Broken Windows - How to fix 'em and how to keep 'em fixed


When you first got that new PC you just couldn't believe how fast it was. Well, it's still the same PC but it sure ain't fast anymore. What happened? Well, over time you have installed lots of programs and removed a lot of them. Pieces have been left behind. You also surf the web and lots of things have been downloaded. Some of 'em you never even asked for. Lots of websites install nasty little presents on your hard drive, and they don't always ask first. Add to that the huge number of viruses in today's computer world and it's a wonder the thing runs at all. I have been able to speed up many of my friends PC's using the steps below. Do these steps at your own risk and be careful. But the payoff could be HUGE!!!

Step 1 - Remove Spyware, Adware, and Pop-ups The number one problem that I see repeatedly on PC's these days is spyware and adware. Most people are aware of the dangers of viruses, but the spyware/adware threat is still unknown to many. Spyware is any software that works deviously behind a user's back to collect and transmit data about your web browsing habits (and possibly other info about your use of your computer). It may download itself on to your computer, gathering information on you and transmit it across the Internet, downloading files or running programs on your computer, messing with your system settings, or even trying to silently pass itself on to others. Like a spy in real life, SpyWare may disguise itself and its intentions. It will try not to be noticed. It may persist in the background even after you tell it to go away. It might even try to hide from you if it knows you're looking for it! Adware or 'Advertising-supported software', if done properly, is a unique and viable business model in which software developers can make money without requiring the end-user to pay for the software. However, the key words in the last sentence are 'if done properly', which is often not the case. While it may come as no surprise that adware uses your Net connection to download ads, you would have good reason to be concerned about the large amounts of data flowing in the other direction. Several adware applications have been known to secretly snoop around areas of your computer they don't belong, including your browser history. Pop-ups are advertisements that pop-up in or under your web browser long after you have left the website that originated them. They come in different forms: a window that appears suddenly which can easily be closed, a window that appears that spawns another window when it is closed, windows that appear as you start your browser or when you shut it down, and advertisements that show up as soon as you start your computer. The most anoying pop-ups are those that are built by Adware that is on your PC. You should use the following freeware programs to remove these threats from your computer.
Spybot Search & Destroy Cost: FREE	Spybot Search & Destroy is a free adware/spyware cleaner which also includes several other powerful utility tasks that will clean up other problem areas on your PC. In basic mode it features an easy to use wizard system for spyware scanning. For the more experienced users you should switch to "advanced mode" that will allow you to control what programs start when you boot your system, and many other functions. However, while the spyware scan is very safe, you could get in trouble if you make the wrong decisions in the advanced mode. Use care please. This program is distributed as "donation ware". You are welcome to use the program for free, but the author will accept any size donation if you like the program.
Ad-Aware Cost: FREE	Ad-Aware is a another free spyware removal utility that scans your memory, registry and hard drives for known spyware and adware components and lets you remove them safely. My normal recommendation is to alternate between Spybot and Ad-aware for doing your scans. Ad-aware comes in a basic program which is free, and 2 other versions that are not free. The basic (free) Ad-Aware version is all you really need. But you must remember to run either Spybot or Ad-aware at least twice a week and you should always "check for updates" every time you run it. Normally the recommendations that Ad-aware makes are pretty safe. Just in case, use the built in backup function to make copies of what you are about to remove.
Microsoft Anti-Spyware Cost: FREE	Microsoft Anti-Spyware (Beta version)
	Still need more help? These websites may help! If you are still having problems here are some web sites that may help. The Parasite Fight at the Windows Support Center has lots of good information on spyware and adware and the tools you can use to get rid of them. The Spyware Tools page at Major Geeks to many of the spyware tools available and also to the specialized tools needed to remove specific threats.
Step 2 - Remove and Prevent Viruses Most people today are aware of the dangers of viruses to their PC's. Yet many users have not installed antivirus software. Many people that have installed antivirus software have not kept their antivirus subscriptions up to date. Programs such as Norton and McAfee antivirus are licensed on a yearly basis. When your subscription runs out your virus updates stop, and if you don't have the most recent virus signatures installed you are no longer protected. Norton and McAfee are great programs, but there are some other free programs that are also extremely good.
eTrust EZ Armor Cost: FREE for Road Runner users only	If you have high speed internet from Time Warner's Road Runner you can get a complete suite containing antivirus, firewall, and anti-spam for free. Just go to the Road Runner home page and click the download link at the top of the page.
AVG Antivirus Cost: FREE	AVG Antivirus software is one of the best on the market and it is completely free for home users. Many people have used this program for many years and swear by it. Did I mention that it is free?

