Ive always run the registry cleaner part of CCleaner on my own PC and oodles of clients PC's and never had a problem in the 6+ years Ive used it .
I just keep the AV up to date, run CCleaner once a month and my system seems to tick along happily, boots reasonably quick for its age etc. (E5300, 3GB)
Just run it and don't install everything under the sun. Windows 7 and 8 are great at keeping themselves optimized. Ram is so cheap, just throw as much as you can in. Similarly, SSD's have come down so much, I will be putting them in my next pc. If you are going to use the CCleaner registry cleaner, use the option to back up the changes. I have had things go awry before and restoring the registry backup brought things back to life. Just didn't bother after that.
Try Vultr using this link and get us both some credit:
TwoSeven: I am the same as above, I don't install just he apps I always use, don't install crapware or recommendedbyotherpeople-ware and I pretty much never do anything to keep it maintained.
I used to use the excellent backup program in windows 7 but that was replaced in windows 8 by one that is completely useless.
The windows 7 backup program is still in there - i forget how to access it, but its hidden as a text link on the left hand sidebar menu of a control panel applet.
All the software the average computer user could ever need comes from www.ninite.com Avoid cnet download.com
I personally dont run an antivirus program - i know how to keep my own computer clean, and i know when the hard drive light is blinking in a way that it shouldnt - like a mechanic knows when there is a funny tick in a car engine.
Side story: My car has a funny ticking sound from the engine. My mechanic tells me its a result of not taking care of it. I cant hear it because to me it just sounds like a car engine. On the other hand, i know his laptop has bad sectors or needs a chkdsk repair from the way the hard drive light flashes when he starts up the computer and opens the web browser. He however wont believe me (because it means taking his computer away for half a day)
TwoSeven: I am the same as above, I don't install just he apps I always use, don't install crapware or recommendedbyotherpeople-ware and I pretty much never do anything to keep it maintained.
I used to use the excellent backup program in windows 7 but that was replaced in windows 8 by one that is completely useless.
The windows 7 backup program is still in there - i forget how to access it, but its hidden as a text link on the left hand sidebar menu of a control panel applet.
Go into "File History" and select "Windows 7 File Recovery" then "Set up backup" as described in more detail here: http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2012/12/using-windows-8s-hidden-backup-to-clone-and-recover-your-whole-pc/
raytaylor: All the software the average computer user could ever need comes from www.ninite.com
+1 for Ninite. It is perfect if you only run free software from its catalogue.
Nothing. You computer is meant to get slower so you buy a new one. Every time you install something it plants crap into the os and it gets a bit slower.
Full reinstall is the only way. But then we'd reinstall crap one by one then it slows down. You can't havea bare bone os either with no program that's called a nokia phone.
Hardware however you could do like Defrag if not ssd or run force trim if ssd Clear dust Reapply heat paste??? (My laptop over heats if it is not fully horizontal lol time fora new one since heat paste didn't last one hour)
+1 on cleaning the dust. If the machine is dirty, it'll slow down for heat protection.
I once had a friend bring me his computer because he thought it had a virus. Windows would boot slow and then immediately power off. The CPU was shutting down because it had overheated. The dust was so thick, I thought it had a filter to begin with.
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