Regular maintenance and cleaning of your computer helps keep it running smoothly and efficiently. This document describes several procedures you can peform yourself to keep your computer operating at peak performance while you gain the following additional benefits:
- Free up valuable space on your hard drive.
- Make your applications run more smoothly and crash less often.
- Keep your files more secure and less vulnerable to virus infections.
Step 1. Know your computer
Step 2. Clearing your Internet cache
Step 3. Using the disk cleanup wizard
Step 4. Removing adware, spyware, and parasiteware
Step 5. Virus scanning and removal
Step 6. Running Windows updates
Step 7. Help protect your PC
Step 8. Shutting down your computer
Step 1. Know Your Computer
Before you start cleaning up your computer, you should know which version of the Windows operating system is installed on your computer so you can locate the correct instructions for your version. You should also know which versions of standard Smith software are installed on your computer, as well as the type of printer you use and the name of your printer queue..
You will need this information to give to anyone you call for technical support, whether it's the User Support Center at Smith, your equipment's manufacturer, a software company, or an independent repair company.
Which version of Windows do I have?
Which versions of standard software do I have?
What type of printer and printing setup do I have?
Which version of Windows do I have on my computer?
- Right-click on the My Computer icon on your desktop,
and select Properties from the pop-up menu.
- In the Properties window, click on the General tab. The System section shows which version of Windows is installed on
your computer.
In the example below, you can see that the computer is running Windows XP Professional with Service Pack 2.
- This window also lists general information about your computer, as
shown below.
Which versions of standard software do I have on my computer?
Take an inventory of the software versions you are currently running for Internet Explorer, Microsoft Office, and any other software you use often.
- Open the program you are checking (e.g., Internet Explorer,
Word,
etc.)
- Open the Help menu, and select the option that includes the
word "About" (e.g., About Internet Explorer,
etc.).
- Note the version number shown in the About window.
- Internet Explorer should be 6.0.28 Service Pack 1 or higher
- Microsoft Office programs (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) may be, Office 2000, Office 2002 (XP) or Office 2003
What type of printer and printing setup do I have?
In a networked environment, it is important to know the type of printer you have and whether you print via a print queue or a local connection when you call for service. For type of printer, you should know the manufacturer, model, and number, all of which are usually printed on the front. For example, there are about 40 different types of Hewlett Packard Laserjet printers on campus, so it's important to know that yours is a Hewlett Packard Laserjet 8150DN. To tell if you are printing to a print queue or local connection:
- Open any software
package you normally print from.
- Open the File menu and select Print.
- In the Print dialog
box, look at the name of your printer. If it includes the name
of a server, it is a networked printer.
Step 2. Clearing Your Internet Cache
The first step in cleaning your system is to delete your temporary Internet files. Every time you browse the Internet, some temporary files are left behind (cached) on your hard drive. Over time, these files can take up a lot of valuable hard drive space and slow down your browser's performance. Fortunately, there is an easy way to delete them.
Clearing your cache in Internet Explorer:
- Open Internet Explorer.
- From the Tools menu, choose Internet Options.
- Click on the Delete
Files box.
- When the Delete
Files window opens, click on the box next to Delete all offline
content.
- Click OK. You have successfully
deleted your temporary Internet files.
Removing Temporary Internet Files should be done monthly, but one way to save time is to have Internet Explorer remove those files when you close the browser.
- Open Internet Explorer.
- From the Tools menu, choose Internet Options.
- Click on the Advanced Tab.
- Using the scroll bar on the right, scroll down to locate Security.
- Click in the Check Box next to Empty Temporary
Internet files when Browser is closed.
- Click OK. Your temporary internet files will
not be deleted everytime you close the Internet Explorer program.
- Open Mozilla Firefox.
- Click on Tools, then Options.
- In the list on the left side of the window,
click on Privacy. When the list of Privacy options
appears, click on the Clear Cache or Clear Now button, this will depend on which version of Firefox you are using..
- Click OK. You have successfully deleted your
temporary Internet files.
