PCTun

neUp
p
EveryymanITT
EliEtheerton

Contents
Introduction..................................................................................................................................................3
BestPractices............................................................................................................................................3
Warnings...................................................................................................................................................3
WindowsTools..............................................................................................................................................4
BestPractices............................................................................................................................................4
TaskManager............................................................................................................................................4
ToUseTaskManager............................................................................................................................4
SystemProperties.....................................................................................................................................6
ToUseSystemProperties.....................................................................................................................6
DiskProperties..........................................................................................................................................7
ToUseDiskProperties..........................................................................................................................7
MsConfig...................................................................................................................................................8
ToUseMsConfig...................................................................................................................................8
SafeMode.................................................................................................................................................8
ToUseSafeMode.................................................................................................................................8
SystemRestore.........................................................................................................................................8
ToUseSystemRestore.........................................................................................................................9
CleanStartUp...............................................................................................................................................9
CleanStartupFolder...............................................................................................................................10
CleanRegistryStartupItems...................................................................................................................10
UseSoftwaretoDisableStartupItems...................................................................................................11
TuneUpSoftware.......................................................................................................................................11
RegistryCleanup.....................................................................................................................................11
TempFileCleanUp.................................................................................................................................11
FolderSize...............................................................................................................................................12
SiteAdvisors............................................................................................................................................12
AntiVirus....................................................................................................................................................13
WarningsandBestPractices...................................................................................................................13
Norton/McAfeeRemovers.....................................................................................................................13
MicrosoftSecurityEssentials..................................................................................................................13
AntiMalware..............................................................................................................................................13

BestPractices..........................................................................................................................................14
SpybotSearchandDestroy.....................................................................................................................14
ComboFix...............................................................................................................................................14
Updates.......................................................................................................................................................14
Windows/MicrosoftUpdate..................................................................................................................14
AdobeUpdates.......................................................................................................................................14
JavaUpdates...........................................................................................................................................15
OtherSoftwareUpdates.........................................................................................................................15
DefragmentingDrives.................................................................................................................................15
Defraggler...............................................................................................................................................15
UninstallNeedlessSoftware.......................................................................................................................15
UninstallAllToolbars..............................................................................................................................15
UninstallUnnecessaryTuneUpandSecuritySoftware..........................................................................15
PhysicallyCleantheComputer...................................................................................................................15
StandardProblems......................................................................................................................................16
ComputerCannotGetontheInternet...................................................................................................16
FirewallisBlockingPort80.................................................................................................................16
DNSSettingsareIncorrect..................................................................................................................16
InternetExplorerhasaProxyServerSet............................................................................................16
ComputerDoesnotHaveanIPAddress.............................................................................................17
ComputerisRunningSlow......................................................................................................................17
CannotAccessTaskManagerorOtherWindowsTools.........................................................................17
CannotInstall/UninstallSoftware..........................................................................................................17
ComputerFreezesUp.............................................................................................................................17
ComputerShutsDownUnexpectedly.....................................................................................................17
TuneUpChecklist.......................................................................................................................................18


Introduction
TuningUpWindowsPCsisprobablythemostcommontaskyouwillruninto.Windowssystemsrequire
regularmaintenanceinorderforthemtoremainsecure,andtofunctionproperly.

