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Disclaimer

1. Agree and Understand, that you will be the sole person responsible for backing up your computer data prior to use the information and software tools listed below.
2. Agree and certify that neither the author nor FreePCtools.com Shall be responsible nor liable in anyway, shape, part, or form to any individual, company, or entity to any damages, harm, use, misuse, or abuse of the herein information listed on here.

How to Fix, Repair, Optimize, Speed up Your PC

&

Internet Connection

 

Most common causes for a PC to run slow are:

 

1. You connect to the Internet using dialup ISP.
2. Your PC CPU speed is less than 1Ghz.
3. Your PC has less than 512 MB of RAM.
4. Your hard drive is full or has less than 700 MB of free disk space.

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5. Your drive is fragmented and may have bad sectors on it.
6. Your PC is infected with a virus, spy ware, a back door Trojan or a key logger.
7. You have errors in the registry or a corrupt software installation (DLLs/Files).
8. Your PC has too many running programs in memory or in the task bar.
9. You’ve installed a software application that is hogging memory or CPU time.
10. Your PC’s anti virus and Internet security firewall has too many enabled features.

If the first 4 reasons, I’ve listed above, applies to your situation, then the following fixes may not help much.   The reason is, your PC speed is attributed and limited to your CPU speed, physical ram, and available hard drive space compounded by a slow dialup Internet connection.    My advice, get a newer computer and faster Internet connection.   

If you don’t know which computer to purchase, then here is what I recommend: -

I recommend you looking for any brand name that gives the longest warranty.  Two years if not, then, settle for one-year warranty.  It is up to you if you want to purchase extended warranty.  The following are my computer hardware recommendations: -

 

Hardware Options to look for in a new PC/Laptop

CPU ………………….…………  At least 1.8 GHz

RAM………….…..…… At least 1 GB (1024 MB)

Hard Drive ………………….……At least 40 Gigs

CD/DVD combo. ..…..……Both Read & Re-Write

Video Graphics Card…………….. At least 256 MB

Network Card …………………………10/100 Mbs

Network Card (Laptops) A, G Wireless/10/100 Mbs

USB2 adapter connection…………. At least 4 ports

Modem……………………………….….. V92 56K

Sound Card…………... No preference they all good

Monitor (LCD) ……  Screen size is your preference

Fire wire adapter connection .. (If you need to use it)

Bluetooth/Infrared capability (Laptops) if you need it

Finally, I recommend the purchase of a laptop as opposed to a desktop

 

Repair Steps

 

 

1. The following are a list of very good, fully functional FREE software tools you will be using to repair and speed up your PC.  Please read the complete steps then Download and Install.  Note:   Please Do Not update the software, unless, you visit their sites, to make sure they are FREE and Still, Fully Functional.  The Reason is, if they do go commercial, and you update, they may disable your free version’s full functionality without you know.      This being said, with an exception of one, all the tools listed are compatible with all versions of Windows.  I would recommend that you down load and save all in a new folder on the C: Drive then, copy unto a CD for portability.   Then install and run at will, while the operating system has been booted in Safe Mode.    Never the less, you can still install and run, if you want, in Window’s Normal Mode.   Please read and install the needed software below or click to Skip to Step #2

 

Windows 2000, XP and Vista compatible software

Advanced Windows Care  This is the only tool you will download which can only run on Windows 2000, XP and Vista and it is a very good systems optimizer and mal-ware remover and it can immunize your PC from being infected.   In short, Advanced Windows Care is a comprehensive PC utility that takes a one-click approach to help protect, repair and optimize your computer.

List of Win9x, ME, NT, 2000, XP and Vista compatible software

Eusing Registry Cleaner and CCleaner  Install both tools to clean, repair and backup your Windows registry. (Click on Skip registration you Run Eusing Cleaner)  CCleaner will list all applications that start when you boot you PC and it can also un-install programs and erase your PC’s Internet and applications history and tracks.   Make sure to select all Windows and Applications check boxes then go to Options/Settings and select secure erase (7x over writes)

The following two programs are for Win9x and ME only.  They backup and restore the registry and pertaining system and other ini files.   