Step 3. Using the Disk Cleanup Wizard
Windows has a built-in utility to clean up any unused files on your hard drive. To run this utility monthly:
- Open the Start menu and select Programs (called All Programs in Windows XP),
then Accessories, then System Tools,
then Disk Cleanup.
- In the Select Drive window,
choose drive C: and click OK.
- In the Disk
Cleanup window, check all the boxes in the Files to
Delete menu, then click OK to run the cleanup
program.
Step 4. Removing
Adware, Spyware, and Parasiteware
Some
Internet applications leave behind intrusive or unwanted files known
as "adware", "spyware", or "parasiteware". Scanning for and
removing these files can greatly improve your system's performance.
As a first line of defense, we recommend installing CCleaner and Malwarebytes AntiMalware. Both programs are available on the Smith software download page. We recommend running them at least once a week.
Back
to top >
Step 5. Virus
Scanning and Removal
All Smith students, staff, and faculty should install
Microsoft Security Essentials on every Windows computer they use. Security Essentials
provides
continuous virus and malware protection and updates itself automatically.
To download Microsoft Security Essentials, click here.
Back
to top >
Step 6. Running Windows
Updates
Microsoft has made it easy to improve the
performance of your operating system and add critical security patches
by installing updates directly from the Windows Update website.
Automatic Updates
When
you turn your computer on, do you ever see a Windows update alert
in the "tool tray" in the lower right corner of your desktop?
If so,
your computer has already been set up to have all new Windows updates
sent
to
you automatically, but
not installed automatically - this is the setup recommended by
ITS. Follow
the steps below to install any updateswaiting to be installed
your computer.
(If
you don't ever see an update alert, proceed to the Manual
Updates section.)
- If an update alert is visible, click on Click here to
install these updates. If you don't have an alert, look in
your tool tray for the icon circled below, and click on it.
- Running the updates may take a while. You will still be able to work on your computer, but it
is likely to run more slowly than usual. This task can be performed
over your lunch hour, or before you leave for a meeting or class.
Note that if your computer needs multiple updates, you may need to run through this process several times. Just keep paying attention to the alerts about missing updates, and install each set of updates when you are notified about them.
- When the process is done, you will be prompted to restart your computer. After you restart, proceed to the Help Protect Your PC section below.
Manual Updates
If you do not see a prompt
to update your computer when you start it up, you must
open Internet Explorer and check for updates.
- Open Internet Explorer. (Note that you
cannot use Netscape for this procedure.)
- From the Tools menu,
select Windows Update.
- As the page opens, it immediately starts
to search for updates. This dialog will quickly flash: "Checking
for the latest version of the Windows Update software........"
- When the scan is complete, if you are
missing any updates, you will see the Express Install and the Custom
Install: Click on the Express Install.
- Windows Updates will look for the list of updates needed for your
machine. The Total updates to be installed
and the length of time it will take to run the updates will be displayed. Click the Install button to begin the update installation.
- Click on the "I Accept" button
on the license agreement screen to start the download process. When prompted on followings screens, click the Next button.
Running the updates may take a while. You will still be able to work on your computer, but it is likely to run more slowly than usual. This task can be performed over your lunch hour, or before you leave for a meeting or class.
- When the process is done, you will be prompted to restart your computer. After you restart, proceed to the Help Protect Your PC section below.
Step 7. Help Protect Your PC
McAfee SiteAdvisor
This program is added to your Internet Explorer or FireFox browser; note that it does not work with Netscape. SiteAdvisor works when you search the internet with Google, Yahoo, or MSN. The program warns you before you interact with dangerous web sites. The program is free and available to download from http://www.smith.edu/its/smithsoftware.
McAfee SiteAdvisor tests websites to help keep your computer clean from spyware, adware, and spam. You will notice small colored circles at the end of each website link.
|
Safe: This means McAfee tested the site and found no problems. |
|
Caution: This means McAfee tested the site and found some security problems. |
|
Warning: This means McAfee tested the site and found serious problems, bundled adaware, spyware or spam. |
 |
Not Tested: Out of all the sites they have tested this is not one of them. |
Security Center
There are still a few more steps required to give your computer maximum protection for the future.
