Best way to keep vista clean and healthy

[DrPepper]

Work in Progress

I wanted to start a thread and see how you all keep your OS's clean and healthy. I like to keep my OS at its default after a reinstall but as you install apps it gets bogged down.

I remember seeing a post and kiriakost hasn't ever reformatted because he knows how to keep his os clean.

I'd like to add tips to this post so that it could be constructive and used so that other users can keep thier system healthy. Tips like how to avoid virus' clearing out useless cookies and what not and how to keep the system quick and responsive. I hope this becomes quite popular because it would benefit alot of members reading it.

Anti-Virus:
AVG - http://free.avg.com/
Malwarebytes - http://www.malwarebytes.org/

General Cleaning:
CCleaner - http://www.ccleaner.com/
Vista Manager - http://www.yamicsoft.com/vistamanager/index.html
TweakIV - http://www.totalidea.com/product.php?Product=TweakVI
Vlite - http://www.vlite.net/

Defragmentation:
Smartdefrag
Defraggler - http://www.defraggler.com/
JKDefrag - http://www.kessels.com/Jkdefrag/
O&0 Defrag - http://www.oo-software.com/home/en/products/oodefrag/
Ultimate Defrag - http://download.cnet.com/UltimateDefrag-Freeware-Edition/3000-2094_4-10582157.html
Power Defrag - http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/Hard-Disk-Utils/Power-Defragmenter.shtml

Backup Software:
Acronis True Image Home - http://www.acronis.co.uk/
Recuva - http://www.recuva.com/

Information Gathering Software:
CPUZ - http://www.cpuid.com/
Hwmonitor - http://www.cpuid.com/
Pcwizzard - http://www.cpuid.com/
GPUZ - http://www.techpowerup.com/gpuz/
Everest Home/Ultimate - http://www.lavalys.com/

 

[ZakkWylde]

Great Idea! Remember to defrag frequently, do disk cleanups, run ccleaner, etc. Every once in a while take a glance at your startup programs and services in msconfig, clean out anything unnecessary ( I know kinda vague, just do some google seaches to see if you really need what is running). Lets here some more suggestions.

 

[farlex85]

CCleaner (registry and temp file cleaner) and defrag frequently, also optimize services and such. Of course keep it free of virus and spyware.

 

[DrPepper]

I think we should list normal vista processes so that we can Identify foreign one's.

 

[Kursah]

I use Vista Manager, great utility, does a great job cleaning junk files and registry, actually fixed my slow-shut down issue a while back, plus it has a lot of other great tuning areas and os tweaks. I do use CCLeaner, I have my PC set to defrag once a week, run Avast for antivirus, and use Malwarebytes and Spybot for anti-malware duties, overall I gotta say it's worked out great thus far!

 

[farlex85]

I think we should list normal vista processes so that we can Identify foreign one's.

Too many, there's ton's of optimization guides on the web though, here's one. Here's another tweaker that does registry and service edits w/o you having to get into the nitty gritty.

 

[DrPepper]

I'd like to add, I'd prefer if the software list I'm making was free but I'l add another list with programs that cost money to compare.

Too many, there's ton's of optimization guides on the web though, here's one.

I'd like to try get the one's that you see in task manager right after you format a new copy. If anyone has just reformatted can I get a screenshot of taskmanager pretty please

 

[farlex85]

I'd like to try get the one's that you see in task manager right after you format a new copy. If anyone has just reformatted can I get a screenshot of taskmanager pretty please

They're listed in that guide, it depends on which version of the os you have, that guide lists all of them for each. Did you get my tweakvi edit on the last post?

 

[DrPepper]

They're listed in that guide, it depends on which version of the os you have, that guide lists all of them for each. Did you get my tweakvi edit on the last post?

Yeah just caught it there.

I'm going to attempt to have a step by step guide on how to use these programs efficiently.

 

[Haytch]

I think the best solution is Vlite.
Starting off with with a more suited operating system helps make the operating system in general perform better and more stable.

Moving constantly used files to the front of the drive is obviously going to give you better performance.