Misc. Useful Utilities I frequently help friends and relatives with their computer problems. Generally they don't call me until there PC is messed up almost beyond fixing. Below I will place links to some of the tools I have had to use to fix these nearly dead computers. These tools are for the more advanced user, or as a last resort prior to reformatting your harddrive and starting from scratch. One reason I am placing the link here is because I don't want to search for the tool every time I need it. Down deep, this web page is here to make my life easier. If I can help someone else while I am at it then that is great too.
LSP-Fix Cost: FREE	FOR REPAIR OF A SPECIFIC PROBLEM ONLY! Repairs Winsock 2 settings, caused by buggy or improperly-removed Internet software, that result in loss of Internet access. If your computer can successfully connect to the internet then you don't need this software. LSP-Fix is a free utility to repair a specific type of problem associated with certain Internet software. This type of software is known as a Layered Service Provider or LSP, a piece of software that can be inserted into the Windows TCP/IP handler like a link in a chain. However, due to bugs in the LSP software or deletion of the software, this chain can get broken, rendering the user unable to access the Internet. This type of software is sometimes quietly installed by unrelated software such as file-sharing programs, sneaking onto a system unannounced. In fact, in many cases, the user does not know of its existence until something goes wrong, and he/she can no longer access Web sites. Common offenders include New.net and WebHancer, which are often bundled with file-sharing utilities, DVD player software, and other free downloads. LSP-Fix repairs the Winsock LSP chain by removing the entries left behind when LSP software is removed by hand (or when errors in the software itself break the LSP chain), and removing any gaps in the chain. LSP-Fix is not a spyware removal utility and does not target specific products. LSP-Fix does not delete any files. Other Utilities that perform this same function: http://www.bu.edu/pcsc/internetaccess/winsock2fix.html - Winsock repair utility designed for Windows 98, 98SE, and ME. http://members.shaw.ca/techcd/WinsockXPFix.exe - Winsock repair utility designed for Windows XP. http://digital-solutions.co.uk/lavasoft/whndnfix.zip - Winsock repair utility for Windows 95/98/98SE/ME.
Webmaster Tools Lately my friends have also been asking about tools to help them build their websites. The reason I am placing these links here is because I don't want to search for the tools every time. Down deep, this web page is here to make my life easier. If I can help someone else while I am at it then that is great too.
FavIcons From Pics Cost: FREE	Notice the red "Y!" symbol that appears in the left-most area of the address bar in Internet Explorer graphic below. Look familiar? Yep, that's Yahoo's favicon. These favicons (favorites icons), sometimes called "bookmark icons," appear after adding a website with a favicon to the favorites menu in Internet Explorer and certain other browsers. The "FavIcon from Pics" page allow you to convert any picture into a favicon.
Spam-Me-Not Cost: FREE	Want lots of spam to show up in you mailbox every day? The easiest way to attract spam is to put your email address on your web pages. Avoid the problem using this simple to use webpage. This tool will scramble your email address enough so that the spammers will look elsewhere. However the links you create will still be just as effective in allowing people to send you email!
FontList Cost: FREE	You're sure you must have that perfect font for your project on your computer, but can't find it when you need it? With FontList, you can create a HTML file that will show all the fonts installed on your computer. With your browser, you can pick the right font in no time. Using FontList, you can change the predefined sample text, exclude seldom used fonts from the list and change the path for the HTML file.

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