What do you do to 'clean' up Windows?

[alkemyst]

I usually first wipe all the temp files under Local Settings for each profile and Windows...wipe the prefetch directory.

If they ever had norton, I run NRT and then go and wipe out NPROTECT.

Once that is done I do a chkdsk/f/r and then a defrag.

I go and check the 'run' and startup directories and let them know what's good and bad.

I was wondering if there were some other best practices out there.

I tried Eset's Smart Security for the first time and I have to say it's pretty light weight on the systems. Norton was definitely noticable weight.

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[boomerang]

First step for me is CCleaner.

 

[mechBgon]

For home users, I would also set them up with Secunia's Personal Software Inspector, run it, and show them how to fix all the vulnerabilities it finds. Because there'll be more as time goes by, and they'll need to know how to do it when I'm not there.

Also, I'd make sure to upgrade their auto-update client to Microsoft Update so they're getting automagic updates for more than just Windows and its core components (e.g. Office, Works, and other extra Microsoft stuff).

Once everything was complete and looked healthy, I'd usually also disable System Restore to wipe out obsolete SR points, then re-enable it to create a fresh SR point.

 

[calyco]

I use CCleaner only and havent had a problem yet. OP Im interested as well if there is something better out there.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: benlg
I use CCleaner only and havent had a problem yet. OP Im interested as well if there is something better out there.

I tried CCLeaner a long time ago and was left with a machine with some proggies that wouldn't work.

I like to do a more manual process when I am not sure what was installed/done.

I am going to go to that microsoft update client. Didn't think about that as a great timesaver.

 

[soonerproud]

I run CC Cleaner and I use this command instead of regular disk cleanup on a regular basis:

cleanmgr /sageset:50

cleanmgr /sagerun:50

Running disk cleanup that way gives you a lot more options to clean up and is more effective.

Edit:

Cleaning out the prefetch directory under Vista is a bad idea. Superfetch does this for you on a regular basis so it is unnecessary and can hurt performance under Vista. It is best to leave prefetch alone.

 

[Rottie]

CCleaner is great too also if you are running Windows XP I think it is worth to check out TuneXP program to take care of XP performance. Secunia's Personal Software Inspector is good also especially on Vista but not look great with Windows XP though.

 

[Pabster]

DBAN. :laugh:

Now seriously, absolutely nothing. I'll just re-image when I feel it needs it.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: Pabster
DBAN. :laugh:

Now seriously, absolutely nothing. I'll just re-image when I feel it needs it.

Works great for image style machines. This is an office of 12 machines and only about 6 could be called common.

 

[VinDSL]

Yep!

Crap Cleaner (CCleaner) & Secunia PSI - that's ALL I use these days...

Well... I occasionally run Spybot S&D too, but it NEVER finds anything on Vista with Windows Defender - just a waste of time really!

On W2K Pro, Spybot S&D usually finds something or another, but it ain't like the old days...

Anyway, CCleaner And Secunia PSI are THE way to go, right now, IMHO!

 

[VinDSL]

Originally posted by: alkemyst
Once that is done I do a chkdsk/f/r and then a defrag...

I haven't run defrag in quite some time, however, if you just gotta do it... you're doing it the right way... and in the proper order.

I run chkdsk on a fairly regular basis, but ONLY after an event, if you will... like a power outage, blue screen, black screen or whatever. Soooo, I still see a NEED for it, in certain special situations. And, I invoke it from PowerShell, not from a 'Run' CLI (personal preference, especially with Vista)...

Defrag, on the other hand, is just asking for trouble, to my way of thinking!

99.9% of the time defrag works okay, but .1% of the time, it will bork your HDD...

 

[Bateluer]

Originally posted by: VinDSL


99.9% of the time defrag works okay, but .1% of the time, it will bork your HDD...

I have never once heard of defrag borking a hard drive. My Vista desktop defrags itself once a week, as does my XP notebook. Every machine I've owned has held this same methodology. Same with family member's computers. Not a single one has ever had problems relating to defrag.

Unless you're using a 3rd party defrag tool that makes outrageous performance claims, defragmenting your hdd is absolutely required on a regular basis if you're running windows.