General Laptop Maintenance Tips (Windows)

I'm just getting a new laptop (Windows 8.1), and would like to know if anyone could share general maintenance tips that will keep the laptop running smooth and fast. I'd welcome any tips on either physical maintenance, maintenance software or tasks that should be done regularly to keep the machine running like new. Thank you!

 

Physical maintenance: carry it in an appropriate container, i.e. sleeve or laptop bag with enough padding. Oh and keep it clean, from the display to the heatsinks. Edit oh and feel free to punish people who touch your display appropriately (unless it's a touch display ofc).

Software maintenance: don't install every free software out there, watch the installers for bundled software, etc. In other words, actually go through the process of installing stuff rather than just accepting everything out there. Practice safe browsing and you'll be fine.

 

Thank you Tijo. So the laptop will be set to do all important maintenance tasks right out of the box? I was curious to know if I should be running any programs that I've heard of (such as cccleaner), or if those are unnecessary. Also on what frequency should I run disc optimization? And if there is other software such as cccleaner that would help with performance and longevity please let me know.

 

CCleaner is good cleaner to clean out cookies and leftover programs cache. Also use and turn on your Defender that is your A/V that comes free with Windows 8 after that make sure that the Windows Update setting is set to Auto update to further protect you. And as long as you don't click on click then you should be fine. And avoid email spams those can be nasty and never install as the other said express go through each step/step and you can stop stealth installs and install only what you need. And that should more or less protect you. There is somethink like PC "hosts" file edit but that is more involved and should've you decide to do so here is the link to look at it. Also change your PC "hosts" file to "READ-ONLY" this will prevent adware from changing your hosts file to redirect you when you go to internet. In the link there it tells you where your PC "hosts" file is located at as well if you need to know where it is at to edit it. Beyond that if you need more just ask.
http://someonewhocares.org/hosts/

 

The answer is a simple "NO", in capital letters. Most of these programs are pure crap, apart from the fact that none of them are needed. CCleaner used to be slightly better, at least if all you did was set it to remove browser cookies and cache (noting, however, that you could just do that from within your browser). However, the newest versions apparently have gotten substantially worse in several respects. Bottom line, since none of this stuff is needed, don't install it.

Oh, and just to emphasize this specifically: Never, ever, install or use a "registry cleaner"...

 

Thank you Pirx, this is good information for me! I've read many other sources that recommend using CCleaner, so I'm glad to have asked. I wonder why things like that exist if they do no good for a system? I don't even know what a registry cleaning is, but I'll stay away from that software.

Thanks again.


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CCleaner used to be nice, however, the latest versions take too many liberties in my opinion, there is a thread about ti somewhere in this forum.

 

I wouldn't recommend Windows Defender AKA Microsoft Security Essentials after reading this:

http://www.av-test.org/en/news/news...ty-packages-at-the-end-of-mainstream-support/

Great results for Trend Micro, Kaspersky, and Bitdefender. F-Secure comes next and Qihoo and Panda are the best for Free solutions

AhnLab = too many FPs

MSE = total suckage

 

lots of free monitoring software in my link below worth having a look at.

 

There are a lot of free programs that are great to use it's just a matter of not getting over enthusiastic about them and just downloading the programs you need. I've tested a lot of free programs over the years, some are great but most don't really do what you want and you really need to do custom installs to limit other programs getting installed then you usually have to delete a few programs that have been piggybacked onto your computer, price you pay for free.

 

Thank you Ferris23, I appreciate the info. This is exactly why I wanted to ask, because I know that not all of these programs can be good. I saw the other thread you started a couple weeks ago in regards to ccleaner.. Very nice work! Do you mind if I PM you with a couple questions about that thread?


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sure man, shoot

 

That testing was so biased because it's from a EU nations that has been fighting MS to have IE removed from the Windows I find them not very creditable to start with. I will say this again the A/V is 50% of the protection the other 50% is the user themselves causing their own infections. Virus/Malware doesn't have to do much to invade their system the user will do this for them.

 

I'd like to contribute to this discussion that I've been using Ccleaner since its early days and I hadn't had a problem with it yet.
The newest versions seem to run faster even, and I'm using its registry cleaner usually after removing and then updating programs... drivers included.

As for Windows Defender... cannot speak about Windows 8 and 8.1 since I don't use it, but I have seen and used it on other people's computers.
It was able to find and remove infections that even latest Norton wasn't able to find.

I personally use MSE on my laptop (Windows 7 SP1 x64 here), and I hadn't had a problem with viruses at all (then again I also use an AdBlock Plus extension in Chrome along with HTTPS Everywhere).
Antivirus programs are half the issue anyway, and MSE (or Windows Defender) is adequate for basic protection.
I also have Free Malwarebytes installed and I run it if/when I think its necessary - besides that... Windows Firewall is active, and I hadn't had issues.

In terms of software... I mainly leave installed programs that I use frequently.
Those that aren't frequently used (or needed) are removed.

As for hardware... this would also be an aspect in maintenance.
It is recommended to open up the laptop and clean up the dust buildup once or twice per year.
It is also recommended to repaste the CPU and GPU once every 2 years I think (that is if you start noticing increase in temperatures).

Bottom line: keep Windows clean of unnecessary programs, use what you need, and keep it updated.

 

I haven't had problems with CCleaner, I don't like how the latest versions by default will monitor and run in the background instead of being on demand like the older versions. It still cleans temp files as well as it used to, it just takes more liberties with my systems that I like by default compared to the older ver

 

Never needed cc cleaner.


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