PC advice please

Post by **Pushki** » Mon Apr 30, 2012 7:59 am

I've just installed Windows 7 (clean installation) onto my PC after suffering Vista for 5 years.
I would like some advice on the best programs to keep it running safe.
Indigolemon's advice would be valued.

I've installed the free version of Avast anti-virus.
What other programs, (preferably free) are recommended to remove spyware/malware and other nastyware?
I would also like to keep my registry free from unwanted entries.

Many thanks.

majemoss · Post by **majemoss** » Mon Apr 30, 2012 8:39 am

I've always used AVG free and I've found it offers me good protection. A good registry cleaner is CCleaner, it cleans everything. I'm not sure on malware/spyware, but thats just reminded me that maybe I should check my own computer as it has been running slow. I'm sure someone with better knowledge will know.

JayJay · Post by **JayJay** » Mon Apr 30, 2012 9:15 am

I use CCleaner religously, great program and it does allow you to backup the registry before removing anything. You can also clear a lot of the temp files that build up, and tweak what starts up when you boot.

As for AV, I highly recommend Windows' own one, Microsoft Security Essentials. Great program and lightweight. I've always found AVG to be very heavy handed and slows the machines down.

As for malware, Malwarebytes is a great program as well (free and paid for versions).

You don't want Indigos advice, he's a Linux boy

mart609 · Post by **mart609** » Mon Apr 30, 2012 9:29 am

If you don't mind paying a few quid a year

ESET NOD32

Post by **indigolemon** » Mon Apr 30, 2012 10:02 am

JayJay wrote:As for AV, I highly recommend Windows' own one, Microsoft Security Essentials. Great program and lightweight. I've always found AVG to be very heavy handed and slows the machines down.

This ^^ Much less intrusive and more integrated than Avast or AVG.

Also, Jay is right - my knowledge of Windows 7 is limited to fixing other people's machines these days - you'll definitely get better advice from someone like Jay for Windows 7. I'm pretty much exclusively using Linux on all my kit these days http://fedoraproject.org/

Duo · Post by **Duo** » Mon Apr 30, 2012 11:16 am

I do like my PCLOS install for most things but do need to delve into the murky windows environment from time to time. I used to use AVG and swapped to Avast for the boot time scanning feature, listen to mart though, NOD32 is epic AV like no other and not too expensive, to put it in context on my work machine it gets the new virus definitions as they are uploaded, sometimes you get an updated database every couple of hours and it's instantly implemented and so nice. Being a pauper I run Avast though, Spybot search and destroy used to be good but the built in windows stuff seems to be far superior in 7 tbh. CCCleaner is great, to keep on top of temp files and that kind of stuff have a look at a prog called Privacy Mantra, pretty good at keeping things trim.

Post by **Donald** » Mon Apr 30, 2012 11:19 am

I don't have any antivirus

bristol_bb4 · Post by **bristol_bb4** » Mon Apr 30, 2012 1:53 pm

Gorgon wrote:I don't have any antivirus

+1 never have, never will

Post by **Lude-dude** » Mon Apr 30, 2012 3:06 pm

think guys on here recommended Microsoft Security Essentials, after AVG and Avast stopped me using some programs

never looked back

Post by **Gayno** » Mon Apr 30, 2012 3:11 pm

bristol_bb4 wrote:
Gorgon wrote:I don't have any antivirus
+1 never have, never will

With the sites you visit, seriously?!