But the best tweak of all is the relocation of ' My Documents ' to another hard drive incase of format.

 

[Psychoholic]

I use these utilities which are excellent btw..


Ccleaner http://www.ccleaner.com
smartdefrag http://www.iobit.com/iobitsmartdefrag.html
malwarebytes http://www.malwarebytes.org/

 

[DrPepper]

Ok since my last vlite attempt ended in mega failure could you tell us the best way to keep it lean. Personally I like to keep all the features but this isn't just for me.

 

[farlex85]

Oh yeah and here's a great defragger: http://www.kessels.com/Jkdefrag/

I've tried quite a few defraggers, and this one was posted via someone ranking defraggers, they put this one at the top and I whole heartedly agree. Very effective and very simple.

 

[DrPepper]

I've used jkdefrag along with defraggler. I used to have three defraggers each defragging a disk each. Probably the least efficient method but I couldnt find a program that would queue them.

 

[Psychoholic]

the best one i have found is smartdefrag, but i will give jkdefrag a shot too.

 

[DrPepper]

I want to add a bit where is shows how to get rid of added in options when you right click for example when you right click the desktop you get an option for nividia control panel.

I'd like to thank everyone that has helped so far. I hope more people can gather info so I can centralise it for tpu and its community. Instead of browsing endless sites it could all be found here. I'm going to bed so please keep adding and I will update this tomorrow morning. Remember to check the original post for updates.

 

[Mussels]

i have some simple advice which prevents me from needing to format for quite some time.

1. install as few programs as possible. find out if its the right software BEFORE installing it, and if it doesnt do what you want, uninstall it immediately.

2. Have as few programs start with windows as possible. Dont have chat clients start with windows or auto sign in - it slows boots down considerably.

3. Run a decent antivirus and antispyware - but no more than one of each.

4. defrag once a month or so. it hardly matters unless you add/delete lots of files on a drive.

5. set yourself a static page file. It helps prevent fragmentation.

 

[ZakkWylde]

I use raxco perfect disk for defragging

 

[psyko12]

Wow, thanks guys! I use ultimate defrag for my programs drive and windows defrag on os drive

 

[Binge]

best and most light vista defragmenter...

Power Defrag

 

[Wile E]

I use O&O Defrag, and it does support queuing.

 

[h3llb3nd4]

go to www.vista123.com it provides tools to keep vista clean.

 

[psyko12]

Wow, thanks guys! I use ultimate defrag for my programs drive and windows defrag on os drive

 

[Deleted member 67555]

Ok,i have 12 programs other than Vista's crap upon startup and that's my limit with Vista
I use Live one care on all 3 of my pc's and run it's tune up once a month $25 a year 3 pc's
I use Auslogic's disk defrag from tucows Free!!
That's all i use as far as programs
I've had Vista hp 32 on my daughter's computer since Feb,2007 no reinstalls,3 cpu's 4 video cards,2 types of memory at one point or another
Before i update any driver's i delete the old driver,defrag and then reboot and install the new driver.
Live one care gets rid of junk files as i have it set,and does a extra thorough job with virus scans and defrag
however i am on my 3rd install on my tweaking pc-but that's my fault it has Vista hp 64
My main pc is only 4 months old so i cant say how that will hold up but perfect so far

 

[Polarman]

When i'm finished installing Vista, i have my own custom "tweaks" that i apply. Afterwards:

I use Ccleaner before every shutdown.

I use Raxco's PerfectDisk 8 once a month to defrag my drives.

I use Macecraft RegSupreme Pro when Install/Uninstall stuff. (It seem's that this as been discontinued to be replaced by a free version in Q3 2009)

I only install what i need and use.

Update

This is so cool! I was reading this on Macecraft website:

To show our gratitude, all customers who own a license for RegSupreme Pro or RegSupreme will be able to update to jv16 PowerTools 2009 without any additional fees. You can simply download the next released version of PowerTools 2009 (to be released later this week) and it will work with your existing license file.

I downloaded PowerTools 2009 and applied my RegSupreme registration and it worked!

Checking it now!