your system is starting to run slower and slower.
randy
Linux or BSD is definitely best
by dave32264 - 9/18/07 9:08 PM In reply to: Recommending and using Linux by randysvhActually if you have XP with SP2 and do all 83 (yup count em 83) updates right off the bat You need AVG, Firefox, Adaware, and a decent firewall. Then make sure scans are done on a regular basis.(Like every day) 90% of my customers do this and have very few problems as long as they are careful, and to be quite frank, running windoze with any type and amount of protection you still need to be careful. Sad to say that in my 24 years of being in the computer business, I have never seen a software company as bad as M$. Put all that crap on that was listed and you would get maybe an hour or two to actually USE the computer. And you better have LOTS of RAM to handle it LOL As I stated before, go Mepis 
Burn the image to cd, boot the system up from the cd and let the fun begin. It's very user friendly and simple to use. All the software you need is included. No worms virus' and spyware to deal with, so you actually get to use the computer not have the computer use you.
Linux or BSD as a backup choice to Windows
by randysvh - 9/19/07 1:41 AM In reply to: Linux or BSD is definitely best by dave32264I would agree with Dave. i have more than 30 years in the business and the more i help Windows customers the more i find that recommending Linux as a way to get away from dealing with all of the issues and problems with Windows, delights and brightens the eyes of most of my customers. i find though i need to upgrade the amount of memory from 128mb to 512mb on many of these systems, but in doing so and then installing Linux brings up a new screen and a customer that is very happy not to have to deal with all of the Anti-virus, Anti-spyware, Anti-adware, Firewalls, Registry Cleaner, Privacy cleaner, and so on. With Linux it is not required for the most part. A firewall is usually included, and anti-virus is either included or easily added. The huge selection of programs available for free from the the package program that makes installing new software available in the list very easy. Doing updates is easy and automatic for many versions. Even if you want to run a windows program which is possible in many cases. Wine is the Windows emulation application that allows you to install and run the program. There is no registry with Linux, HOORAY!!! Basically installing an application any where you want and then refering to it from the desktop is all that is required. THe down side for the average user is learning how to install an application that is not in the package program. Linux is still a very stable and consistent environment and does more than its Windows counterpart and all that the average user wants. Dave recommends Simply Mepis, but i recomend it as a second or third choice, while recommending PCLinuxOS 2007 as first choice, Xandros 4.0 OCE if you can find it, and then Mandriva or Simply Mepis. Try it you will like it. Make sure you install it such that you do not wipe out your Windows unless you intend to.
Randy
Mepis out of the box
by dave32264 - 9/19/07 5:00 AM In reply to: Linux or BSD as a backup choice to Windows by randysvhLet me start off by saying PClinuxOS is great for beginners, no question, as is xandros and Mandriva, however, I find these three lacking in one respect. Drivers, specifically wireless. For the beginner to install wireless drivers is tedious at best especially on laptops. In my experience people just want to load it up and go and Mepis does this more often than the others. Hence my reason for recommending this distribution. I constantly test different distros on a wide array of hardware configurations on both laptops and desktops and I find Mepis wins this test hands down. PCLinuxOS runs a close second, were it not for those pesky drivers. Hardware vendors like AMD (now owner of ATI) and NVIDIA etc are finally seeing the light and writing drivers and the more people get fed up with windoze and their overpriced bloatware/spyware OS, the faster full compatibility will become.
Is Spybot Free?
by kathygannett - 9/23/07 10:42 AM In reply to: Lets keep it simple by randysvhI am trying to sign up for the free version of Spybot but it asks me to pay a one time fee. Can you help?
SpyBot Search And Destroy
by waytron - 9/23/07 11:56 AM In reply to: Is Spybot Free? by kathygannettBe very careful that you are download the correct program. There are a number of fake or bad programs with similar names that are not the real thing.
Spybot Search and Destroy is a free program. The safest way to get it is to go to C-Net's download site at www.download.com and search for SpyBot Search and Destroy. The other great program you can get there is AdAware.