Best Practices
TuningUpWindowscomputersisnotdifficult,butitcanbeverytimeconsuming.Dependingonwhat
scansneedtoberun,andhowmanyupdatesneedtobeinstalleditmaytake8ormorehourstodoa
TuneUp.Becauseifthisitisbesttotrytotuneupmultiplecomputersatonce.Inashopenvironment
youshouldsetup24completeworkstationssothatyoucanrunupto4tuneupsatonce,andata
clientlocationyoushouldtrytotuneup24computersatonetime.
Donottrytotuneupmorethan4computersatatime.Tryingtodomoregenerallyleadstoconfusion,
andyouwillforgetwhatyouhavedonetoeachcomputer.
AlwaystelltheclientthattheTuneUpwilltakelongerthenyouexpectitto.Unexpectedproblemscan
causetheprocesstotakemuchlongerthenyouanticipate,andtheclientwillbehappiertogetthe
computerbackbeforethedeadlinevs.afterit.
AlwayscomeupaTuneUpChecklistandhaveitbesideeachcomputeryouareworkingon.Thiswill
makesurethatyoudonotskip,orredosteps.
BeforeyoustartaTuneUpverifythatthehardwareisadequateforthesystemtodowhattheclient
needs.ManytimessystemswerepurchasedwithlittleRAM,orcheapprocessors.Additionallynew
softwaremayrequiremorehardwareresourcesthenthePCwillbeabletobeupgradedto.Beforeyou
starttheTuneUpverifytheclientneedsandthehardware.IfthehardwareisinsufficientthePCwill
needtobeupgraded,ortheusershouldbemigratedtoanotherPCvs.theTuneUp.
IftheComputerisheavilyinfectedwithvirusesitisgenerallybesttodoaWipeandReloadvs.aTune
Up.Itisverydifficulttoremovemanytypesofvirusesandyoumaynotbeabletogetridofthem.
AlwaysasktheclientfortheOperatingSystemandApplicationdisksbeforeyoustartworkingonthe
computer.Manytimesittakesclientsalongtimetofindthesediskssoitsbetterforthemtofindthem
earlyintheprocess.

Warnings
GenerallyyoudonothavetoworryaboutbackingupclientsdatabeforeaTuneUp.TheTuneUp
ProcessshouldnotinvolveyoudeletingDocuments,PicturesorotherDataFiles.
MakesurethattheclientunderstandsthePCwillrunaswellastheydidwhentheyboughtit,notlikea
newcomputer.ManyclientsthinkthecomputerwillrunlikeanewPCfromBestBuyafteraTuneUp.

Warntheclientthatyo
ouwilldowhatisrequired
dtomaketheecomputerru
unwellwhich
hmayinvolvee
ngfreegames,andsoftwaare.
uninstallin
Youcanno
othonestlysaaythatauserrwillnotreinfecttheircom
mputerwithvvirusesandm
malwarethe
minuteth
heygetitbackkhome,butggivinga1wee
ekor30dayw
warranteemaakesclientsfeeelbetter,an
nd
generallyyoushouldh
havefewcomputerscomebackforwaarranteetuneups.

Windows Tools
ToolsandUtilitiesbuilttintotheWin
ndowsOperatingSystemccanbeinvaluablefortunin
ngupand
troubleshootingyourccomputer.Ge
enerallyMicro
osoftOperati ngSystemssinceWindow
ws2000haveused
thesameUtilitiesandTools.Soyou
metoolsinW
uwillgeneralllyusethesam
WindowsXPaasyouwouldin
Server2008orWindow
ws7.

Best Prractices
Eligeneraallychecksthe
eTaskManagger,SystemPropertiesanddHardDriveSSpaceassoon
nashesitsdo
own
atacomp
puter.Thiswillshowhowthecomputerisrunningaandifthereissarealprobleemornot.Ifthe
CPUandR
RAMarenotmaxedout,aandtheHardDrivehasenooughspaceitmeansthatttheclient
generallyhasexpectattionsthataretoohigh,oriisdoingsomeethingwrongg.
IfthePCo
onlyhas1GB
BofRAMorle
essforWindo
ows7/Vista,,orlessthen512MBforXPthePCwillstill
runslowe
evenafterattuneup.

Task Manager
TaskManagershowsyyoutheresourcesthatyou
urcomputerisscurrentlyussing,andtheprocessesan
nd
onsthatareactive.Youcaanusethistodetermineif thecomputeerisactuallyrrunningslow,,and
applicatio
youcankillprocessesaandapplicatio
onsthatmaybeslowingt hecomputer
rdown.
To Use T
Task Manage
er
1. RightClickTaskbar
2. ClickStartTasskManager

onTab:
Applicatio

To
oKillanApplicationRigh
htClickAppliccationandtheenSelectEn
ndTask

ProcessessTab:

Yo
oucanseewhatProcessaareUsingYourResourcesbbySortingbyCPU,orMem
mory
To
oKillaProcesssRightClicckProcessandSelectEnddProcess

PerformanceTab:

ouldbebelow
w50%.IfCPU
Uis90100%yyouhavetoo
omanyprograamsrunning,or
CPUUsagesho
needabetterprocessor.
Memoryshow
M
wsyouhowmuchRAMyou
uareusing.M
Memoryshou
uldbelesstheenyourtotal
am
mountofRAM
M


Networkin
ngTab:

Sh
howshowmu
uchnetworkttrafficyourco
omputerisussing.

