Clean and Scan Notes

	How to Keep your Computer Clean by The F@t Guy

Clean and Scan your Machine -Notes on use

NOTES Below:

Notes before we begin:
For the purpose of this article, it is easiest to explain "Update and Run" for each program rather than as "Update All" and "Run All". If you are a novice it may be easiest to follow the instructions in-line until you become more confident in your actions. Once you understand the process, it is easier to just get all the updates for all the programs in one haul before actually performing any scanning. This saves dial-up time and may stream-line your process. In practice, one would just pull up each program and do the "update" part (from each program section within this document) which would then obviously be omitted later when you actually "run the scans".

You should go through the motions of manually updating now and then even if you have software set to automatically download and install updates as you cannot be certain that the "automatic" part is working properly.

If a particular software cannot get it's updates, you may have to establish an internet connection first. If so, cancel out of the updater and start your browser. Let it get fully online and try the updater again.

If an updater will not work at all, it is a good indication that something is wrong. Please call for assistance.

Back to Beginning...

Notes on Updating Windows:
You must use Internet Explorer to update Windows regardless of your default browser.

OPERATION:

Start Internet Explorer and let it get fully up and online.
goto "Tools"=>"Windows Update".

You will be magically transported to the Windows Update Center. From here the process depends upon your Operating System. Follow the instructions to do a "custom" update. when it finishes figuring out what you need, look only for the "critical" updates section. Anything found within must be selected, downloaded and installed. Objects in other update sections are optional.

If you are on a dial-up you will undoubtably find things to install. If you are on a DSL or Cable connection and have XP set to automatically update and install (default setting in XP SP-2) you should still check to make sure it is working.

END OPERATION

Back to Beginning...

Notes on CCleaner:

**CCleaner only supports IE and Firefox browsers "out of the box. If you are running Mozilla Suite or Netscape I am afraid you'll have to clean them by hand or ask how to customize CCleaner. Even so, it is still a good idea to use CCleaner for the rest of the stuff it can do.

CCleaner is a scary looking program, but it is absolutely simple to run.
Open CCleaner. Poke the RUN Cleaner button. Close CCleaner. That is it.

If you would like to see what it is doing before it does it, poke the Analyze button BEFORE poking Run Cleaner.
It will then display a list of all the things it is planning to do. When satisfied, run the cleaner.

This little gem packs alot of wallop. I used to describe (and have you DO) dumping the Internet cache, Mozilla's cache, Java's cache, Emptying the recycle bin, Removing cookies, History, and etc.. All of these things (and much more) are done automatically with the single push of the "Run Cleaner" button in CCleaner. CCleaner (short for "Crap Cleaner") looks for and deletes all temporary files and some tracking files from your machine.

There are many checkboxes and options, to the point of confusion- but you need not change a thing. The program runs fine right out of the box. All that it removes are temporary files and such... each and every kind are disposable without any concern. The only point of danger would be to be sure to save anything you need from the Recycle Bin before running CCleaner, because CCleaner cleans it out too.

The first two tabs of options govern the cleaner. you need not even look at these tabs, but as you get more comfortable with the program, you can control every aspect of it's function from these two tabs.

The finale tab (Issues) is a small registry cleaner. If you open the Issues tab the cleaner dialog page changes. You now have "Search for Issues" and "Fix Issues". To operate this cleaner, one must first
Poke "Search for Issues".
When it has finished it's search, RClick anywhere within the resulting entries and "Select all".
Poke the "Fix Issues" button.

It will ask you if you want to back your registry up before making changes. You may tell it "no". I have never seen this program mess anything up, and if it does there are already backups galore of your registry.

The next dialog offers to fix the first problem.
Poke the "Fix All Issues" button.
It will ask if you are sure you want to fix all issues.
Say "Yes".
Process complete.

Back to CCleaner...

Notes on Spybot S&D:

Cookies are no big deal. If you have run things in the proper succession, CCleaner will have already deleted them anyway. If CCleaner was not run first a fair quantity of cookies will be expected. Objects that are NOT cookies are more serious.

Spybot asks for a reboot:
Sometimes, a problem cannot be fixed without a reboot. If this is the case Spybot will show an appropriate dialog- Asking to run on the next boot. Approve the action, then reboot your computer. Spybot will come up during the boot process. It will look different in this mode. When it completes it's scan the "Check for Problems" dialog will open, wth all scanning complete. Make sure all are checked, and poke "Fix Selected Problems". If this happens and the problem remains, boot to safe mode and run Spybot from there. If that doesn't do it, then you had best call me.

