pc health check. what does it check?

Uffy64

I'm taking my PC into PcWorld this week for its annual check. I must admit i haven't been for last 2 years as i forgot all about it. What do they actually check for? I had a problem with it a few months ago and took it into a local pc repair shop. he backed everything up for me and said he'd checked it and there problems on the hard drive. I took it home and plugged it in and its worked ok since, but will the Pc check locate the fault and should they replace the hard drive if there is a problem?

Dirty_Dave

I wouldn't bother, PC World are a rip off and they do nothing you can't do yourself.

All they do is run a spyware/virus scan, remove old and unused files, defrag your hard drive (it puts your files back in to order to help optimize your disk), perform a backup etc.... and try to sell you hardware and software you probably don't need.

As for the problems on your disk, did the tech tell you what they were? Any way, I'll save you 88 quid.

Close all running applications (browser etc)

Run a spyware scan and a virus scan, if you don't have this software then you can download AVG Free from http://free.avg.com/ww-en/homepage

Next download Ccleaner from http://www.ccleaner.com/

Ccleaner will clear out all your old junk files that are not needed by your computer thus speeding up your system and freeing space.

Next defrag and error check your system. Open MyComputer >> right click on your C: drive (for example it maybe named Acer C: or James :C) then click Properties >> Tools >> Defragment Now - then on the new popup screen click Defragment Now - leave until finished.

We will now check for errors on your hard drive, if Windows finds any it will attempt to fix them, 9/10 times it will. Open MyComputer >> right click on your C: drive then click Properties >> Tools >> under Error Checking click Check Now. On the popup screen click both boxes you see and click Start - reboot your system and error checking will start, it might take quite a while.

Backup your software and other files.

Vista Users: Click Start >> All Programs >> Accessories >> System Tools >> Back Up Status & Configuration. Click Run a backup file now and follow the instructions

XP Users: Click Start >> All Programs >> Accessories >> System Tools >> click Backup to start the wizard.Follow the instructions.


I would highly recommend you buy Acronis True Image Home, it's probablt the best backup software out there - http://www.acronis.co.uk/homecomputing/products/trueimage/


For a freebie which is very good and does the trick I recommend DriveImage XML - http://www.runtime.org/driveimage-xml.htm


PC Health Check finished. Price £0.00 .

.

[Deleted User]

Don't waste your money. They'll do something very similar to the below:

1. Uninstall all unnecessary programs from Control Panel then restart your computer.
2. Run Windows Update: http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/ then restart your computer.
3. Run CCleaner: http://www.ccleaner.com
4. Run an anti-virus scan: http://www.free-av.com/
5. Run an anti-spyware scan: http://www.superantispyware.com/
6, Run an anti-malware scan: http://www.malwarebytes.org/
7. Run a defrag: http://www.defraggler.com/
8. Investigate msconfig: http://netsquirrel.com/msconfig/
9. Perform disk error checking: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315265

Money_Grabber13579

I would have to say the most useful thing they did to mine was to clean out all the fluff, so now the fan doesn't run as much. But it didn't cost £88, as was mentioned in post #2. It was only £25.

[Deleted User]

Money_Grabber13579 wrote: »

I would have to say the most useful thing they did to mine was to clean out all the fluff, so now the fan doesn't run as much.

Compressed Air, £2.45 - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Star-Duster-Compressed-Flammable-400ml/dp/B000MQ7DZC/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1255360209&sr=8-2

kwikbreaks

After a short search I can now say that the one thing they will check for sure is that your credit card is good for £88.07. I'm not sure if that is one of the 50 things they claim to check or not.

JasX

If you're lucky you'll get your machine back without it having any new/unexplained problems, they're also likely to have a good nose thru any pictures and other personal files you have on there. It also gives them the chance to sell you some overpriced hardware that might give you some performance improvement but nothing you couldn't get for a quarter the price they'll charge you.

Hopefully they'll leave your hard drive well alone...

kwikbreaks

> they're also likely to have a good nose thru any pictures and other personal files you have on there

Indeed. I don't think Gary Glitter uses them any more.

macman

Complete waste of money, they won't do anything that the above mentioned regular maintenance won't take care of. If you really need someone to do these tasks for you, then why not just get your independent repair shop to do it-it will be done better and cost half as much.
NB: if you get PCW to change your hard drive, you can say goodbye to all your data...if the independent has already advised that the drive is failing then you should heed their advice.

Uffy64

thanks for the replies and help, running the lists you all recommended, fingers crossed!!

motorguy

i also run autoruns to remove all the stuff that is now clogging up your machine at startup and at internet startup

http://www.filehippo.com/download_autoruns/

Also, how much RAM do you have? Its cheap enough now that you could probably upgrade it to 2GB for £25 or so. well worth while