How To forum: Free software that will work like PCMatic?

Hi, Rich!

I'm delighted to have your checklist of things to do to maintain my PC. I do use Disk Cleanup and defrag my drive and clear cookies pretty regularly.. but the other steps are new to me. I have seen the list on Task Manager but never knew what to "kill." Now you've told me how to find out! Awesome!

PC Forum members are the best! I've come here asking for help or advice several times in the past and I always get good, helpful answers that are written in non-technical language so I can understand and learn. I wish I had a way to give you some help or advice back -- to thank you.

I know I'm not supposed to say this old-fashioned phrase any more, but..." You rock!" Thanks again!

Ellie

Maybe I should have posted in "Newbies." I am running Windows 7 and I regularly use Disk Cleanup. I also use Control Panel/Internet Options/Clear history. Occasionally I'll have time to dump old Word files that I'm no longer using -- or transfer them to an archive disk. I used to dump temporary JAVA files (found a button or icon to do that) but it didn't seem to make any difference and someone said I shouldn't do it.. So maybe I am not clearing RAM at all!

Still... any suggestions for free software that would help me speed up my pc -- start-up and opening various programs and files -- would be greatly appreciated. Also, it does freeze occasionally.

(And thanks for helping me learn about RAM!)
Ellie

Be sure to fetch it from the source (link to follow) and don't change the settings until you learn more.

http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner

That's a pretty good cleaner but for performance I use the old ways. If I don't want an app to run I uninstall, end it or tell it not to start.
Bob

Hi, Bob!

Thanks for the link to the cleaner you provided. But you use the "old ways..." Do you have a checklist or is there a web site I could look at so I'll know what those manual ways are? Also, how would I tell an app not to start without uninstalling it? See? Another Newbie question, I guess...

I appreciate your taking time and patience to help me with these questions. Thanks!
Ellie

(smile) Well, and deep is a play on the words and topic. Let's not fall into that well.

OK, to disable items to start up I first see if the app has it in their menus. Skype for example. After that we can look in the usual Startup group and delete items or move them to a fun named NOSTART group.

And we always love to read Black Viper's site on the OS in question (google BLACK VIPERS WINDOWS to find that.)

In closing, the best tool I have is google and an app called HIJACKTHIS. That's a power tool and I use it at first to learn all about my PC along with Google on each item in the report. I strongly suggest you never use this at first for just the report. As you get more knowledgeable you will find this tool very sharp and able to knock off a specific item that you can't seem to eject any other way.
Bob

Hi, Bob!

I couldn't find a NOSTART group on my PC. I looked at the LONG list of BLACK VIPERS various posts and links and could not even understand the titles, let alone the content of most of them. I promise I will never use HIJACKTHIS because you said not to.

In summary, then, you're saying PC MATIC is the way to go. Okey dokey! I'm going!

Ellie

It's basic windows skills to click and drag an item from the startup group to the other nostart group.

Sorry but here's a tutorial about the start menu.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHZy4D9TZKs

Bob

Hi, Bob!

I've read articles about customizing my start menu but I've never felt knowledgeable -- or brave -- enough to try it. So thank you a whole lot for sending me the link to the tutorial. Maybe someday I'll be able to throw away my "newbie" hat and replace it with ... well ... a pith helmet?

Ellie

http://press.comedycentral.co.uk/files/imagecache/showhub-b-main/2010/01/14/helmet.jpg

Most of these $50 cure-for-all optimizers don't work. I don't have a single reason to assume that this one is an exception, even if has 4+ stars on our download page. Feel free to buy and run it, but don't come complaining if it doesn't help.

Kees

Hi, Kees,

You've helped me a lot in the past and I appreciate your letting me know about the effectiveness (or not) of these optimizers. Now I don't have to spend the $50 to find out for myself that it won't work.
Did you see the detailed checklist below that Rich sent? I don't mind doing all those steps manually (I have no money, I have no life, just time and a keyboard and mouse...) and I expect they will all work perfectly.

Thanks again for your reply!
Ellie