System
m Propertie
es
SystemPrropertieswillshowyouwh
hatOperatinggSystemisin stalledontheecomputer,h
howmuchRA
AM
thesystem
mhasandwh
hattypeofCP
PUisinstalled
d.
To Use Sy
ystem Properties
1. SttartButton
2. RightClickCo
omputerofMyCompute
er
3. Se
electProperrties

Disk Prroperties
DiskPropertieswillsho
owyouhowlargeyourharddriveis,anndhowmuch
hspaceithasleft.Generally
ofyourhardd
drivespacefrree,andifyouuhavelessth
hen1GBfreeeyourcomputter
youshoulldhave10%o
willstarth
havingproble
ems.
AlthoughDiskPropertiieshasaDiskkCleanUputilityitisgene rallybesttou
useathirdpaartytoollike
CCleaner.
To Use D
Disk Propertties
1. OpenCompu
O
terofMyC
Computerfro
omStartMennu
2. RightClickCDrive
electProperties
3. Se

MsConffig
Msconfigallowsyouto
ospecifywhatProgramsandServicesw
willloadwhen
ntheComputterBoots.Th
hisis
generallybetterthenSSafeModebe
ecauseyoucaanrunVirusSScansandInsttall/UninstallPrograms.
To Use M
MsConfig
1. ClickStartBu
utton
2. TyypemsconfigginRunbarandClickOK
3. RestartCompu
uter
GenerallyySelectSelecctiveStartupandUncheckLoadStarttupItemsCh
heckbox.

Safe Mo
ode
SafeModestartstheP
PCwithasfew
wapplicationss,servicesan ddriversasp
possible.Thissisagoodwaayto
etefilesorco
onfigurationsifthecomputterisrunninggveryslowly.
trytodele
Yougenerrallycannotinstall,orunin
nstallsoftwarreinSafeModde.
To Use Safe Mode
1. SttartCompute
er
2. AfterBIOSScre
eenhitF8kkey
Modefromo
options
3. ChooseSafeM

System
m Restore
SystemRe
estorerestore
esApplicatio
onsandtheO
OperatingSysttemsettingsttoapreviouscondition.
SystemRe
estoredoesn
notaffectdoccumentsandpictures.

SystemRe
estoreisuseffulifyouknow
wwhenacom
mputerstarteedactingpoorly.Youcanrestoretoad
day,
orweekb
beforethecom
mputerstarte
edhavingpro
oblems,andt hiswillmanyytimesfixtheecurrentissue.
Youshoulldstilldoafu
ulltuneuponthecompute
ertoprevent furtherproblems.
To Use Sy
ystem Resto
ore
1. Se
electStartBu
utton
2. Se
electAllProggrams
3. Se
electAccessories
4. Se
electSystem
mTools
5. Se
electSystem
mRecovery

6. Se
electPreviousTimeandDatetoRestorretoandClickkNext

Clean S
Start Up
ManyApp
plicationsauttomaticallystartwhenthecomputerboootsandyoulogin.Theseapplications
unnecessaarilyusesyste
emresourcessandcanslow
wyouPCsignnificantly.

Clean Startup Follder

TheStartu
upfoldercontainsshortcu
utsthataretriggeredwhennyoulogin.D
Deletingtheseshortcutsd
does
notuninsttallthesoftw
warefromyou
ursystem.
Todeletetheseshortcuts:
1.
2.
3.
4.

ClickStartbu
utton
GotoAllProggrams
OpenStartup
O
pfolder
DeleteShortcu
uts

Clean R
Registry Sttartup Item
ms
Thereare
ekeysintheR
Registrythatttriggerapplicationstostarrtwhentheccomputerboo
otsuporyoulogin.
Bydeletin
ngthekeysintheRegistryyoucanmakkeyourPCrunnfaster.
GenerallyydeleteallKeysunlessthe
eyhavetodowithPrinterss,orSecurity.
ToDelete
eKeys:

