Recommended PC Cleanup Tools


CCleaner

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Description:
Cleans Registry, orphaned files, and startup settings.
Run manually once a month or as needed.
Will notify of available updates when launched.

Usage:
Go to Cleaner tab.
Click Analyze button
Click Run Cleaner when ready.
Go to Registry tab.
Click Scan for Issues button.
Click Fix selected issues when ready.
If prompted to backup changes to registry, choose yes.
Create a folder C:\ccleaner and save the registry backups there.
Click Fix All Selected Issues when prompted.


Spybot Search and Destroy

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Description:
Spyware and Malware scanner.
Automatically scheduled to update and scan nightly.
Can optionally run scan manually once a month to clean unwanted software that comes from web.

Usage:
Click Search for Updates button.
Check all available updates.
Click Download.
After updating exit the update window.
Go to Imunize tab.
Choose button to apply imunization protection.
Go to Search and Destroy tab.
Click Check for problems button to preform a scan.
When scan completes, click Fix selected problems button to fix problems (if found).


Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware

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Description:
Spyware and Malware scanner.
Run scan once a month to clean unwanted software that comes from the web.

Usage:
Go to Update tab.
Click Check for Updates.
Go to Scanner tab
Choose quick or full scan.
Click Scan button.
When scan completes choose button to re-pair/delete/remove all problems found.


Spywareblaster

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Description:
Blocks Spyware and Malware from installing from web.
Does not scan or run. Works like a blacklist that is always enabled once applied.
Update monthly to ensure blacklist of what to block stays up to date.

Usage:
Go to Updates tab.
Click Check for Updates button.
Wait for updates complete.
Go to Protection Status tab.
Click Enable All Protection link at the bottom to apply latest update.


The PC Decrapifier

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Description:
Removes extra unnecessary programs installed by default on a new PC by the manufacturer.
If you don't want extra trial software you can remove it and it will usually make the computer faster.
This is similar to but less effective than whiping a new computer's hard drive clean and re-installing Windows.
Here is a list of what it can uninstall.

Usage:
Download and double click pc-decrapifier-x.x.x.exe to run.
Choose the items to uninstall.


Microsoft Security Essentials

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Description:
Recommended Free Antivirus Software and Spyware Protection
Provides real-time protection that guards against viruses, spyware, and other malicious software.
Automatically updates and scans as needed.

Usage:
Install and follow on-screen instructions.
Click "fortress" icon in taskbar to access menu.
Click Update tab to perform manual update.
Click Scan to perform a manual scan.


MyDefrag - OptimizeMonthly

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Description:
Similar to the defragmentation tool included with Windows, but faster and with extra features.
Defragments hard drive and optimizes it so the most freqently used files are first for faster access.
Defragmenting creates large blank spaces so newly written files are less likely to be spread (fragmented) to different areas of the hard disk.
Offers options to perform defrags tailored specifically for system and data disks at daily, weekly, or monthly intervals.
A system disk is the primary hard drive or partition containing the Windows operating system. A data disk is an extra hard drive or partition that does not contain Windows.
Please note that excessive defragmentation can cause unnecessary strain on your hard disk. It is usually not necessary to defrag drives/partitions more than once a month or even every couple months.

Usage:
If you choose not to schedule an automatic defrag when installing MyDefrag you can launch one manually as needed. To make this easier use Explorer to browse to the following folder:
C:\Program Files\MyDefrag v4.3.1\Scripts
Right click file SystemDiskMonthly.MyD and create a shortcut to the Optimize System Disk Monthly script.
Copy the shorcut where desired and then rename it to "MyDefrag - Optimize System Monthly"
Repeat steps above for DataDiskMonthly.MyD script or other scripts if desired.
Double click on the shortcut once a month or as needed to begin the defrag process.
Please note that you can use the computer while the defrag is in progress but for best results you will want to leave it alone while it finishes (often an hour or more).


Read Me

Right click link and choose "Save Link/Target As" to Download.

Description:
A quick reference guide to CCleaner, Spybot S&D, Malwarebytes, Spywareblaster, and MyDefrag.


Other Tools


AVG Free Anti-Virus

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Description:
Alternate Free Antivirus Software
Can be automatically scheduled to update and scan nightly or manually scan on demand.

Usage:
Please see instructions here.


ComboFix

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Description:
It is rarely necessary to use this tool, but it can help if you are unable to visit web sites from an infected computer.
You will need to download this on another computer and then copy it via USB flash drive to the infected computer.
Scans your computer for known malware, and when found, attempts to clean these infections automatically.
Not recommended for novice computer users. You should not run ComboFix unless you are specifically asked to by a helper. Also, due to the power of this tool it is strongly advised that you do not attempt to act upon any of the information displayed by ComboFix without supervision from someone who has been properly trained. If you do so, it may lead to problems with the normal functionality of your computer.

Usage:
Please read all instructions here before proceeding.


LSP-Fix

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Description:
It is rarely necessary to use this tool, but it can help if you are unable to visit web sites from an infected computer.
You will need to download this on another computer and then copy it via USB flash drive to the infected computer.
LSP-Fix is a free Windows utility to repair a loss of Internet access associated with certain types of software.

Usage:
Please read instructions here.


WinSock XP Fix

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Description:
It is rarely necessary to use this tool, but it can help if you are unable to visit web sites from an infected computer.
You will need to download this on another computer and then copy it via USB flash drive to the infected computer.
WinSock XP Fix offers a last resort if your Internet connectivity has been corrupted due to invalid or removed registry entries.

Usage:
Download and double click WinsockxpFix.exe to run. Follow on screen instructions.

Manufacturer Drivers

Dell | HP | ASUS | MSI
Acer | Toshiba | Sony
Gateway

Component Drivers

AMD / ATI
NVIDIA
Intel | Chipset Utility
Intel Auto Detect

Web Content

Java | Version Check
Flash | Version Check

Media Codecs

Xvid (DivX Xvid MP4)

Media Players

Quicktime
Quicktime and iTunes
VLC Media Player
Songbird
Winamp 5 Lite

Document Convert/Read/View

DoPDF Converter
Foxit Reader
Microsoft Office Converters/Viewers

CD/DVD Burning

InfraRecorder

File Extraction

7-Zip
Universal Extractor

Photos

Picasa

Web Browsers

Firefox

Email Clients

Thunderbird

Instant Messaging

Pidgin

Downloaders

Frostwire
uTorrent

MSI Repackage

AppDeploy Repackager

DVD/Video Backup

DVDFab HD Decrypter
DVDShrink Download
HandBrake

UI Tweaks and Misc Utilities

Zune Theme for XP
Taskbar Shuffle
Virtual Dimension
Synergy
Input Director
Unlocker