In previous articles I've discussed the first seven points of the 10 step program to Computer Happiness.

In this article, we will check for spyware and remove unnecessary start up programs. You can also download the complete "Cleaning the Crud from your Computer" from www.gcclc.org by clicking on Seminar, then on the Download link.



Step 8 - Check for spyware

Spyware is a program that is placed on your computer from a Website you've visited or perhaps loaded when installing a program. Spyware can range from non-harmful (tracking your preferences for targeted marketing) to malicious (key loggers and redirectors). To detect and remove spyware, you need additional programs that are not a part of Windows XP Operating System. Fortunately, there are quite a few spyware removal programs. Two very popular programs that are free are Ad-Aware and Spybot.

I'll discuss using Spybot, though installing and using Ad-Aware (available to download from www.lavasoftusa.com, and then click the "Ad-Aware Personal" link on the left), is very similar.



SpyBot

Spybot can be downloaded from www.safer-networking. org/en/download/ and click on Download Here.

Start SpyBot, and as always, click the "Search for Updates." Put a check mark in all updates available, and click "Download Updates."

After the downloads are complete, click the "Check for problems" button. When scan is complete, click "Select all" and then "Fix selected problems."

Finally, click the "Immunize" icon. At the screen that appears, click the "+ Immunize" icon to block over 8,000 potentially dangerous Web sites from being accessed. The Immunize icon needs to be re-clicked, every time an update includes "updates to the immunization database."



9. Remove autostart programs

This next step in restoring your computer's performance can often be the most significant. We need to identify any unnecessary programs that start automatically. Often, programs configure themselves to run in the background so that they appear to start quickly when needed. Some of these programs show an icon on your taskbar at the lower right to let you know that they're running, while others are completely hidden. These autostart programs can often slow down your computer as it starts up, and will steal away memory and processing time as your computer runs.

Some autostart entries are important programs (e.g. an Anti Virus program) or drivers required for some of the computers hardware. So you should not simply disable everything that you don't recognize.

Windows XP comes with the System Configuration tool (msconfig.exe), an excellent way to manage the startup process. To start it:

Click Start, click Run, type msconfig, and then press Enter.

Click the Startup tab, to see a list of all the programs and processes that are set to run when Windows XP loads.

Speed up your overall start time by clearing the check box next to unneeded startup programs. (see below)

Click Apply, and then restart your computer for the changes to take effect to any item you think you don't need.

NOTE: When an item is unchecked, it is NOT deleted, just disabled from loading at startup. If you find later that this file is required at start up, then it can be enabled by rechecking that file.

Important. After rebooting the computer, a window will appear notifying you that the System Configuration Utility has been used. Make sure you place a check mark as shown, and then click OK.

Checking startup items

Before un-checking any item in the Startup list you should first determine its function, and whether it's really required. In the Startup tab of the System Configuration Utility, you will notice two columns Ð Startup Item and Command. If necessary, drag the small separator to the right of Command to see the whole command. The Web site www.sysinfo.org has details of most startup items. Once at this Web site, click the "Full Startup List."

To check a Startup Item, for example "ccAPP", type this into the box and click Search. A list of matches is displayed. You will also notice that most of these entries are "worms" or "trojans" that try to disguise themselves as legitimate programs. Only by comparing both the Startup Item (ccApp) and Command (ccApp.exe) in your Startup List, to the Web site, can you determine that this is a part of Norton Antivirus. If we were to uncheck that box then the Auto Protect feature for e-mail would not function. So we leave it checked.

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Roger Thornburn is a volunteer with the Gold Country Computer Learning Center. For information about computer classes or The Learning Center go to www.gcclc.org or call 273-3029.