- Go to Start, Settings, Control Panel. In
the Control Panel window, double-click on Security Center.
- In
the Security Center window, select Help Protect your PC,
then click
the Next button in the lower right-hand corner.
- In the Windows Security Center window, there are three items
under Security Essentials: Firewalls, Automatic Updates
and
Virus Protection. These
may be set to one of four settings: ON, OFF,
Check Settings, or Out of date, as shown
in the examples below.
- Clicking
on the arrows at the end of each category gives you
an explanation of each setting. To set each of these functions
to the settings recommended by ITS, follow the directions below.
The Windows Firewall protects your computer by putting up a barrier that checks the information coming from the Internet. The firewall either rejects or accepts the information coming to your computer.
- Under Manage Security Settings, click
on the Windows Firewall button.
- On
the General Tab, select On
(recommended) if not already selected.
- Click
on the Exceptions Tab. Remove any check mark
that appears in any of the following check boxes.
- At the bottom of the Exception window, be sure there
is a check in the box beside Display
a notification when Windows Firewall blocks a program. This
ensures that the Windows security system will ask you to verify
whether software trying
to pass
through the firewall is valid.
For example, to use Macromedia Contribute for web development, Contribute must be able to pass through the firewall to access your webpages for editing. The first time this happens, the firewall will prompt you for permission to add Contribute to its list of verified programs. If you select the Always option, you will have to verify the software again in the future.
Bad software includes unsolicited spyware and adware. You will have to judge for yourself whether to deny or accept individual pieces of software. The best strategy is to be very cautious, and treat unfamiliar software just as you would unknown e-mail attachments. If you reject certain software and then find out it's okay, you can always accept it later.
To learn more about the Windows firewall, click on What else should I know about Windows Firewall? at the bottom of the General or Exceptions tab.
- Click OK to save your changes.
Whether your Automatic Updates are set to On or to Check Settings, please follow these instructions.
- Under Manage
Security Settings, click on the Automatic Updates button.
- The Automatic (recommended) option is selected by default,
but since your computer won't be turned on at 3:00 am,
this option won't work. Instead, select Download
upates for me, but let me choose when to install them.
- With this option selected, when you turn on your computer in the
morning, you see a Windows Update alert in the lower
right corner of
your desktop
if
there
is
a new update
waiting to be installed.
If you decide not install the update at that time, you will see a new option in your Shut Down menu when you shut down at night: Install updates and shut down. This option will stay as the default option until you install the updates.
- Click OK to save your changes.
If your virus protection is in the On mode this indicates that you have the latest updates. If your virus protection is in the Out of Date mode then you need to run the McAfee updates and scan your computer for viruses.
Internet Options and the Pop-up Blocker
The default setting under Internet Options, Privacy Tab is to block pop-ups, and we recommend that you leave this setting unchanged.
However, if you ever want to temporarily disable the popup blocker, you can quickly do so anytime within Internet Explorer:
- In Internet Explorer, click on Tools, then Pop-up Blocker.
- Select either Turn on pop-up blocker or Turn off pop-up blocker as needed.
Banner users:
Note that the pop-up blocker blocks some pop-up windows
that are required to use the reporting functions within Internet Native
Banner. To solve this problem, use the method described above.
Another tip for Banner INB users:
- In Internet Explorer, click on Tools, then the Advanced Tab.
- Scroll until you locate the Security section.
- Verify that "Use SSL 2.0"
and "Use SSL 3.0" are checked.
- If they are not checked,
please check them before trying to access INB.
Back to top >
Step 8. Shutting Down Your Computer
At the end of the workday, should you shut your computer down or leave it on? Here are four important reasons to always shut down:
- Our install of McAfee has the AutoUpdate set to run on startup.
- Shutting your computer down conserves electricity.
- PCs
accumulate memory errors as they are used, and may even
crash if they accumulate enough errors. Shutting
your computer down clears
all accumulated errors.
- Leaving your computer on when you are not there makes your programs and files less secure.
