Post Punk Kitchen Forum

Dear good computer-geek ppkers,

I was wondering if we could have a thread for asking the opinions/help of computer geeks on various computery things?

I sure hope so, because I am starting one. I always have questions and some of you are so knowledgeable.

I am currently wondering about the best ways to protect my computer from nefarious infections? I had Norton on my computer and it expired. I somehow ended up with AVG bullying its way in and making itself be "protected search" whatevering, etc. I don't know if I like the way AVG goes about it. I never gave it the go-ahead, but it IS a hand-me-down computer from my dad.

So, how do I clean up this thing in the protection department and what programs should I use? I suppose I usually go for free, but I'd probably pay a little bit for a program if its worth it. Are there any good programs that can clean up background noise that slow me down that are just HERE, from when the computer started out, or were bundled with something, etc?

Thanks!

Since it is a hand me down, do you happen to have a copy of windows? CD and product key? Windows systems tend to get slower, no matter what, over time and the best solution I've found is a full reinstall.

I'd probably recommend doing a full reinstall if possible, then either using Avast or AVG.

If you can't reinstall, then I'd most likely go into the Control Panel->Programs and Features (or something else that will say Programs) and see if you can uninstall whatever your dad may have installed on it. Especially look for things that may say 'toolbar' or what not like "yahoo toolbar". If it is something you aren't sure about, you can google it or leave it alone. Then I'd go to Start->Accessories->System Tools->Disk Cleanup and run that. Then go to Start->Accessories->System Tools->Disk Defragmenter and run that. Then I'd go into your AVG and see if it mentions being up to date. If not, I'd look for a button that says 'update' or similar and run that. Once it is updated, I'd run a full scan.

If you are able to reinstall, I'd reinstall from scratch, then go download AVG or Avast, update them then run them.

I'm not really a Windows person but that is the best I got for now.