PC Maintenance: anti-virus/spyware scans, HDD cleanup, defrag & such.
Sunday, December 2, 2007 by Philly0381 | Discussion: Personal Computing
So we all know that we need to do PC maintenace to catch all the nasty things we pick up surfing the web. I've been doing it once a week on Sundays for along time. Not really having a problem except lately I'm wondering if it needs to be done once a week.
The reason behind this is that I think I just might have gone overboard with the amount of programs that I use to assure myself of being bug free, as it were. Only one anti-virus program, because we all know that more than one on your machine can cause problems. I than have six, yes, anti-spyware programs, one of which doesn't require a scan. Then there are those HDD, registry and just plain clean up programs, five more there. Oh, and lets not forget the defrag program. One a month I run MS's Safety Scanner.
I think part of my problem comes from the fact that all the prgrams that I run are free or free versions of paid software. Really, can you pass up such a deal. Of course having all these programs poses a secondary problem, have to go and see if there are updates, usually check them a couple times a day. Yeah, I know, I have a whole lot of time on my hands.
Okay so my concerns or questions are as follows:
1. Do the programs that have scans need to be run this often?
2. The virus/spyware programs offer quick, full or custom scans. I've always done full scans. Should I run quick or customize the scans?
3. By running defrag once a week could I possibly be shortening the life of the HDD?
As you might of figured out the process of doing maintence the way I've been doing it usually takes up one day. I didn't identifly what the programs are, really doesn't make a difference. You can take it that they are some of the most popular ones talked about here and then some others. I also understand that it is suggested that you scan your machine when you feel it's slowed down or just plain not working right.
I'm sure one of the underlying factors is where you may go on the Web. Well I'm pretty much a stay at home person with that. Other than here and the sites that have links from here I pretty much stay with what you would call trusted sites.
So lets hear some thoughts on this. I'm even open to suggestions, just as long as they don't include wearing a blindfold and going into a dark room.
The reason behind this is that I think I just might have gone overboard with the amount of programs that I use to assure myself of being bug free, as it were. Only one anti-virus program, because we all know that more than one on your machine can cause problems. I than have six, yes, anti-spyware programs, one of which doesn't require a scan. Then there are those HDD, registry and just plain clean up programs, five more there. Oh, and lets not forget the defrag program. One a month I run MS's Safety Scanner.
I think part of my problem comes from the fact that all the prgrams that I run are free or free versions of paid software. Really, can you pass up such a deal. Of course having all these programs poses a secondary problem, have to go and see if there are updates, usually check them a couple times a day. Yeah, I know, I have a whole lot of time on my hands.
Okay so my concerns or questions are as follows:
1. Do the programs that have scans need to be run this often?
2. The virus/spyware programs offer quick, full or custom scans. I've always done full scans. Should I run quick or customize the scans?
3. By running defrag once a week could I possibly be shortening the life of the HDD?
As you might of figured out the process of doing maintence the way I've been doing it usually takes up one day. I didn't identifly what the programs are, really doesn't make a difference. You can take it that they are some of the most popular ones talked about here and then some others. I also understand that it is suggested that you scan your machine when you feel it's slowed down or just plain not working right.
I'm sure one of the underlying factors is where you may go on the Web. Well I'm pretty much a stay at home person with that. Other than here and the sites that have links from here I pretty much stay with what you would call trusted sites.
So lets hear some thoughts on this. I'm even open to suggestions, just as long as they don't include wearing a blindfold and going into a dark room.
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jamespaulp
Reply #3 Sunday, December 2, 2007 10:28 PM
Reply #3 Sunday, December 2, 2007 10:28 PM
I follow an almost same routine. Probably not as many different programs.
- Anti Virus Scan (avast)
- Anti spyware scan (spybot S&D)
- Windows Cleanup by Steven Gould to cleanup temporary files and cache and such.
- Windows Defrag (usually after running Windows Cleanup)
- Anti Virus Scan (avast)
- Anti spyware scan (spybot S&D)
- Windows Cleanup by Steven Gould to cleanup temporary files and cache and such.
- Windows Defrag (usually after running Windows Cleanup)
yrag
Reply #4 Sunday, December 2, 2007 10:49 PM
yes
full
no
Reply #4 Sunday, December 2, 2007 10:49 PM
Yes.
1. Do the programs that have scans need to be run this often?
yes
2. The virus/spyware programs offer quick, full or custom scans. I've always done full scans. Should I run quick or customize the scans?
full
3. By running defrag once a week could I possibly be shortening the life of the HDD?
no
Leo the Lion
Reply #5 Sunday, December 2, 2007 10:53 PM
Reply #5 Sunday, December 2, 2007 10:53 PM
Yep, I'm a once-a-week guy too, usually on a Sunday and it takes a couple of hours but I can leave the machine and return every now and again and run another one of the programs. The other thing I do in my weekly routine is 'back up' all my important stuff to a disc in case of a failure.I find that this routine keeps my machine clean and running fast. As far as the progs that I run I do not use any of the free programs as I have found that most 'paid for' progs are far superior to some of the freebies I have tried. That is not to say that the freebies are crap. For example CCleaner is a great free program but the part of TuneUp utilities that is dedicated to do this work does a better job.