GotoStart
Se
electRuno
ortypeintoRu
unbox
Tyyperegeditandclickok
DeleteallKeyssthatarenot PrinterorSe
ecurityin:
o HKEY_
_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTW
WARE\Microsooft\Windows\\CurrentVersion\Run
o HKEY_
_CURRENT_USSER\Software
e\Microsoft\W
Windows\CurrrentVersion\\Run

Use Sofftware to D
Disable Sta
artup Item
ms
Ifyouareworriedyoumightdelete
eaStartupite
emyouneedyyoucanusettoolsinCCleaanertosimplyy
hem.
disableSttartupitemsvvs.deletingth

Tune U
Up Softwa
are
Thereare
enumerouspiecesofFreew
wareavailabletohelpyouuTuneupyou
urcomputer.Becarefulto
ostay
awayfrom
mTuneupsoftwarethatissactuallymalwareindisguuise.ElilikeC
CCleanerform
mostTuneup
p
procedure
es.

Registrry Cleanup
p
TheRegistryisthemaiindatabasethatcontainsmostconfigu rationinform
mationforyou
ucomputer.
ngtheRegistryclean.Elireecommendsu
usingtheReggistryCleanerr
Windowsdoesapoorjjobofkeepin
CCleanertoclleanuptheRegistry.
utilityinC

Temp F
File Clean U
Up
TempFile
esaregeneraallynotbaduntothemselvves,butifyouuaregoingto
oberunningvvirusandmalw
ware
scansyou
ursoftwarewillneedlesslyscanthesefiles.Youcan speeduptheescanningpro
ocessbydeleeteing
theTempfiles.Eligen
nerallyusesCC
Cleanertode
eleteTempfil es.

Folder Size
IfyourHaardDriveisfullitcansome
etimesbediffficulttofigureeoutwhatisfillingitup.FFolderSizeisafree
utilitythatwillshowyo
ouwhatfolde
ersaretakinggupthemosttspace.
http://ww
ww.mindgemss.com/products/FolderSizze/FolderSizee.html

Site Adv
visors
SiteAdvissorsarewebb
browserpluginsthatcanttellyouwhen asiteyouarregoingtomaayberisky.TThisis
asimplettooltokeepaaveragepeoplefromgoinggtobadweb sites.
McAfeeSiteAdvisorisffree,andthereareotherffreeSiteAdviisorutilitiesthatareavailaable.
http://ww
ww.siteadviso
or.com/#

AntiVirus
Virusesaremaliciouspiecesofsoftwarethatgenerallytrytodamagetheoperatingsystemofyour
computer,andtheyreplicatethemselvestoinfectothercomputers.Virusesandmalwareorspyware
aredifferentthingsandthesoftwarerequiredtogetridofthemaredifferent

Warnings and Best Practices

Neverinstall2piecesofantivirussoftwareonthesamecomputer.Therealtimescannersinthe
softwarewillthinktheircounterpartsarevirusesandtheentirecomputermaycrash.
Bewareoffreeantivirussoftwarelicensing.Mostfreesoftwareisonlyfreefornoncommercialuse.
Ifyouuseitinabusinessthelicensemaybe$30$80perworkstation.
Serversgenerallyrequireadifferentlicenseforantivirussoftwarethenclientworkstations.Generally
theretailantivirussoftwareyoubuyatBestBuywillnotinstallonaserver.
Sometypesofantivirussoftwareprovidetoomuchprotectionandcausemoreharmthangood.The
InternetSecuritySuitessoldbyNorton,McAfeeandotherscanblocklegitimatecomputeractivity.Eli
advisesthatyouonlyinstalltheantiviruscomponentofasecuritysuiteandnottheFirewallandother
securitysoftware.
Pickapieceofantivirussoftwareandstickwithit.Allantivirussoftwarehasquirksandproblems.Itis
besttofindoneantivirusproductthatyoulike,andthenmigrateallofyourclientstoit.Thiswillcause
fewerproblemsforyourclientssinceyouwillknowtheproduct,andwhenthereareproblemsyouwill
knowthesolutions.EveryITConsultanthastheirownfavoriteantivirusprogram,findyourfavoriteand
thenuseitforeveryone.

Norton/ McAfee Removers

SometimesNortonandMcAfeearenotcompletelyuninstalledwhenyouruntheuninstallwizard.You
mayhavetouseaRemovalTooltofullygetridofthem.Youcandownloadtheseremovaltoolsfrom
thevendorswebsite.

