This article is all about keeping your PC clean, optimized and error free as much as possible.
First let's see the main areas of interest.

1. Windows maintenance
2. Virus/hacking protection
3. Hard disk optimization

A. What does windows maintenance mean?

1. First are the registries which are entries of the new and old installed programs. They affect the PC when the user doesn't uninstall the software from 'ControlPanel/AddRemove programs', but deletes the directory where the program was installed into, by doing so it leaves the registries of that program intact. After this action becomes a habit the registry editor becomes full with values that don't correspond to any installed programs and so your 'windows' will move slow and have errors.

2. Another problem appears when users don’t upgrade their windows files with 'Windows automatic update' because they are annoyed by the update pop-ups and the background download of updated files so they disable this option. This is a mistake because they will not benefit from the latest security updates and become vulnerable. Keep 'windows automatic update' on !

B. Protecting your computer from viruses and hackers

1. While surfing the internet and downloading music, movies, photos, some viruses may be attached to those files or when installing some toolbars or other small programs from sites you can get spyware programs that can reduce the performance of your computer up to 80%.

2. While connected a longer period of time to the internet you chances of being 'attacked' by a hacker increases. Usually hackers enter into your pc just for fun and they don't do any harm, but sometimes they can do some damage, and you can lose your important files. They take control of your pc through backdoors, undetected viruses(usually trojans) and other security vulnerabilities.

C. Hard disk optimization

After weeks or months of installing and deleting programs, copying and moving files, the hard disk will fragment and the performance will fall dramatically. Therefore you will need to defragment your hard disk.

Recommendations!

1. For the windows maintenance I recommend Norton Utilities latest version, it will repair registry problems, activeX problems, missing shortcuts problems and many more. Or use the free version of TuneUp Utilities 2006. Download TuneUp utilities

2. To keep your computer virus free use AVG, a very good antivirus that won our top antivirus test, and it's free. Download AVG

3. If you want protection from hackers you will need a Firewall, a firewall will block any attacks from the internet and keep you safe. We recommend you Zone Alarm which is free for home use. Download Zone Alarm

4. For a great hard disk optimization we recommend you Diskeeper, very good software. Or you can use the free windows defragmenter from :Start button/All programs/accessories/system tools/disk defragmenter. Download Diskeeper

written by Madalin D.