Which is the best free system utility?
by SoftNeo - 9/17/07 1:23 AM In reply to: Advice for a clean start on a brand-new computer by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Hi, I just got a new HP laptop with Windows Vista. I want a free one which can keep my new PC running smooth and fast. I used to maintain my computers with CCleaner, but I find that another freeware Advanced WindowsCare Personal in CNET is more popular than CCleaner and has more positive reviews. I like software but I hate trying one by one. Anyone can help me on the issue?
Some Extra Advice
by cnetmessageman - 9/22/07 12:46 PM In reply to: Advice for a clean start on a brand-new computer by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Dana's advice (long version) pretty much covers all the bases so consider this just an extension of her post.
Dell's Business Line (VOSTRO) would perhaps be a better choice for a variety of reasons (especially when Dell offers a $350 discount). But some of these offers are "under the radar" so you have to actually do some digging:
(1) See website for coupon discounts on Dell PCs
(2) Go to Dell's online center and configure a system to determine the final cost. I did this for the VOSTRO 1500 and found that it cost several hundred less that a less powerful VOSTRO 1400!
In addition the VOSTRO Line also allowed you to select XP as your OS at no additional charge.
If you do go with Windows Vista, there are a number of advantages to selecting the Business or Ultimate editions rather than the "Home Basic" or "Home Premium" versions that are not common knowledge. Yes the pricer versions are more secure and stable but also offer additional advantages:
(1) Dual Core Processor support. "Home" version run on the Dual but treat it as a single core.
(2) Has extra built-in backup options such as creating a drive image.
Speaking of disk image files, I strongly suggest doing an image backup of your basic initial setup - The OS and drivers plus any core programs that you might use such as Microsoft Office Pro. In fact you may want do several several images (1st just the OS then again after updates and core programs and perhaps again after completing your full initial install. Dell has been shipping its new PC with Seagate Drives. Go to the support section of Seagate website and download the appropriate version of Disc Wizard (which is a version of Acronis True Image made specifically for Dell). Create a bootable CD and run the program from outside of the Windowws Environmant.
By-the-way, I found that another advantage to ordering the "Business" Edition was that the re-install disc did not contain any "Crapware". And this was ordered with the Consumer Line Dell Inspiron 351.
Some of the new malware programs (Paid and Free) are very aggressive. So beware of any action thqt will not allow you to roll back the changes you made.
Additional Comments on a new machine
by johnruelle - 9/22/07 4:16 PM In reply to: Advice for a clean start on a brand-new computer by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Maria...just a couple of additional comments:
1] Get a HD partitioning program such as partition magic. Partition your drive so as to keep the operating system and your installed apps (C-Partition) separate from your data. Two or three partitions on a large drive is a good start. You can always add more as needed. This helps significantly in defraging the drive. Use the NTFS file structure.
2] It is best to defrag your C-Partition (drive) frequently (weekely)as this will decrease wear and tear on the drive heads and extend the drive life.
3] Once you have your programs installed and things are running fine, use an imaging program such as Acronis or Norton Ghost to make an exact sector by sector image of your partitions, particularly your C-Partition. As you add new software, make new images. An Image of your C-Partition will allow you to restore your operating system, settings, and programs in case of a system crash (HD failure, virus whipe, etc). For example, an image of a 10GB C-partition can be made on 2 bootable DVD's in about a half hour or so. If you have to completely replace your HD, with the image DVD's you can be up and running like nothing happened, in a half hour or so.
4] An additional comment on cleaning dust from your machine. The PC fans draw a lot of air inside the machine during the cooling process. Even in a clean environment there will be enough dust drawn inside the PC to warrant a good cleaning at least every few months. Dust buildup, especially on electronic parts, causes heat buildup which can significantly reduce the life of the components. It only takes a few minutes to pull a side pannel off and give the inside a good cleaning with a can of compressed air.
hope this helps
john
Advice for a clean start on a brand-new computer
by raisabark - 9/23/07 3:46 PM In reply to: Advice for a clean start on a brand-new computer by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
This is an excellent response on this subject.
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