Click Here To Download a Program file called Bkups.bat that will backup your (95,ME and Win98) current configuration to a folder called BKUPS on your C Drive. Run it and Watch.   Note: Every Time you run it, it will over write the previous saved registry and files, therefore, do not re-run it until you moved the original saved data safely, to another folder.

Click Here To Download this other Program file called Recover.bat that will restore your (95, ME and Win98) system files from the saved BKUPS folder on your C Drive.   Note: Do not run it unless you want to go back to the original setting.

Anti-Spyware programs The following are the best Free ones: - They do realtime blocking and perform Scans that will detect and Remove Trojans, Spywares and Key loggers. You can install both, since, they do compliment each other. Download, install, then Run.Spy Bot , and Super AntiSpyware

Memory/RAM Booster for Windows If your Physical RAM is less than 512 MB, then, you must install this tool. It releases and reclaims memory still being held by applications that have terminated. Resulting in faster application loading. To find out your physical RAM go to control panel then click system.

Pop Up Stopper This is a good program that stops PopUp Windows and Ads. Press Cntrl or shift key to bypass pop stopper.

Tech Systray This tool will speed up loading of your startup programs and Re-start / Shutdown of your PC. A must for slow starting computers.

CableNut Is a tool to use to speed up your Internet connection.     After you install Click here to download the Update Click on adjuster.exe then File and click on Open custom settings file. Go to ccs updated folder You Must look for and click on the type of connection folder and speed you use (Dialup, DSL, Cable, Satellite, etc.) select which operating system (9x/ME, 2k, XP/Vista) click apply then save and exit.   Your Internet speed should at triple.

Microsoft Windows Update When you’re done with your PC fixing and Optimizing, Make sure to go to Windows update to scan and install all needed  Windows PC operating systems patches in order to keep your PC from attacked and hacked while you’re on the Internet.

Anti Key Logger Helpful commercial tool will detect key loggers and tell you which file and where it is, but will not uninstall.  Run a scan after you reboot and type in a password, you will use later to uninstall the program.   When the scan is complete write down the location of the key logger files found, to remove manually later by you.  

TCPview This tool will display in real time any remote connection into your PC.   It will display their IP address, the port number and the program being used.  It also gives you the ability to close the connections.

Process Explorer  This tool tells you which program or process is running on your PC and its CPU utilization.  

 

Spyware Terminator In case you do not have an anti virus program, this is a full-feature Anti Virus, Anti Trojan, Anti ad ware and spyware scanner with real-time protection that can remove or quarantine spyware, ad ware, Trojans, key loggers, home page hijackers and other Malware threats. The scan behavior can be customized based on your level of experience, ranging from automatic interception to complete user control over how to handle any potential threats. You must run a full scan after install in order to activate the anti virus and anti Trojan features.

Filseclab In case you do not have one, this is a pretty good Personal Firewall for Win98/Me/NT/2000/XP. You will need these missing DLLS to run Filseclab Firewall, extract unto c: drive and run the missing.bat right after you install Filseclab firewall. then reboot.  It is designed to protect your PC against attacks from both the Internet, and other computers in the local network. The firewall controls all data flow in both directions – from the Internet to your computer and vice versa, and it can also block all attempted connections, allowing only what you choose to permit. It even displays, real time, current incoming and outgoing connection and the program using the connection.

Finally, here are some important links you will need to access in order to test your Internet speed, firewall and browser security settings later on: -

Click here to Test your PC Internet Speed

Click here to Test your firewall settings

Click here to Test your browser security settings

 

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Repair Steps,(Continued)

2. First on the repair steps, is to run Hard Drive disk scan and repairs then defrag the Hard Drive.  Do not be surprised if this takes a few hours to complete the drive surface scan and defrag.   Make sure to disable screen savers on Win9x/ME PCs before you begin.    Here are the links that will help show how to access and run these tools. 

             http://www.freepctools.com/ntscan.htm

http://www.freepctools.com/9x.htm

 

3. Now that you’ve downloaded, installed and updated the needed tools listed above, Re-start your PC in safe mode, by pressing on the F8 key as soon as your PC starts.    If it does not display a Safe Mode load menu items, then you’ve missed it restart again and press F8 key.    Note: The following backup, scan and optimize process may take between 2 to 6 hours.  So be patient.

