Laptop clean up software?

Kez14_2

Hi there

Can anyone recommend a software package (reasonably priced obviously) that will clean up my laptop!

Im sure there are processes running in background / spamware etc and maybe even viruses ticking away. Ive tried amending start up set up / closing processes etc but really need something else. Its so slow to boot up and even open programs like ms office!!

Theres so many to choose from - dont know which is best value for money!

Thanks

[Deleted User]

For viruses, obviously an AV program, and keep it up to date.

For registry errors, removing unneeded files, and turning programs on or off at startup, use CC Cleaner.

BTW, if it has a webcam, try turning it off at startup, when you aren't using it, as I find it tends to slow a laptop (especially a lower power one) a lot.

kwikbreaks

Pull off photos/music/documents/etc. to a USB drive then factory reset it - there should have been instructions with it on how to do that.

pendragon_arther

Malwarebytes for trojans, CCleaner for part cleaning, Glary Utilities for comprehensive cleaning. Also type msconfig into RUN and deselect any startup programs not needed.

Kez14_2

Are the free downloads enough for these or do i need to purchase? I assume the free only last for certain amount of days anyway?

Norman_Castle

As above run malwarebytes.Use ccleaner and use ccleaner-tools-start up to deselect start up items. Google any you don't recognise.

Malwarebytes and ccleaner are free.

J_B

Kez14 wrote: »

Are the free downloads enough for these or do i need to purchase? I assume the free only last for certain amount of days anyway?

Free CCleaner and Malwarebytes are fine, free and last forever.

Don't install anything else that's offered at the same time and don't take the free trial of any 'pro' versions.

gjchester

Kez14 wrote: »

Hi there

Can anyone recommend a software package (reasonably priced obviously) that will clean up my laptop!

Im sure there are processes running in background / spamware etc and maybe even viruses ticking away. Ive tried amending start up set up / closing processes etc but really need something else. Its so slow to boot up and even open programs like ms office!!

Theres so many to choose from - dont know which is best value for money!

Thanks

You could try to restore it back to factory settings and re-install the apps you need, Of course you need to backup your data and ensure you have install media for all the programs you own before starting this process, but its a free option.

slinga

Free versions of all AV and malware programmes are fine.

I use 'Comodo' for my firewall and AV stuff and 'Malwarebytes'.

You might also want to try 'Herdprotect', free as well.

Glary utilities although a bit lightweight for malware, imo, does have an add on which will let you know if any of your programmes are out of date and need to be updated.

If you google Windows Secrets and look through the large archive you'll find a step by step instruction on how to restore your computer to a clean factory set up no matter which operating system you use.

henm2

First of all assuming you are using Windows go to the control panel and remove all unwanted/bloat programs.

Next use the free version of malwarebytes to remove most of the viruses/trojans on your system.

Then finally use adwcleaner http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/adwcleaner/ to remove any browser hijackers and PUPs still remaining.

jeallen01

henm2 wrote: »

Next use the free version of malwarebytes to remove most of the viruses/trojans on your system..

Be careful when downloading Malwarebytes to make sure you do select the free version as it is very easy to select the trial period for the paid-for version and then it is very difficult to delete that at the end of the trial period and replace it by the free version - same issue can affect CC Cleaner, and many other programmes (AVG Free antivirus is a prime example as (IIRC) you don't find a direct link on the AVG main site).

OTOH, I finally went over to the paid-for Kaspersky Internet Security suite (reportedly by many magazines as being one of the best on the market - but be careful where/how you buy it as you can pay the same for the 5-user version as for the 3 or single-user version if you look around hard, and then it only works out at around £5-£6 per PC/tablet/phone per year!) with the free version of Malwarebytes being updated and run from time to time and often finds a minor few issues that Kaspersky had not - NB: the free version does not run continuous malware scans and has to be started and updated manually every time you want to use it

CC Cleaner is also there but I rarely use it because experience showed me that it did not do anything that Kaspersky + free Malwarebytes don't do more effectively when coupled with System Mechanic Pro (1 licence for all the PCs in your home/family) for more in-depth analysis and on-going automatic fault detection and correction.