Hi, as above for windows 7. It isn't mega slow, just would like it better, but please keep explanations simple and if possible step by step. This will help me understand it better.

 

I have looked into it a bit but you guys can probably iron out / confirm a few uncertainties.

 

I have defragged hard drive, but it wasn't that bad I think, only 2%.

 

Mainly Require advice using Disc Clean Up and what to do and what not to do. (I have cleaned Windows Update (cleaner) OS(C:).

 

1. What disc's do I clean? (HD & System separately).......OS(C:) ?..................DATA(D:) ?.............(Q:) ? what is this Q?

2. What do I clean / not clean on each?

 

For instance, there is 5.70GB in the system files of which 4.78GB are temp files. Can all of these be deleted? or not all of them, and if not all of them, which not to, or how to suss out which not to.

and 920MB service pack backup files and 10.4MB temp internet files amongst other minimal ones. (I'm sure this 5.70GB was only 3.somethingGB yesterday though???).

 

3. Will doing any of this change any of my settings or remove my stored 'log in' details?

Any other information to assist with this and prevent me removing anything I shouldn't, or having any start up issues, will be most appreciated.

 

Cheers.

 

PS......Please see & comment re Cache & cookies and Program removal on other thread...........Thanks. (otherwise I will get confused.

Edited 12 December, 20169 yr by Tilt

Looking further...........Computer = OS(C:) 209GB free of 279GB..................... and DATA (D:) 204GB free of 394GB.

 

Will a clean up help (or be necessary) in this matter. The laptop has just been a bit slow lately, compared to when new, but looking at the above GB's it doesn't look that clogged up to me, but I know not much on this subject.

This won't be the main issue.

What processor and how much ram do you have? First step speeding up a system is to add more ram if you can.

First back up anything important. Photos, files, internet settings or bookmarks, program settings anything that will be a PITA or impossible to restore in the event of a catastrophic issue. Only then...

 

Uninstall anything you don't use any more. All those little bits of crap add up.

 

Get CCleaner but remember to backup your registry when it offers.

 

https://www.piriform.com/ccleaner

 

 

Cleaning anything will probably remove all your passwords etc that are stored in browsers so you might want to write them in a paper notebook or use a password manager and back that up somewhere safe.

Edited 12 December, 20169 yr by Aspman

This won't be the main issue.

What processor and how much ram do you have? First step speeding up a system is to add more ram if you can.

Processor.........i5-2430M....... CPU @ 2.40GHz 2.40GHz

 

RAM 6GB..........(5.78GB usable)..............Asus X53E

Processor.........i5-2430M....... CPU @ 2.40GHz 2.40GHz

RAM 6GB..........(5.78GB usable)..............Asus X53E

That shouldn't be that slow then.

That shouldn't be that slow then.

It's not too bad, just been playing up a little recently,

 

Not being able to connect to my MiFi and my mouse scroller playing up also.

 

Connecting Ok now and cleaned the mouse internally and working well now.

 

Maybe nothing to do with speed or programs, but it does seem better today since using the Windows Update Cleaner just yesterday. Coincidence?

 

I keep everything updated and the system is clean afaik, as far as my IT knowledge allows, anyway.

Edited 12 December, 20169 yr by Tilt

PC's don't slow with age, but they do accumulate ****e no matter how tidy you think they are.

 

Would be worth running a Malwarebytes scan as well. Sometimes you can have BHO thingys (Browser Helper Objects) running the background. They're not necessarily evil but they're not doing you any favours either and can install silently and be a right **** to remove.

 

^ plus CC cleaner should help.

 

Best thing is a reformat really but that's a big job.

Edited 12 December, 20169 yr by Aspman

 

 

Best thing is a reformat really but that's a big job.

Reformat is the best and only solution IMO

 

Running programs that clean things up can sometimes make a difference but ultimately a fresh install will sort it out.

 

Its not even that difficult these days as windows finds all the drivers for you so no searching about for graphics and chipset drivers etc.

First back up anything important. Photos, files, internet settings or bookmarks, program settings anything that will be a PITA or impossible to restore in the event of a catastrophic issue. Only then...

 

Uninstall anything you don't use any more. All those little bits of crap add up.

 

Get CCleaner but remember to backup your registry when it offers.

 

https://www.piriform.com/ccleaner

 

 

Cleaning anything will probably remove all your passwords etc that are stored in browsers so you might want to write them in a paper notebook or use a password manager and back that up somewhere safe.

Have a look at Options /cookies section, where it will let you not delete cookies from websites ( i.e the "remember me" logon data on sites like Brisky). Just click on the site and move from the cookies on computer to cookies to keep side.

Malware anti rootkit/ RogueKiler (adlice software) and Spybot are also worth running.

First back up anything important. Photos, files, internet settings or bookmarks, program settings anything that will be a PITA or impossible to restore in the event of a catastrophic issue. Only then...

 

Uninstall anything you don't use any more. All those little bits of crap add up.

 

Get CCleaner but remember to backup your registry when it offers.

 

https://www.piriform.com/ccleaner

 

 

Cleaning anything will probably remove all your passwords etc that are stored in browsers so you might want to write them in a paper notebook or use a password manager and back that up somewhere safe.

By 'back up', are you on about the back up using the  'Action Centre'?. (If not then I am ignorant as to doing it differently). If so the last was completed on 29/11/16. Should I still do this again?

 

I am looking into CCleaner, Does this make it easier to remove unused programs than using the 'clean up system files' and 'more options' feature on the laptop?

