Step 2: Defragmenting your computer’s hard drive using Defraggler.

You’ve heard of defragging your hard drive, but this tool is different. It allows you to quickly and simply defragment the important files – Something Windows built-in defragmentation tool doesn’t have.  Also, this tool is made by Piriform, the same authors of CCleaner, so you know the software is easy to use, contains no spyware, and best of all: free.

How to use Defraggler

This step is quite simple. After installing Defraggler, run the program and select your primary hard disk drive (typically, the ‘C:’ drive is selected by default). If you don’t know which drive it is, more than likely the drive you are looking for is the ‘C:’ drive. Alternatively, you could defrag all of the hard drives listed; It won’t hurt anything, and will help in optimizing your computer. Next, its as easy as clicking on the ‘Defrag’ button, and waiting for the drive to finish the defragmentation.

Defragmentation can take a long time, as in hours (depending on your drives current fragmented state). CompuTechs+ recommends performing this action before going to bed, unless you regularly defragment the hard disk drive. Vista Users: No need to use Defraggler, as Vista already has a built-in defragment function.

After defragmentation, you may want to schedule Defraggler to run automatically every week or so. Do this by going to Settings → Options → Schedule, select the ‘C:’ drive and check the ‘Schedule defragmentation for chosen volume’, and set the period to ‘Weekly’ (or your own personal choice. ATTENTION: there is no need to schedule more than once per week). Hit the ‘OK’ button, and lets move onto the next step.

Move on to Step 3: speed up your pc using Spybot Search & Destroy.

Step 4: Updating your Operating System with Windows Update.

Microsoft Windows Update is a service provided by Microsoft that provides updates for the Microsoft Windows operating system and its installed components. An optional feature provides updates for other Microsoft Windows software, such as Microsoft Office, Windows Live applications, and Microsoft Expression. Microsoft uses this tool to update driver components, patch security holes & exploits, and hardware/software optimizations. Basically put: You would be a fool not to use the update service.

How to use Windows Update

It is quite simply to use Windows Update, simply open Microsoft Internet Explorer, click on Tools → Windows Update. If you don’t see it listed there, it may be listed under the Safety tab. Alternatively, you could go directly to the Windows Update Website (http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/). Finally, for Microsoft Vista users, you can get your updates by going to Start → All Programs → Windows Update.

But can’t I update Windows automatically? Yes. Lets see how to enable automatic updates on your computer.

To turn on Automatic Updates in Windows XP (SP2)

1. Click Start → Control Panel
2. Click Automatic Updates
3. Choose Automatic (recommended) Then click OK

To change Automatic Update settings in Vista

1. Open Windows Update (click the Start button → All Programs → Windows Update)
2. Select the Change Settings and choose Install updates automatically (recommended)

If you turn your computer off at night, you may want to select a time during the day to install the updates. Otherwise, select a time in which your computer will be idle; Windows Updates uses system resources to install, leaving you with a slower computer during update installation.

Congratulations! You have just performed a quick 4-Step optimization, tune-up, and security update on your computer. It is the first step to preventative computer maintenance.  Did you like this post? Feel free to Bookmark CompuTechs+ Website, and view our next computer repair and computer maintenance blogs.

When you are finished with Step 4, your computer will need to be restarted. Return to Windows Update to see if there are any other updates available (you may have to do this a few times). Once the computer has been restarted (and there are no recommended updates listed), follow up the optimization with another defragmentation with Defraggler.

Spybot S&D detects and removes spyware, cleans useage tracks, and protects from known-spyware threats. It is a great tool (just remember to update the software regularly). Even if you don’t see the symptoms, computers may still be infected, and spyware is getting more and more elusive with each day. It’s free, so there’s no harm in giving it a try.

How to use Spybot Search and Destroy

Install Spybot S&D – You may want to consider omitting the TeaTimer function. This protects your current system settings, and is an effective security feature. However, some users find the function annoying, so pick and choose as you please.

After installing Spybot S&D, download the definition updates. UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE is what we always tell our customers. After you have updated, click on the immunization button, the program will see how many unprotected threats remain. After this check, close all open web browsers and click on the green plus sign towards the top of the interface labeled ‘Immunize’. Once finished, move forward to the next step.

Now that we are immunized, click on the ‘Search & Destroy’ button on the left, and finally click on ‘Check for problems’. Spybot will check for any spyware, malware, or other nasty things that are installed in your computer. When the scan is finished, select ‘Remove threats’, and you are done. Running CCleaner another time won’t hurt either.

Finally, move on to Step 4: speed up your pc using Windows Update.