DSO Exploit (repaired in ver 1.4):
If you get a DSO Exploit you must call me for a detailed instruction (I will walk you through it on the phone). It is NOT a critical issue, but it will reoccur until properly fixed. This is a known (and relatively benign) bug in Spybot.

Reoccuring problems:
A reoccuring problem (that is not a cookie) has the potential of being a big problem. Try running Spybot from safe mode. if that doesn't fix it, please call for consultation.

Interference from Antivirus:
As files are scanned, if viruses are present, your anti-virus product may pop up as Spybot is scanning. It detects the access to a viral file by Spybot. If this occurs, it is best to cancel the anti-virus notice, cancel your Spybot scan, and update and run your Anti-virus product before attempting further spyware removal.

Comments:
Spybot Search and Destroy is an industry leading scanner for spyware and adware. It is offered freely for personal use. While it doesn't seem to find as much stuff as LavaSoft's Adaware, the things it does find are usually more critical, and it seems to detect things that Adaware does not. Running BOTH is highly recommended.

Spybot's Immunize feature is the easiest means of restricting sites in Internet Explorer. It's capabilities are updated frequently (automatically through SS&D's Update feature), and prevent Internet Explorer from accessing certain bad sites in any way. Considering IE's penchant for doing things without your knowledge, it is of paramount concern that it be prevented from accepting anything from these proven-to-be malicious sites.

While offered freely, Spybot's inventor does accept donation. If you find this program to be useful (which you will) and have the ability, please consider donating to this terrific software. Spybot's hompage can be found at: http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html and you may donate on the "Downloads" page.

Back to Spybot S&D

Notes on Adaware:

Reoccuring problems:
A reoccuring problem (that is not a cookie) has the potential of being a big problem. Try running Adaware from safe mode. Ihat doesn't fix it, please call for consultation.

Cannot get updates:
If on dialup, Adaware may not be able to access the internet unless the box is previously connected. If needed start your dialer (or Firefox, IE, or mail) and prove your connection before starting Adaware. The connection to the net need only be present for the update sequence, it can/should be closed for the actual scan.

Interference from Antivirus:
As files are scanned, if viruses are present, your anti-virus product may pop up as Adaware is scanning. It detects the access to a viral file by Adaware. If this occurs, it is best to cancel the anti-virus notice, cancel your Adaware scan, and update and run your Anti-virus product before attempting further spyware removal.

Starting Differently:
Adaware may start differently depending on the age of it's definition files. If the files are old it will start with an immediate prompt to update them. It is perfectly alright to follow the update procedure from this point, but if you are uncomfortable, just cancel it and the main interface will appear.

Check the Defs:
In the main interface, under "Initialization Status" be certain that the definition file is up to date. It will have a variable name, but what matters is the numbers with the "dots" between them. This is a date in the form of Day.Month.year. It need not be today's date, but should be within a week or so of today's date.

Smart Scan vs Full Scan:
In the Preparing System Scan" dialog, one should choose "Perform Full System Scan" from time to time- perhaps once per month. If your machine is acting funny and you suspect spyware to be the culprit, one should ALWAYS choose the full scan. This scan takes much longer than the smart scan, but is much more thorough. If you wish, there is no harm in choosing the full scan every time... it will just take longer.

COMMENTS:
Adaware is an industry leader in the spyware and adware war. It's function is to check your machine for spyware and adware in a similiar fashion to Spybot Search & Destroy. While it's ability seems somewhat better than the ubiquitous Spybot S&D, it seems to miss things that Spybot readily detects. So betwixt them BOTH you see...

Adaware SE Personal is free for personal use and is as effective as the paid versions. but the "Plus" and "Pro" versions have a realtime scanner as well as the on-demmand scanner present in the "Personal" edition.

The for-money versions can also be automated to perform all phases depending on your default settings. This is highly recommended if you are not responsible about frequent scanning. Even with automated systems it is still important to manually scan from time to time to be sure the software is functioning properly.

Lavasoft is being very generous supporting many low-income folks with their free Personal product. If you have the money please consider buying at least one copy of their paid version to help support them in their work.

http://www.lavasoftusa.com

Back to Adaware