- Anti-Virus.......Norton Internet Security 2008 - Just updated from 2007 for free !!!!
- Anti-Spyware.....AdAware 2007 and Windows Defender
- Utilities........loads of different tasks.....TuneUp Utilities 2007
- Defrag...........PerfectDisk 8
- Anti-Virus.......Norton Internet Security 2008 - Just updated from 2007 for free !!!!
- Anti-Spyware.....AdAware 2007 and Windows Defender
- Utilities........loads of different tasks.....TuneUp Utilities 2007
- Defrag...........PerfectDisk 8
Philly0381
Reply #6 Sunday, December 2, 2007 10:53 PM
Reply #6 Sunday, December 2, 2007 10:53 PM
Got to like a man of few words who gets to the point. Appreciate the reply yrag.
Appreciate the reply yrag.
HG_Eliminator
Reply #7 Monday, December 3, 2007 4:12 AM
Reply #7 Monday, December 3, 2007 4:12 AM
Yrag hit it on the head...
For me it's once a week or more depending on Net surfing etc... I run ad aware and Advanced windows care V2.0 personal, every other day when I'm power surfing. If extreme surfing and going to sites unsure of (I'm always on the look for a new and interesting Wall or WB to install).. then when I get done surfing.
my rule of thumb is if a single scan on the spyware prog comes up with more than 75 bug's, then I should have done it sooner..
Virus scans always should be full scans, unless you are scanning a specific file you got from a friend or downloaded off the net,etc..then a spot scan is ok...
Defrag? the less you keep it neat and tidy.. the shorter the life expectancy will be...It has to work harder searching all over for misplaced file bit's etc.. than it does during a defrag... a tidy HDD is a faster and happyer one I do this weekly or after installing new stuff or deleting/uninstalling stuff.. as these often Frag a HDD quickly...
Use as many of what you like, to help you feel safe... IMO There is no extreme as Security should be the top priority. Especially if you store any personal data on your PC....
For me it's once a week or more depending on Net surfing etc... I run ad aware and Advanced windows care V2.0 personal, every other day when I'm power surfing. If extreme surfing and going to sites unsure of (I'm always on the look for a new and interesting Wall or WB to install).. then when I get done surfing.
my rule of thumb is if a single scan on the spyware prog comes up with more than 75 bug's, then I should have done it sooner..
Virus scans always should be full scans, unless you are scanning a specific file you got from a friend or downloaded off the net,etc..then a spot scan is ok...
Defrag? the less you keep it neat and tidy.. the shorter the life expectancy will be...It has to work harder searching all over for misplaced file bit's etc.. than it does during a defrag... a tidy HDD is a faster and happyer one
I do this weekly or after installing new stuff or deleting/uninstalling stuff.. as these often Frag a HDD quickly...Use as many of what you like, to help you feel safe... IMO There is no extreme as Security should be the top priority. Especially if you store any personal data on your PC....
kona0197
Reply #8 Monday, December 3, 2007 6:04 AM
Reply #8 Monday, December 3, 2007 6:04 AM
Anti-Virus - AVG Free Edition (Friends don't let friends use Norton nor McAfee...)
Anti-Spyware - Ad Aware 2007 and Spybot
Defrag - Auslogics Disk Defrag
That's all I use. Never had a problem.
Anti-Spyware - Ad Aware 2007 and Spybot
Defrag - Auslogics Disk Defrag
That's all I use. Never had a problem.
PoSmedley
Reply #9 Monday, December 3, 2007 6:34 AM
Reply #9 Monday, December 3, 2007 6:34 AM
Once a week for me, as well. Avast, AdAware, Spybot, CCleaner. I also run SnoopFree- runs in the background detecting keyloggers (free) and I run HJT (HijackThis) and CWShredder at least once a month. My home PC has been pretty much problem free, but my work PC has been hit with keyloggers and virus' through emails that certain corporate dweebs feel the need to share with everyone on the damn network.
Quentin94
Reply #10 Monday, December 3, 2007 6:38 AM
Reply #10 Monday, December 3, 2007 6:38 AM
AVG Free Edition, Ad Aware 2007, CCleaner everyday complete scan/cleanup
Defrag of SWAP on every boots
Defrag of hard drives every week
Registry cleaning every week
Backup/archiving every week
Defrag of SWAP on every boots
Defrag of hard drives every week
Registry cleaning every week
Backup/archiving every week
Philly0381
Reply #11 Monday, December 3, 2007 12:37 PM
Reply #11 Monday, December 3, 2007 12:37 PM
I appreciate the replies folks. It would appear that I was performing my maintenace as most of the folks who answered do. I think though that I'm going to consider cuting back of the numober of anti-spyware/adware programs that I run. Spending the whole day running maintenace is a drag.
