Windows XP Software Cleanup Instructions
1. Install McAfee Virusscan Enterprise 8.5x. If you have any antivirus program other than McAfee Viruscan Enterprise 8.5x, we recommend removing it and installing McAfee. The best way to do it is to go to our Software Download Page. Click on Windows, Virus Protection, Full Install (self extracting zip file). Download to your desktop. Do not install. Go to Start, Programs, Add/Remove programs. Remove any old antivirus programs you have installed. Anything that says McAfee should be removed. Other things to look for include anything that says Norton, Live Update, Live Reg, AVG. After removing, reboot. Check Add/Remove programs to see they are all gone. Then click on the McAfee installer you downloaded and install McAfee. Let it update.
2. Change settings on Instant Messengers and all other programs that you see starting at startup to NOT start when Windows boots. Open each program. Look for a selection for ‘preferences’ or ‘setup’ or ‘startup’ or something like that. Look for a choice to start automatically when Windows starts. UNCHECK it! For AIM, you would uncheck Start AIM when Windows starts. That way your computer boots more quickly and you can just start the program when you need it! In the case of AIM, you don’t want it to be searching like crazy when you are not connected to the Internet. And you don’t want it when you’re taking a test in class. So just make it something you start by hand each time you need it and your computer will start faster.
3. Go to Add/Remove programs and remove anything you no longer use and/or do not want.
Click on Start, Programs, Add/Remove Programs. Highlight anything you do not need. Click on the Remove button on the right. In some cases it will go to a web page and make you promise you don’t want it – do not relent!!! Be sure to read the choices – sometimes OK means do not remove…
4. Install, update, and run MS Antispyware, Spybot, and Adaware – rebooting between each program – and repeating them until they all come up ‘clean’.
You can get Spybot from either Clemson Software Installer or the http://www.download.com. You can get MS Antispyware, defender, from the Microsoft web page. (Note: it's included in Windows Vista.)
Install MS Antispyware. Run selecting File, Check for updates to get the newest definitions. Click on Run Quick Scan Now. Follow its advice about what to remove.
Install Spybot. Run. Click on Search for Updates. Put a checkmark beside each update. Click on Download Updates. Click the Immunize selection on the left to see the immunization screen. Click on the green plus sign to Immunize against the newest definitions. Click on Search and Destroy on the left to see the search and destroy screen. Click on Check for Problems. Remove any problems it finds.
Install Adaware. Run. If it offers to update, allow that. If not, when it comes up, click on Check for Updates. Then click Start. When it’s finished, select everything it finds and remove .
5. Start Internet Explorer and go to Tools, Internet Options and Delete Cookies and Files.
6. Click on Start, Run MSCONFIG. Go to the Startup tab.
Remove anything you do not need to start up every time you start Windows. (This is temporary! You can put it back later if it causes problems….)
6. Run McAfee updates. Right click on V in taskbar and select Update Now.
7. Run Windows updates. Start Internet Explorer. Select Tools, Windows Updates. Select a time to do automatic updates. Perform any updates it finds. Reboot.
8. Click on Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Disk Cleanup and clean both C and D (for an IBM, C only for non-IBM).
9. Click on Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Disk Defragmenter and defrag both C and D. (This is LONG – run overnight…)
10. Run a Safe Mode Virus Scan. Turn computer off. Turn it on. Press F8 right when it’s coming on to select Safe Mode. Click on Start, Programs, Network Associates, Virusscan Console. Run a full scan of your hard drives. This takes a LONG time. If there was spyware you could not remove after multiple tries, you can also run MS Antispyware, Spybot, and Adaware from here to remove spyware. (Note – you can remove viruses and spyware, but you cannot update the definitions from here…)
11. Reboot and backup your important files!!! If you have a Lenovo laptop, put a blank CD in your drive, and click Start, Programs, Multimedia Center for Think Offerings, Record Now Data. Drag your important files to it.