 

4. Once in safe mode, you will be running a few and different scanning tools, in sequence, resulting in a clean optimized PC.    The first one of these tools is Eusing Registry Cleaner, look for it and run it.    When it starts, click on Skip button to proceed.  Before you do anything, go to file and run a complete full backup.  Name the backup in an easy way for you to go back to it and restore from, if you had to. (Example: mon-1-4-07-230pm, and so on.)  After backing the registry, click on Scan Registry issue and when is done click on Repair registry issue, repeat until no more errors are found.

  

5. Besides using Eusing Registry Cleaner, if you’re using Win9x/Me then find and double click on bkups.bat only once.    This program will also backup all of your Win9x/ME system and ini files into a folder called c:\bkups.   And if you ever wanted to restore Win9x/ME system registry and files, look for and double click on Recover.bat.

 

6. Next look for then double click on CCleaner.  When it loads, click on Issues then click on Scan for issues.  When done, click on Fix Selected Issues, you will be prompted to backup your Registry before fixing errors.   Repeat until no more errors are found.      CCleaner will list all applications that start when you boot you PC and it can also un-install programs and erase your PC’s Internet and applications history and tracks.   To set it, make sure to select all Windows and Applications check boxes, then go to Options/Settings and select secure erase (7x over writes)

 

7. Next it is time to look for and run one more registry tool called Advanced Windows Care optimization system scanner (Only for NT/XP/Vista) once loaded, click on the Restore Center and Create a Restoration Point, prior to starting a scan.    Once completed apply the needed fixes and repairs, re-run again to see if any more errors were found.

 

8. Next run any of the Antispy programs, in sequence, (SpyBot, Spy Blaster, Spy Guard, Super AntiSpyware, etc..) to scan, remove and immunize your PC from spyware and other malicious hacking software. 

 

9.      So far, you’ve surface scanned and de-fragmented your hard drive, backed your registry, removed spyware and optimized your system.  At this point, it is time to run Tech Systray and accept the default options, then re-boot your PC into normal mode to see if there is a noticeable difference to the time it took to load all of your task bar applications. (Start up programs)

 

10. If your PC loaded faster, then go to step 11.    If, not go to Step 12

 

11. Since your PC is loading faster, it is time to speed up your Internet speed.  First you need to make sure your PC has the latest java installed.   Go to www.java.com and down load and install the latest version of java.    When done go to Click here to Test your PC Internet Speed to measure your upload/download speed you have with your ISP.   Write the Download /Upload results. (Example: download 3000 kbs / upload 384kbs) later, you will use this information to enhance your speed.      Now its time to use CableNut the tool to speed up your Internet connection.     After you install and update, look for and double click on adjuster.exe then File and click on Open custom settings file. Go to ccs updated folder You Must look for and click on the type of connection folder (Dialup, DSL, Cable, Satellite, etc.), select which operating system (9x/ME, 2k, XP/Vista) you use and the speed you just measured and wrote down earlier. For the above example I select XP DSL PPPoE 3000 384.ccs, then click apply then save and exit.   With this, your Internet speed should at triple, after an initial slow loaded Internet page.     

 

 

Now it is time to check your existing or install a PC firewall if you don’t have one.

• Enable your firewall and if you don’t have one, install this one Filseclab

 This firewall software does not eat up CPU or Memory time or space. Now when ready,

 Click here to Test your firewall settings

 

Securing and testing your Microsoft Internet browser security:

 

• Open your Internet Browser, Click on Tools, then Internet Options.
• Click on Security TAB, Click on Custom Default.
• Select Medium from the drop down menu click Yes to change settings.
• From the same upper pane" Security Settings" Scroll down till you see “Allow Paste Operation Via Script” check the disable box.
• When done,click on the Privacy TAB, with your mouse, scroll zone privacy till you change to Medium High.
• When ready, go to this link to Test your browser security settings

 

 

 

Manual fixes to Internet Explorer Home and Search Page Problems,

When, anti virus/anti spy ware could not fix:

 

SYMPTOMS

 

• Your Internet Explorer home page has been changed to a different Web site, you change, but still, go to a different site.

