Go Back   Cyber Tech Help Support Forums > Operating Systems > Older Windows Versions > Windows XP

Notices

Windows XP Problem solving for the Windows XP Operating System

Reply
 
Topic Tools
  #1  
Old June 10th, 2006, 09:40 AM
Tortanick Tortanick is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
O/S: Linux
Age: 35
Posts: 1,118
Health Check

My instinct says its time to give my PC a full health check, anyone got a good checklist of what I need to do? Prefrably including expected results and warning signs.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old June 10th, 2006, 09:57 AM
dudeking's Avatar
dudeking dudeking is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
O/S: MacOS
Location: Nottingham, UK
Posts: 2,853
Hardware or Software, Or both?
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old June 10th, 2006, 10:23 AM
Tortanick Tortanick is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
O/S: Linux
Age: 35
Posts: 1,118
both please
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old June 10th, 2006, 11:21 AM
dudeking's Avatar
dudeking dudeking is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
O/S: MacOS
Location: Nottingham, UK
Posts: 2,853
Right ok we will start with software.
Just a bit of house keeping to start with.
  • Go through add/remove programs remove any thing you don't use or don't want on your system.
  • Run an anti spyware scan like spybot.
  • Run an anti virus scan like bit defender.
  • Post a hijack this log to make sure all malware has gone from your system.
  • Make sure all windows updates are installed.
  • Check that all your programs are up to date, look for drivers for devices like mice, and webcam's and graphics cards as well.
  • Manually go through your my documents, delete any thing you don't need, and archive files that you never use into a zip folder, removable storage e.g. DVD or CD or even an other Hard drive.
  • After uninstalling a program sometimes empty folders are left in program files, go through program files and delete empty folders from programs that have been uninstalled. *IMPORTANT* Some folders need to be there and windows will not let you delete them or will put them back after you delete them, don't worry about this.
  • Now find a good and well recommended registry cleaner like Registry Mechanic for example which is what I use.
  • Download CCleaner if you haven’t already got it. Run this regularly once a week will do, just to remove all the Crap off your system.
  • Now to top it off download the free trial of O&O defrag, run a complete defrag on all hard drives.
That should get your system running like new, if it slows down again after a few months simple repeat the steps.

Now for hardware, first you will need to go shopping.
  • You will need 1 Air can duster
  • One can of computer care foam
  • One pot anti-static screen cleaning wipes (lint free)
  • One pot of plastic safe wipes.
  • One packet of cable ties.
  • One tube or packet of thermal paste.
  • One bottle of isopropyl alcohol
What to do:-

Computer Should Be Turned OFF and Unplugged.
  • First open the case up, take the side off, maybe run for hour with no case on to listen to the sounds of your system.
  • Check for loud scraping or clicking coming from hard drives, this is a sign that they are on there way out.
  • Now for the cleaning part, spray your screen cleaning cloth, with the foam cleaner.
  • Completely cover you screen with the foam, leave it for 10-15mins then wipe off with a different cloth. (Use up and down motions to avoid smudging) The anti static will stop the dust sticking to them again.
  • Now cleaning your keyboard, Spray some more foam onto a plastic cloth. Wipe the surface of the keys, leave for 15mins again then wipe off.
  • Next fun bit, memorise were all the keys go on your keyboard, maybe even take a picture. Now get a flat head screw driver and flick all of the keys off. Using the same method as before clean the keys and they keyboard its self under the keys.
  • Use your air duster to blow all of the dirt from out of it, turning it upside down helps a lot.
  • The fun bit, put all the keys back in the right place lol
  • Now spay some foam onto another cloth and clean the outside of your case leave for 15mins then wipe off. You may need to really scrub hard to remove some bits.
  • Now, cleaning inside, this should be done about once every 6months as dust can cause over heating.
  • Remove all PCI cards from the case. Blow them with the air cleaner. Make sure you remove all dust trapped between components.
  • Now you can do this from inside or its easier to take it out. The motherboard needs cleaning! Take all ram and the CPU off, then start from the top and spray the air can all over the motherboard removing all dust blow out ram sockets and PCI slots and this can cause problems. Also under capacitors and in heat sinks need good clean outs.
  • Use plastic wipes to remove all dust from cables.
  • Now remove the heat sink from the CPU, get a lint free cloth and dip it in the alcohol.
  • Use it to remove all the thermal grease from the CPU and heat sink.
  • Now put a SMALL blob on thermal grease onto the top of the CPU, use a piece of card to spread it out evenly.
  • Now reattach the heat sink.
  • Now find all the cables in your system.
  • Fold, bend, twist and tie them up out of the way using the cable ties, this will increase air flow thought out the case.
  • Now check the position of all fans.
  • The ones at the back should blow out and at the front should blow in.
Do all this then reassemble the system and your good to go.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old June 10th, 2006, 12:22 PM
Tortanick Tortanick is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
O/S: Linux
Age: 35
Posts: 1,118
Thanks, I'll do that sometime soon but you seem to have misunderstood me, I was looking for a way to check *if* the PC is healthy, not spring cleaning instuctions.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old June 10th, 2006, 12:32 PM
dudeking's Avatar
dudeking dudeking is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
O/S: MacOS
Location: Nottingham, UK
Posts: 2,853
Run benchmarking software on your hardware see if it is still running at the peek of its performance.
Hard drives will click or be louder than normal if they are on there way out, and with these symptoms you should replace the hard drive before it dies.
With the software if you want to just check to see if your systems ok. Then do what I said but do analyses in stead of scans.
Would be a good idea to run check disk to see how you hard drives are doing as well.
If you have temperature sensors check to see how hot thing are getting or just judge it with touch.
If there getting to hot, dust out the case.
Use some software like clever cache to see how your ram is doing.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old June 10th, 2006, 12:37 PM
Tortanick Tortanick is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
O/S: Linux
Age: 35
Posts: 1,118
thanks
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Topic Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Similar Topics
Topic Topic Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Pc health check sam.jag Malware Removal 1 December 14th, 2008 05:15 AM
Health Check - HJT Log Czar Malware Removal 21 October 23rd, 2007 08:23 PM
PC Health Check Rathric Malware Removal 4 October 15th, 2007 12:21 AM
Health Check... plz check asap... Meangean Malware Removal 1 February 12th, 2004 03:40 AM
Health Check VegasMAK Malware Removal 7 February 1st, 2004 04:18 PM


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 11:58 AM.