 

I do use Malwarebytes and Avast........................................Would 'Spybot' do anything different?.........and be ok to run alongside the two?

 

Reformatting...................Wouldn't know where to start!

 

Cheers.

Thanks for everyone's help so far.

 

I guess some of you guys would have completed it by now, whilst I'm still looking into it.

Everyone has to learn at some point.

 

"Backup" would be to an external location so CD, memory stick something physically separate from the PC.

Everyone has to learn at some point.

"Backup" would be to an external location so CD, memory stick something physically separate from the PC.

And a proper backup application not just Windows backup which might not work after a system wipe. Quite common with windows 7,even more likely with Windows 10 apparently.

Your machine is running slowly  - most likely to all the background processes it's running.  

 

But if it were mine, I'd do a backup onto external media, then restore the original copy of Windows 7 from the Recovery Partition. 

 

Unless you machine has had a reformat/repartition since new then the recovery option should still be there.

 

It's by far the best solution and will be the only true way of ensuring your machine is running 100% to it's capability, and it's not that much of a job.

 

 

You could then still legally upgrade to Windows 10 if you wanted to!  Your machine has more than enough grunt to be able to run it..

Edited 16 December, 20169 yr by Trilogy2k

Have you defragged the hard disk recently? - this can be cause of some slowdowns.

Defraggler works well.

Ccleaner is a very easy to use little program and well worth installing whether you do a full back up and restore or not.

The start up launch program list can be stupid long which sucks the life out of everything

I've used CCleaner for many years, and it has never caused an issue yet, BUT, recent versions arent cleaning parts of the windows folder.

 

I got Wyse suggested on another forum, and it does a better job than CCleaner, to the tune of an extra 1.9GB of crud removed from just this one folder.

 

And this one folder is the cause of a lot of system slowdowns, as M$ dont clean it up properly after installing/deleting programs and updates, so it gets bigger and bigger and bigger.........

 

When I checked last month, mine was twice the size of my original Win7 install, and I did a fresh install less than a year ago.

What is this magic expanding folder GG?

What is this magic expanding folder GG?

 

 

Windows/winsxs (This is Win7, not sure if it is true for other versions of Windows), CCLeaner doesnt touch it, but Wise cleaner does. mine is currently over 9GB AFTER a clean, it was nearly 12GB.

 

Sorry, it is "Wise Disk Cleaner 9", not Wyse, not sure how I got that wrong.

Backup- it's meant, saving anything you want to keep( in case of problems) to another medium. I use a hard drive ,which I can take out of PC, BUT even with my ( what I consider a large store of stuff), it's only 32GB, and Asda are selling 16GBsticks for around £5 , and possibly bigger ones for not a lot more. But that includes backup copies of my OS ETC, COMING TO 24gb.

I also keep a wallet with my install discs in one place for a fast install . But something I'd advise is either making sure you have a copy of the motherboard drivers, or download them from the maker's site. AND make sure you have the installation keys - if not download Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder and run it on each system and note key. OH-it's worth making sure you have  usernames + passwords for e mail accounts and any sites ( like Brisky ) you log on to , as the cookies needed to remember you will be lost .

On Windows explorer click on each ( if more than one) partition ( if only one , then there's no need)

Re install these days is relatively simple, even with my three Operating systems. I run WIN XP PRO/ W7 ,64 BIT and W10 64.

So , once I KNOW THAT I've got access to the drivers and keys , I start my PC,  with the install CD/DVD in the DVD player, and follow instructions. At this stage ,it's very easy to set up a partition for the Operating system ( W7) and a separate one to act as a temporary store for stuff you want to keep. Then ,every so often, you can back up the saved stuff on the store to an outside device, kept off the PC, so that if RANSOMWARE MAN comes calling, you can simply format the HD, and re install, on two new partitions.

For you, it's put W7 DVD in player- restart ( usually it's ESC to get to boot menu), select boot option and let PC do the rest ,adding you're own preferences as to country/language .

Then it's install motherboard drivers/ Office /etc /etc, and then AVG ( as a lot of ANTI VIRUS programs cause problems with installs ).

so that if RANSOMWARE MAN comes calling, you can simply format the HD, and re install, on two new partitions.

It's been reported recently that some ransomware also stores data into the BIOS CMOS memory, if you get infected by one of them then simply reformatting the HD won't remove the ransomware, you also have to trash and rebuild the CMOS contents.

It's been reported recently that some ransomware also stores data into the BIOS CMOS memory, if you get infected by one of them then simply reformatting the HD won't remove the ransomware, you also have to trash and rebuild the CMOS contents.

I saw not so long ago that there are some variants of malware which will infect backups from most software if an infected system is connected to the backup media/drive too.

I saw not so long ago that there are some variants of malware which will infect backups from most software if an infected system is connected to the backup media/drive too.

 

Thats been around for quite a while now, they will infect everything they can find one they get onto your PC/network.

 

The ONLY solution for the motherboard BIOS infection is to pull and replace the chip (and any secondary BIOS chip); but it is not easy to do, even if you can get a replacement CMOS chip.

But ,then ,I'd suggest having at least off line data backups. So if the first one & Bios gets corrupted, then you can get a new MB( lot cheaper than ransomware prices, and by doing this, ransomware man is losing out on power). But best defence against ransomware man is to bin those e mails from "superstore.com" offering "free " gifts, and treat any other unsolicited e mail as just that- a means to infect your PC. Then, there's staying away from sites that look dodgy.