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  Quick Fixes

  Eliminate Spyware

  Anti-Virus Scan

  Set Up a Firewall

  Update your Computer

  Backup your Data

  Browse Internet Safely

	Free Computer Clean-Up Fix your computer right now - free tips and advice on how to clean up your PC or notebook computer.  Read our easy-to-follow steps on how to clean up your computer and the best computer virus protection.  Once you are finished, make sure you protect your computer from harmful viruses and spyware - learn how to protect your PC.

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Quick Fixes to your PC
Follow our easy steps to clean up your computer.  If you have noticed a few problems with your computer -- annoying pop-up windows, browser hijacks, erratic behavior, error messages, or just plain slow performance, you will need to fix your computer before things get worse.

To start off, you should do a few quick things that may improve performance.  First, Restart your computer.  Also, you should not be leaving your computer on for weeks at a time, we endorse a shutdown each night - this will cleanse your system and run diagnostics at the startup.  If you are running Windows98 still, you must shutdown your computer each day or so to avoid the system from crashing. 

Next, go to your Control Panel and click on Add and Remove Programs - take a close look and see what programs have been installed on your computer - uninstall software that you do not use or that you did not install (spyware). 

Run a Hard Drive Defragmenter (Accessories -- System Tools -- Disk Defragmenter) - especially if you have not done so recently.  A defragmenter is an application that reorganizes the data on your hard drive's partitions in such a manner that the files are stored in as much contiguous space as possible. The defragmenter will search your hard drive partition and move data from one location to another location, rearranging the data so that it is stored in one contiguous piece, rather than being scattered throughout your hard drive.  This allows programs to run more efficiently and data to be transferred quicker.  If you have the time, we recommend also running a Disk Cleanup as well.

Free up some space, perform these tasks regularly:  Empty your recycle bin.  Clear out your Temporary Internet Files and Cookies (Internet Explorer / Tools / Internet Options).  Make sure your hard drive is not chock-full (i.e. 97% full) - the fuller your hard drive, the poorer your performance -- you may need to delete unused files and even programs.  The best thing to do is to keep programs that you don't use regularly off of your computer.  You may even need to buy an additional hard drive, if you cannot free-up enough space.  Visit our hard drive back-up solutions section for information on how to back-up your important files.

Clean Up your Computer
A potent program called CCleaner is an easy way to clean up your computer and fix many conflicts and problems.  CCleaner is an all-in-one program that allows you to uninstall unused software, clean out your temporary internet files and cache, and analyze your PC Registry.  Also, speed up a slow computer by removing unnecessary items loading at startup.

Another great free clean-up program is ATF Cleaner.  This program cleans all user temp folders, Java cache, the Opera browser, cookies, history, download history, saved passwords and visited links.  Often malware (harmful applications) are harbored in these temporary files.

Are you concerned about your online privacy?  Check out our new section on how to best Protect your Privacy Online - with tips and advice on browsing, protecting and encrypting information on your computer.

Too Many Startup Programs
Want to remove some of your Startup items from initiating when you boot-up your computer?  Startup programs are programs that are automatically started by Windows when the operating system starts up. The problem is that many programs, viruses, hijackers, spyware, and other malware set themselves to start automatically when Windows starts. As more and more programs are started automatically, your computer's valuable resources are drained, thus making your computer start to operate slow.  Check out this handy online list of Startup Programs and Executables -- cross reference the items on your startup list and then remove the ones you don't need.  You can also check out this Startup Programs List to find out which are harmful and which are necessary.  Use the CCleaner program to help you control your startup programs or click on Start > Run > msconfig    to control your startup items manually. 

Is your internet connection bogged-down?  Wondering how fast you are actually connecting?  Gage how fast you are connected: test your internet connection speed.

Next Steps:
2. Eliminate Spyware
3. Anti-Vrus Scan
4. Set-Up a Firewall
5. Update your Computer
6. Backup your Data

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