Disable System Restore (only applies to WinXP & WinME)

If you have been infected with any trojans, spyware, etc, they could have been saved in System Restore and are waiting to re-infect you. Since System Restore is a protected directory, your tools can not access it to delete files that may contain viruses inside them. Please follow instructions to disable system restore.

For Windows XP:
1: Right click on the My Computer icon on your desktop and select properties.2: Click on the system restore tab.3: Check the box that says "Turn off system restore on all drives". Click OK.4: Click Yes when you are prompted to restart the computer5: To re-enable System Restore, follow steps 1-3, but in step 3, click to clear the Disable System Restore check box.

For Windows Millenium:
1: Right-click My Computer, and then click Properties.2: On the Performance tab, click File System, or press ALT+F.3: On the Troubleshooting tab, click to select the Disable System Restore check box.4: Click OK twice, and then click Yes when you are prompted to restart the computer.5: To re-enable System Restore, follow steps 1-3, but in step 3, click to clear the Disable System Restore check box.

If any of these Topics seem complicated we can remote into your computer and you can watch us do these steps for you without you having to unhook your computer and take it anywhere. Just send us an email to keepyourcomputerrunningsmooth@gmail.com include your home phone number and we will contact you and setup a time for this.

Uninstall Malware via Add/Remove Programs

Most often problem programs can be uninstalled just by going to Control Panel and selecting Add/Remove Programs. Look for any of the below items in Add/Remove programs and if found select them and uninstall them. Some of these items (and they are flagged with ****)are on the Rogue Tool List

( I recommend you email this list to yourself so you have a copy)

100 Percent Anti-Spyware ****
MaxiFiles
SSK
180ClientStubInstall
Media Access
StarWare
180 Search Assistant
Media Gateway or MediaGateway
StopGuard ****
180Solutions
MediaLoads Installer
SurfAccuracy
Acoona Toolbar
MediaPipe P2P Loader
SurfSideKick or SSK or SurfSideKick 3 (uninstall any version you find)
Active alert
MediaTickets
Upspiral Toolbar
Ad Behavior
Messenger Plus
The Spyware Shield ****
Ad Destroyer ****
MyWay or MyWayBar or MyWaySpeed or MyWaySearchBar
ToolBar
Ad Service
MyWay Search Assistant
Top Search
Ad-Purge Adware ****
NavExcel Search Toolbar
TopSpyware
AdTools
NavHelper
TurboDownload
AdTools Service
NaviSearch
TV Media
AdwarePunisher ****
ncase
UnSpyPC ****
Alexa toolbar
Need2Find
Utility Notification
AlwaysUpdatedNews
Network Monitor
VBouncer ****
AntivirusGold
NewDotNet
VCClient
AUN
Notification Utility
vidctrl
AutoUpdate
Oemji Toolbar
Viewpoint
AzeSearch
OnWebMedia
Viewpoint Manager (Remove Only)
BargainBuddy
Open Site
Viewpoint Media Player
BearShare
P2P Networking
Viewpoint Toolbar
BestGuardPlatinum ****
p2pnetworks
Virtual Bouncer or Vbouncer
BestOffers or BestOffers Shopping BHO or ActivShop or e-zshopper
Preview AdService
Virtual Maid
Bullseye Networks
Privacy Crusader ****
VirusGuard
BrowserPal
PSGuard
WareOut
CAS
Quick
WareOut Spyware Remover ****
CasStub
QuickSearch
Warez P2P Client
Casino Client
QuickSearch Toolbar
WeatherBug (unless you have the paid version)
CashBack
RazeSpyware ****
Weather Check
CC2KUI or Comet Cursor Plus
rdso
Web Offer
ClockSync (this is part of WhenU)
SaveNow
Web Rebates
CNSMin
Search Assistant - My Web SearchBar
Web Savings from Ebates
Command
Search Assistant - My Way
Web Search Toolbar (WinTools) or WebSearch Toolbar
cosmi
Search Maid
WebHancer
Delfin or Delfin Media
Search Toolbar (HuntBar/WinTools)
WebHance Customer Companion
DMVlite
Security IGuard
WeirdOnTheWeb
DownloadWare
SearchExe
WhenU (any entry)
E2Give or e2Give
ShopperReports by Hotbar
WeirdOnTheWeb
EasySearchBar
Sidefind
WildTangent
eGroup
SideSearch
Win-dh
Elite Bar
Slotchbar
WinAntiSpy 2005 ****
Elite Sidebar
Soap or Soap Pro
WinAntiSpyware 2005 ****
Elite Toolbar
Software Update Manager
WinAntiVirus 2005 ****
Elitum
SpyAxe ****
WinFixer ****
Froggie Scan ****
SpyBan ****
WinFixer 1.1.62.4 <---(or any other version too)
GAIN
SpyCut ****
Winhound Spyware Remover ****
Gator
Spy Reaper ****
winupdates
Grokster or Grokster Wiseupdt
SpyShield ****
Windows AdService
Hotbar Outlook Tools
Spy-Shield ****
Windows AdStatus
Hotbar Web Tools
SpyiBlock ****
Windows ServeAd
HuntBar
SpyiKiller ****
Windows SR 2.0
Internet Optimizer
SpySheriff ****
Winhound
IE Host
SpySpotter ****
WinTools
iMesh
Spyware Disinfector ****
WinTools Easy Installer
ISTbar
Spyware Quake ****
WSEM Update
ISTSvc
Spyware Remover ****
Yazzle Sudoku by OIN
Kazaa
Spyware Sledgehammer
X-Con Spyware Destroyer ****
Logitech Desktop Messenger
SpywareStrike ****



This second step of house cleaning may save a load of time later and can significantly reduce the Call times.
Empty any quarantine folders for antivirus and antispyware applications. Make sure you do this. Here is one example for doing this with Norton/Symantec: Removing files from Norton AntiVirus Quarantine
If you are a Symantec/Norton user make sure you empty their Norton Nprotect folder guarding the Recycle Bin. See Emptying the Norton Protected Recycle Bin
Empty your Recycle Bin
To email this list to yourself click the white envolpe next to this post and you can email this post only to yourself.