Microsoft Security Essentials

MicrosoftSecurityEssentialsisMicrosoftsfreeantivirussoftware.Itworkswell,andislicensedfor
officeswithupto10computers.Duetothisitisgenerallythebestsolutionforcostconsciousbusiness
clients.

AntiMalware
Malwareissoftwarethatgenerallytirestocollectinformationaboutyou(spyware),ortriestogetyour
systemtodotasksonbehalfofthemalwarecreator(bots).Thissoftwaregenerallydoesnotreplicate
itselflikevirusesdo,andisgenerallyinstalledaccidentallybyuserstryingtogetfreesoftwareor
services.

Best Practices
Youcaninstallmultipletypesofantimalwaresoftwareonyourcomputer.Unlikeantivirussoftware,
antimalwaresoftwarewillnotattackeachother.Itisstillbesttoonlyuseonepieceofantimalware
softwareifpossible.
Freeantimalwaresoftwareisverygood,andgenerallyisbetterthenpayforversions.

Spybot Search and Destroy

SpybotSearchandDestroyisaterrificpieceoffreeantimalwaresoftware.Itwillcleanyoursystemof
malware,andwillalsoimmunizeyoursystemtotrytopreventreinfection.
GenerallyitisbesttorunimmunizeassoonasyouinstallSpybotSearchandDestroy.Youcanthen
updatethesoftware,immunizeagainandthenruntheantimalwarescan.

Combo Fix
ComboFixisafreeutilitythatwilltrytoripoutvirusesandspywarefromyoursystem.Itcanbevery
effectiveasalastresort.ComboFixcanfixmanyproblemsotherutilitiescannot,butcanalsocrash
yourcomputer.BecarefulwhenyouusethisproductandbereadytodoaWipeandReloadifitfails.
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/antivirus/combofix

Updates
OperatingSystemandSoftwareUpdatesarerequiredforasystemtobesecureandrunwell.Many
piecesofsoftwarerequirethattheoperatingsystemsbefullyupdated.Youcanwastehoursoftike
tryingtotroubleshootasoftwareproblemandfindoutthatsimplyupdatingWindowsfixestheissue.

Windows/ Microsoft Update

WindowsUpdateonlyinstallsupdatestotheWindowsOperatingSystem.MicrosoftUpdateupdatesall
MicrosoftProducts.IfyouseeanoptiontoUpgradetoMicrosoftUpdatesthendoit.
UpdateWindowsandMicrosoftOffice.InstallAllCriticalUpdatesandRecommendedUpdates.
SetUpdatestoAutomaticandtoinstallat3am.Adviseclienttoleavecomputerrunningwhenthey
leaveatnight.
DonotInstallDriverUpdatesfromWindowsUpdate!

Adobe Updates
AllAdobeProductsneedtobeupdated.
AdobeFlashandReaderarethemostcriticalupdates.Hackerscanaccessyousystembyusing
vulnerabilitiesinoldversionsofFlashandReader.
Simplygoto:http://www.adobe.com/anddownloadupdatesfromthedownloadsection.

Java Updates
UpdateJavabygoingtowww.java.comandinstallingthemostcurrentversionofJava.
MostpeopleneverupdateJavaontheircomputerssohackersfindvulnerabilitiesinoldversionsand
theyareabletoattackcomputers.

Other Software Updates

SoftwaresuchasQuickBooksneedstobeupdatedregularlyjustlikeWindows.Certainsettingsand
functionsmaynotworkrightifthesoftwareisnotupdated.

Defragmenting Drives
ModernComputersrarelyneedtohavetheirharddrivesdefragmented.Ifyouhaveacomputerunder
yourcareforlongerthenadayyoumaydoitasagooddeed,butitsgenerallynotworththebillable
hourstorunoneforaclient.

Defraggler
http://www.piriform.com/defraggler
IfyouaregoingtodefragmenttheharddriveuseDefraggler.Itisquickerandmorestablethenthebuilt
intoolinWindows.

Uninstall Needless Software

Crapwareisthetermusedforthejunksoftwarethatvendorsinstallontheircomputersbeforeyoubuy
them,andthefreesoftwarethatmanyusersdownload.