 

• When you click Search in Internet Explorer, an adult-content Web site appears.

 

• Internet Options dialog box on the Tools menu, may not let you type an address in the Address bar or the

  following buttons may be unavailable: Use Current, Use Default, Use Blank.

 

• When you try to start Internet Explorer, it may stop responding for up to several minutes. Or, may not open at all.

 

To fix the above problems you will need to go into the registry.  And, if you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may

cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that

you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly.  Make sure to do a full registry backup,

before you do anything.   Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

 

Here are the fixes to the Internet Explorer Home and Search page Problems:-

 

1. Click Start, and then click Run.

 

2. In the Open box, type regedit, and then click OK.

 

3. Locate the following registry entries (if they exist):

  

   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\Search Bar

 

   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\Search Page

 

   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\Start Page

 

   HKEY_ LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\Start Page

 

   HKEY_USERS\Default\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\Start Page

 

4. Right-click each entry that you have located in step 3, and then click Delete. Click Yes, to confirm the deletion.

 

5. Locate the following subkey, if it exists:

 

   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\ControPanel\ResetWebSettings

 

   If the ResetWebSettings value or the HomePage value exists in this key, right-click the values, and then click Delete.

 

6. On the File menu or the Registry menu, click Exit to quit Registry Editor.

 

7. Configure Internet Explorer to use the home page that you want. To do this, follow these steps:

 

      a. Start Internet Explorer, and then connect to the Web site that you want to use as your home page.

 

      b. On the Tools menu, click Internet Options. Click the General tab, and then click Use Current. 

 

8. Empty the contents of the Temporary Internet Files folder. To do this, click Delete Files under Temporary Internet files, and then click OK.

 

 

Removing Internet file sharing programs and or Directory Search Services/ Tool bars,

in order to secure your PC and regain faster application loading speed.

      I highly suggest and would recommend that you go to the

      Start/ settings/control panel/ click on Add or Remove programs and look for and     

      un-install all types of tool bars, namely Yahoo, Google, MSN, Windows MSN

      search, or any other Internet search tools or Directory services, also, avoid using

      and do un- install any peer to peer file sharing software, such as, 180Solutions, Kaza,Winmx, Bonzi Buddy,

     Comet Cursor, eZula, Flyswat, Gator, Grokster, iMesh, Internet Boost, Internet Optimizer,

     InterQuick, Morpheus, Netzip, NewDotNet (New.net domains), SaveNow (coupon toolbar)

     Surf Safari, WebHancer, Various add-on toolbars, Bear share, etc.

     they are spyware programs and through them you can get your PC infected with a

     virus or remote access Trojans and or key loggers.

 

This completes my instructions, hopefully, I succeeded in conveying to you the necessary knowledge and tools to fix and optimize your PC.   

Finally, I encourage you to continue checking on my website www.freepctools.com  to get on the latest free software I list.

 

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12. If your PC still running slow, then it can be contributed to, too many applications being started and maybe some of these applications are a memory or CPU hog.    To identify this application, you must remove and or disable all programs starting, when the PC re-boots.   Then re-start them one at a time, to identify which one is causing the PC to run slow.    In addition to what I’ve stated earlier, if a PC runs slow, this can also be attributed to a Key Logger or a back door remote Trojan software running on your PC.

 

13. Lets address the Key logger and Backdoor Trojans first.  Please install Anti Key Logger then run a complete scan after you reboot.  This tool will identify the key logger and the logging file, but will not remove it. (It is not a freeware)  but at least it will tell you what and where it is. So you can remove it your self.    There is another free tool Spyware Terminator that you can install and update, then run a full scan, which will identify and remove Key loggers and Trojans.

 

14. Restart your PC after the removal of any detected Trojans, Spyware, Worms, and or Key Loggers.  If the PC loads faster, Then, Go Back to Step 11.   If still slow, go to the next step.