Basic Computer House Cleaning

Step 1

Press and hold down the Flying window key (lower left hand side of keyboard) and press the “R” key this will bring up the Run dialog box.

Cleaning Start-Up Programs

Another thing you can do is to make sure your Start-Up is free of unwanted or needed Programs;
Step 1
To do this you will once again Press and hold down the Flying window key and press the “R” key this will bring up the Run dialog box.
Here you will type “msconfig” and click on “OK”
This will bring up the “System Configuration Utility
Here you will click on the Startup TAB
Everything you see with a check in it is running when you boot up your computer, the more you have the slower it is so what you can do here is go to http://www.sysinfo.org/startuplist.phpAnd go through your list to see if you want or need it. After you have gone through you startup you will click on the “Apply” button then “Close” you computer will prompt you to restart. After you computer reboots you will get a dialog box telling you that you have used the System Configuration Utility place a check in the box in the lower left hand corner (don’t not show)
Now lets uninstall any bad stuff that should not be installed on your Computer. This may in some instances resolve your problems.
We are now offering a free service known as remote desktop. If any of these Topics seem complicated we can remote into your computer and you can watch us do these steps for you without you having to unhook your computer and take it anywhere. Just send us an email to keepyourcomputerrunningsmooth@gmail.com include your home phone number and we will contact you and setup a time for this.

Windows Updates

Updating your computer
If you are still using Internet Explorer 6 chances are you are missing out on some very important updates.
Lets click on start control panel right column or settings and control panel. In control panel we are looking for windows updates, left click and we can choose from to options. We can choose Automatic and select a time that we know the computer will be on. (update will not happen if computer is turned off)
OR
We can choose the second option Download updates for me, but let me choose when to install them. This is option is great for people who know a little bit more about windows updates and they can pick and choose what updates they want to install.
If your updates has a bullet in the last two options this maybe why you are still running IE6. If you have any questions regarding this post please fell free to leave us a comment with your email address and we will get back to you within 24 hours. Or email us at keepyourcomputerrunningsmooth@gmail.com

Basic House Cleaning Con't

Step 4

Open up your Control Panel from Start click on Control Panel (Right hand column) or if classic Windows Start + Settings+ Control panel

Click on “Internet Options” the Internet Properties will open
On the General Tab look for Browsing history if you are using Internet Explorer 7
The way to tell if you are using IE7 is it will have a gold ring around it if it is blue you are using IE6.
For Internet Explorer 6 when you get to control panel and click Internet Options on the General Tab look for Temporary Internet File. There you will click on delete cookies and delete files. A little further down you will see a button you can click to clear history. Here you will Delete Cookies, Delete Files and Clear your History files.

Note: If you are still using IE6 that is a good indication that you have not been updating your computer and we will cover that next before moving on.
keepyourcomputerrunningsmooth@gmail.com

Basic House Cleaning Con't

Step 3
Again Press and hold down the Flying window key and press the “R” key this will bring up the Run dialog box.

Now your going to type “sfc /purgecache” and click on “OK”

A command window will open
This window will close on it’s own just wait.

These three steps should be done at least once a week to keep your Computer running smooth.Now that that is done there are a few more things you can do on a weekly basis that will ensue a happy computer.
keepyourcomputerrunningsmooth@gmail.com

Basic House Cleaning Con't

Step 2
Again Press and hold down the Flying window key and press the “R” key this will bring up the Run dialog box.
Now your going to type “%temp%” and click on “OK” The Temp folder will open
Again press and hold the “ctrl” key and press the “A” this will highlight everything
Now press your “Delete” key and close the window

keepyourcomputerrunningsmooth@gmail.com

Basic House Cleaning

This next post will have many stages to it so you will want to keep coming back to see whats next in Basic House Clean. This information comes to you from my business partner Ken Louis.

Basic Computer House Cleaning

Step 1

Press and hold down the Flying window key (lower left hand side of keyboard) and press the “R” key this will bring up the Run dialog box.

In the dialog box type “prefetch” without the quotation marks and click on “OK”

The Prefetch window will open

Now press and hold the “ctrl” key and press the “A” this will highlight everything

Now press your “Delete” key and close the window
keepyourcomputerrunningsmooth@gmail.com

Getting back to basics

With so many people having computers these days its amazing how many of us forget the basic rules we learned.

1. A computer is like a car if we do not change the oil every 3,000 miles it will eventually ruin the engine over time. Same goes for your computer if we do not empty the recylce bin, delete our temp files, defrag the hard drive our computer starts to run slow.

2. I often hear people say that they get an error message when using Outlook Express or Microsoft Outlook that they can not recive any mail. Often the problem is that they are not aware that there is a limit to the amount of space these application can hold.

a. When was tha last time you emptied your deleted items folder in the application?
b. When was the last time you deleted anything from your sent folder?

3. Another thing that we often seem to forget is that spyware is a big issue with PC's.

a. Try this website for free spyware scan of your computer it will help you save time and cut down on issue you might know you have. http://housecall.trendmicro.com/