Uninstall All Toolbars

ToolbarscancausenumerousproblemsforusersofInternetExplorer.Theycanpreventpagesfrom
displayingcorrectlyandcanhijacksearchesontheweb.UninstallALLtoolbars.Generallyclientsdont
wantanyofthem,andiftheydowantoneortwotheycanreinstallthem.

Uninstall Unnecessary Tune Up and Security Software

Withsecuritysoftwaremoreisrarelybetter.Securityandtuneupsoftwarecancauseconflictsand
problems,andismanytimessimplymalwareindisguise.UninstallANYTuneUorSecuritysoftwarethat
youarenotplanningtokeepusing.

Physically Clean the Computer

Useacanofairtocleanthedustoutofthecomputer.Alsotakeoffthefrontcoverandmakesurethat
thefrontairventsarenotcloggedwithhairanddust.TheCPUneedstoremaincoolforthecomputer
torunproperlyandiftheairintakesarecloggedtheCPUwilloverheat.

Standa
ard Proble
ems
Mostcom
mputersthatn
needtuneup
pshavethesaamestandarddproblems.

Computter Cannot Get on th

he Interne
et
Ifthecom
mputercannotgettotheIn
nternetitgen
nerallymeanssthatnetworrkingisntworkingproperlyon
thesystem
m.
Firewall is Blocking Port 80
InternetSecuritySuite
essuchasN
Nortonsshave
eaterriblehaabitofblockingPort80thatisrequired
dto
browseth
heweb.Unin
nstalltheSecu
uritySuite,orropenthePoort80block.
Sometime
esNortonkee
epsblockingP
Port80evenafteritisuni nstalled.You
umayhaveto
ousetheNorrton
RemoverUtilitytofullyygetridofit..
WindowsFirewallthattisbuiltintoW
Windowsisgoodenoughfformostuserrs.
DNS Setttings are Inccorrect
DNSsettin
ngsinthenettworkcard,o
orthataregivvenbytheDH
HCPservermaaybeincorrecct.Verifythaat
theywere
enotinputted
dimproperly..
Internet Explorer ha
as a Proxy Server Set
Proxyservversareused
dtocontrolho
owcomputerrsgettotheI nternet.Som
mehackers,andviruses,w
willset
InternetEExplorertoussetheirProxyyserversothaattheycansttealyouinforrmation.
TocleartheProxySetttings:

OpenInternet
O
Explorer
GotoTools
electInterne
etOptions
Se
Se
electConnecctionsTab
ClickLANSetttingsButton
Clearanyconfigurationsthaatyousee

Computer Does not Have an IP Address

UseIPCONFIGcommandtoverifycomputerhasanIPAddress.Ifitdoesnot:

Verifythenetworkcableispluggedin
Verifytheswitchand/orrouterareon
VerifytheNetworkCardDriverisinstalled,andisnotdisabled
InternetSecuritySuitesoftwaremayblockyourcomputerfromreceivinganIPAddress.
o UninstallInternetSecuritySuiteSoftware

Computer is Running Slow

GenerallywhenacomputerisrunningslowitmeansthatitdoesnothaveenoughRAM.Youcan
increasetheamount

Cannot Access Task Manager or Other Windows Tools

Hackers,andVirusescanchangeRegistryKeystopreventyoufromusingcertainWindowsfunctions.If
youcannotgettotaskmanagerorotherUtilitiesdoaGooglesearchfortheRegistryKeysthatneedto
bechangedtoenablethem.

Cannot Install/ Uninstall Software

GenerallyifyouareunabletoinstalloruninstallsoftwareyouarenotloggedinasanAdministrator.Log
intothecomputerwithanaccountthathasAdministratorpermissionsandyoushouldbeabletoinstall
anduninstallsoftware

Computer Freezes Up
ThisisgenerallycausedbytheCPUoverheating.CleanofftheCPUHeatSinkandallintakeairventsin
thecase.AlsoverifythattheCPUHeatSinkfanspins,andispluggedin.

Computer Shuts Down Unexpectedly

ThecomputerunexpectedlyshuttingdownisusuallycausedbytheCPUoverheating.Thecomputerwill
tryshutdownautomaticallybeforetheheatcandamagetheprocessor.Makesuretheairventsand
heatsinkareclean.

Tune U
Up Checklist