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General discussion

2/18/05 How often do you perform system maintenance?

Feb 17, 2005 1:12AM PST

How often do you perform system maintenance?

Every day
Once a week
Twice a month
Every few months
Once a year
Every 3,000 miles
Never

Discussion is locked

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How often do you perform system maintenance?
Feb 17, 2005 8:58PM PST

Very seldom. In fact I was told that I should not do a defrag with my XP. I have NO idea how often I should do any of those sorts of things. I wish my very intelligent computer would either do it for me without being asked, when it felt it was necessary.Or at least please send me an automated message telling me when to do it and HOW to do it. I am an elderly fem senior citizen used to taking orders so it would be good if someone with some brains told me how to perform a system maintenance and how often I should do it. I appreciate any advice anyone cares to offer me. Thanks Happy VB

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How often do you perform system maintenance
Feb 17, 2005 9:49PM PST

I perform system maintenance everyday. It's required to get rid of old files, update anti-virus definitions, spyware definitions, and remove tracks ect.. If you don't do a spyware scan and update virus definitions you're asking for trouble. Once a week I do a disk defragmetation, clean the registry of old unnecessary entries from files & programs that aren't on my drive(s) any longer and then compress my registry with Registry Compressor which result in a faster boot time. A virus scan a day keeps the viruses and worms away!

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system maintenance
Feb 17, 2005 9:52PM PST

Just a simple question> Does the need for system Maint. depend on how often and how long you use your computer? This is a running argument in my house. My granddaughter who is studying Computers says that there is a standard amount of time that should be adhered to. I say common sense tells me that if I stay on my computer 6 to 8 hours daily doing research, my computer needs attention more often than one that is used for 1 or 2 hours just to check e-mails. Can anyone settle this argument????Please. Thanks E-hitt

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system maintenance
Feb 17, 2005 10:09PM PST

1-2 hours is plenty of time online to get a virus or worm or countless other threats. I would agree with your grandaughter, you should regularly maintenance your computer, I do.

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Daily system maintenance for me...
Feb 17, 2005 11:01PM PST

I'm a daily system maintenance guy. The CounterSpy ( www.sunbeltsoftware ) is run daily after browsing on the web, and my Trend Micro PC-cillin 2005 is updated daily. I keep the real-time agents running, and I run a full virus scan once a week. I can honestly say that I have never had a virus infection on my machines - ever.

Since I also do 3D modeling and other system/disk intensive things, I perform a daily defrag and hard drive cleanup as well. By keeping my system clean and defragging regularly, I find that it isn't necessary to do the hose-down and reinstall of the OS as often.

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Daily system maintenance
Feb 17, 2005 11:14PM PST

My spyware software is spysweeper (paid for version) and spybot (free version). Also have EZ Trust handling junk mail, virus and firewalls. All are running all the time except for spybot.

Is there a listing available of what to do and how to do it, to keep the hard drive clean, clean out the temporary files and defragging (what's this) on a regular basis and how often should all of this be done? I have Windows XP Pro.

Barbara

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Maintenance
Feb 17, 2005 11:12PM PST

This is my 5th year for running W98SE,and for the most part has been trouble free,and I attribute this partially to good regular maintenance.It prevents it from becoming clogged up,and slowing down with age Wink .I do a defrag once a week,or if I am doing a "download" of a program or a "windows update" I will defrag before doing so.I do a cleanup at the end of the day with a small excellent program called "ccleaner".It cleans out temp. files,unwanted cookies,etc. Good maintenance is vitally important in keeping your system in "tune".The program I mentioned is available at www.ccleaner.com

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System maintenance
Feb 18, 2005 12:18PM PST

Once a week to twice a month.

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"system Maintenance" , should be performed by all users
Feb 19, 2005 9:53AM PST

Somehow or other I can't believe 'what' I'm reading ... Every user of the web 'should' employ some sort of anti-virus app ... Those 'not' running 'clean' systems are clearly part of the problem ... I liken it to a serious flu epedemic ... Those innoculated are not 'carriers' , hence they are not infecting others ... Surely , this is something we can 'all' do to make the web a 'safer' , virus-free , place ...

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Automate it all
Feb 19, 2005 4:47PM PST

I have AVG to DL any updates ASAP and scan every morning at 7:00 am, I have Spybot search and destroy set to run every day at 7:30.

I never deal with any of it. And thats just awesome. I havent been of the internet in three days...

My record it 18.

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translation please
Feb 20, 2005 7:01AM PST

I am a microsoft certified systems engineer (MCSE) and actively supporting various small networks, and I have a fuzzy idea that you are referring to the automated update (DL=download) of Antivirus, which would account for AV, but what is G? Free yourself from obfuscation, eschew the acronymization which threatens to obscure your message entirely for the english speakers among us.
Thanks =)

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Translation
Oct 20, 2005 1:50AM PDT

AVG is the name of the antivirus program, its a free one so theres no excuse for people to not have any antivirus software

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clean ups and maintenace
Jun 11, 2005 1:28AM PDT

I've only got Norton Internet Security and Ad-aware SE Personal. Is that enough? How does anyone ever find out what to do for the best unless some kind soul tells us specifically? Would having Spybot Search and Destroy improve things even more??