 

15. By now you know, that your PC is clean from viruses, spyware as well as, your registry and disk drive have been cleansed and optimized, hence, we can narrow the reasons the PC is running slow, to some application and or program, when the PC is starting up.   Hence, before we do anything, lets run Eusing Registry Cleaner  and do a full registry backup before we proceed.

 

16. Now that you backed up your registry, lets discuss start up programs.   They can be found in the registry under the “Run” key and or in a Windows Startup folder.     First lets look in the startup folders, go to C:\Documents and Settings\  (You may see different profiles in there.)  Click on each profile and drill down to their startup folder and see what is being loaded.   Here is a profile drill down path Example for an All Users profile: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup     

Programs can also run from the registry.  You can view what's runing in the registry by going to Start, Run, then type in regedit, then click ok.    Of course Hackers know about these registry keys and this is where they also install and run and hide their malicious programs in the   following registry keys: - 

     HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

     HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\batfile

     HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\cmdfile  and in

     HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile

          

      I would not recommend that you alter anything unless you know what you doing 

      to avoid crashing your system. Never the less, do not worry too much, if you removed

      a program from the Run key and caused a problem. You can always go in Safe

      Safe Mode and restore from the full registry backup you did in step 15.   

      However, I would recommend that you go to the Start/ settings/control panel/

      click on Add or Remove programs and look for and  un-install all types of tool bars,

      namely Yahoo, Google, MSN, Windows MSN search, or any other Internet search

      tools or Directory services, also, avoid using and do un- install any peer to peer file

      sharing software, such as Kaza, Winmx, Bear share, or helpers such as, Bonzi Buddy,

      Comet Cursor, eZula, Flyswat, Gator, Grokster, iMesh, Internet Boost, Internet Optimizer,

      InterQuick, Morpheus, Netzip, NewDotNet (New.net domains), SaveNow (coupon toolbar)

      Surf Safari, WebHancer, and various add-on toolbars, etc.  They are spyware programs and through

      them you can get your PC infected with a virus or remote access Trojan and key loggers.

 

17. Another easy way to view and or delete startup programs from the registry is to run CCleaner   Once loaded, click on Tools then Startup, this will show you all programs starting up in the registry when the PC re-boots.  Scroll and read what is being started and remove and or un-install application you no longer use or need. Make sure not to remove something that your PC requires to run a critical application, like your video, sound and or mouse drivers.  However, if you removed something you should not, again, don’t panic you’ve backed up your registry in step 15.  You can always boot up in Safe Mode and restore the registry using Eusing Registry Cleaner . Example of programs you don’t need to startup are real one player, QuickTime, shockwave, juke box, etc. and other silly ones.   Also, I would highly recommend that you disable your Internet Security firewall and anti virus software and re-boot, to see if they are the main reasons why your PC running slow, or if you can disable all the bells and whistles features comes with them, it will result in your PC to run faster.           Honestly, all you need out of them is, to set the firewall to block incoming Internet connections and set your anti virus to scan/clean/or deny, Only when Accessing a file and/or during Downloads.  Disable all other functions.   Remember, you can use Filseclab , Spyware Terminator , SpyBlaster , and Spyware Guard instead of what you have, they do not hog your memory or CPU like the other commercial firewalls and antivirus software products and they are free.   Now, re-start your PC in Normal mode to see if it loads any faster.    If yes, then go to step 11.

 

18. If the PC still loads Slow, Then STOP, at this time, this is as far as you can go with the repairing of your PC on your own.   Additional removals of applications and programs must be performed by a professional PC technician and in person to avoid crashing your system.  However, if the PC does not come up at all.  Re-start in Safe Mode, (F8) or select boot from “Last Known Good Configuration” then run Eusing Registry Cleaner to restore your registry with the one you backed in step 15.  

 

This completes my instructions; hopefully, I succeeded in conveying to you the necessary knowledge

And tools to fix and optimize your PC and you too have gained the needed knowledge and comfort level than before. 

 

Finally, I encourage you to continue checking on my website www.freepctools.com to get on the latest free software I list.