APCUG Reports
January-March 2008

Has your computer become slower and slower, sometimes seeming to completely stall? Do you get popups claiming your PC is infected with spyware or viruses, and suggesting you “click here” to identify or remove them? Does your Internet Browser change to a different website, no matter what link you follow or what you type in the address bar? Does your e-mail program send out multiple copies of the same message? Are there too many icons in the system tray (lower right taskbar)? Is your Internet Security Suite or virus program about to expire and you want to change to a different one but don’t know how? If any of the above scenarios apply, you are a candidate for PC Tuneup.

The PC Tuneup is a multi-stage operation. The procedures described in each phase below must be repeated for EACH ID since one user cannot access another users’ . If, for example, there are four IDs, then the process takes four times as long.

Jean Hall

At the beginning of Phase One, we identify your Windows Operating System. Because scanning for viruses and other malware takes a lot of time, our next task is to eliminate as many unnecessary files as possible by deleting Temporary Internet Files, running Disk Cleanup, then using CCleaner to get rid of those files that the first two missed. Then comes the virus checking. We begin by updating the owner’s virus program and running a complete scan including ALL files. Additional virus removal tools include McAfee Stinger and online scanners at: http://housecall.trendmicro.com and http://www.bitdefender.com/scan8. ClamWin anti-virus can be run from a U3 Flash drive.

Russ Williams

Next comes spyware and malware removal. We install and run two on-demand anti-spyware programs, Spybot Search & Destroy and Ad-Aware 2007. These programs do not run in the background on the PC. The computer data definitions files for these programs must be manually updated immediately prior to manually running the scans. We’ve found these two programs to be very effective in removing spyware and malware. A third scan is run using XoftSpy. As an owner option, we can install Windows Defender or AVG Anti Spyware. These programs run in the background, and more than one running is a redundancy that can slow the computer down.

Phase Two is a one-on-one with the PC owner. A technician explains the operations of Phase One and the necessity of keeping the security software up to date. MSCONFIG is used to disable unnecessary programs running in the background so that they don’t use the computer’s resources. As preventative maintenance, the technician can install protective software if there is none, or if the current one has expired. Free antivirus protection includes AVG or Avast. Free Zone Alarm or Comodo are two options for firewall software. Any current security software must first be removed. The technician can also help with Windows update and unwanted programs if removal is desired.

Ed Walker

Finally, Belarc Advisor is installed and a report is generated listing the hardware and installed programs. A printout of this is given to the owner for future reference.

These staff photos represent only a few of the many great volunteer tune-up technicians active in this club program. We only regret that there is not ample space to acknowledge each one of them for their generosity!

Randy Ridge