Just had a thought, does anyone know of a scheduler program that would be able to handle runnning all the scans? That way I could run them at night while I lay gently sleeping.
Just had a thought, does anyone know of a scheduler program that would be able to handle runnning all the scans? That way I could run them at night while I lay gently sleeping.
ZubaZ
Reply #12 Monday, December 3, 2007 12:58 PM
Reply #12 Monday, December 3, 2007 12:58 PM
does anyone know of a scheduler program that would be able to handle runnning all the scans? That way I could run them at night while I lay gently sleeping.
If the apps have a command line to invoke them Task Scheduler can be a dream
PurrBall
Reply #13 Monday, December 3, 2007 1:36 PM
Reply #13 Monday, December 3, 2007 1:36 PM
I dont have any security crap installed I just run CCleaner whenever I feel that I need to.
RoseNell
Reply #14 Monday, December 3, 2007 1:46 PM
Reply #14 Monday, December 3, 2007 1:46 PM
Philly, I run mine about once a week too. Like you I have quite a few spyware. I don't believe that EVER hurts. I read once on www.callforhelptv.com that what one spyware doesn't pick up another will. I have:
AVG Plus Firewall
Adware Alert
Ad-Aware
PC Onpoint
Spybot
cCleaner
Registry Mechanic
Spyware Doctor
ok, maybe a little over kill but I am clean as a whistle....
AVG Plus Firewall
Adware Alert
Ad-Aware
PC Onpoint
Spybot
cCleaner
Registry Mechanic
Spyware Doctor
ok, maybe a little over kill but I am clean as a whistle....
TXpatriot
Reply #15 Monday, December 3, 2007 1:48 PM
Reply #15 Monday, December 3, 2007 1:48 PM
I used to do the same. Spyware scans, with multiple apps, once a week. Defrag, registry cleaning, and compacting. Etc., etc......
But when I realized the spyware scanners had found absolutely nothing in 18 months, and my AV software had caught only 2 nasties (before they did any harm) in that time period I stopped worrying so much.
My AV is Avast Home.
My firewall is Outpost, which has Plug-Ins to block ads, Attack Detection, and Anti-Spyware protection.
I use the Opera web browser.
And I use MST Defrag, which monitors the HDD's, and defrags when the computer is idle.
I'll do scans occasionally when the mood hits me, and have had no problems in the past 2 years.
No more weekly scans for me.
But when I realized the spyware scanners had found absolutely nothing in 18 months, and my AV software had caught only 2 nasties (before they did any harm) in that time period I stopped worrying so much.
My AV is Avast Home.
My firewall is Outpost, which has Plug-Ins to block ads, Attack Detection, and Anti-Spyware protection.
I use the Opera web browser.
And I use MST Defrag, which monitors the HDD's, and defrags when the computer is idle.
I'll do scans occasionally when the mood hits me, and have had no problems in the past 2 years.
No more weekly scans for me.
Philly0381
Reply #17 Monday, December 3, 2007 1:54 PM
TXpatriot you bring up a valid question, if by using good web browsing protocal you don't open yourself up to untrusted sites, why scan so much? I would update and keep my programs current though.
Interesting approach.
Reply #17 Monday, December 3, 2007 1:54 PM
I used to do the same. Spyware scans, with multiple apps, once a week. Defrag, registry cleaning, and compacting. Etc., etc......
But when I realized the spyware scanners had found absolutely nothing in 18 months, and my AV software had caught only 2 nasties (before they did any harm) in that time period I stopped worrying so much.
But when I realized the spyware scanners had found absolutely nothing in 18 months, and my AV software had caught only 2 nasties (before they did any harm) in that time period I stopped worrying so much.
TXpatriot you bring up a valid question, if by using good web browsing protocal you don't open yourself up to untrusted sites, why scan so much? I would update and keep my programs current though.
Interesting approach.
Fuzzy Logic
Reply #18 Monday, December 3, 2007 7:39 PM
Reply #18 Monday, December 3, 2007 7:39 PM
For a defrag, I use mst defrag. Just install and forget. It defrags your drives when they are not being used. I don't notice its there, but my drives are always contiguous (that's a helluva word...)
Erk.
Reply #19 Monday, December 3, 2007 7:48 PM
Reply #19 Monday, December 3, 2007 7:48 PM
Fuzzy's drives are contageous? 
Damned Vulcans, trying to catch us all off guard.... 
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Reply #1 Sunday, December 2, 2007 10:06 PM