Keeping your Win7 machine clean and up-to-date

Software updates

Symantec Endpoint Protection

Only the virus definitions are updated automatically! And there is NO automatic complete scan of the computer…

To perform a complete update, click on the Symantec shield icon in the right part of the taskbar, and the click on LiveUpdate

You can also click on Rechercher les menaces and then start a quick Active Scan or an Analyse complète

Adding an automatic complete scan: TODO

Computer updates

Updating Windows

All the Windows updating settings are available from
Start ⇒ Control Panel ⇒ System & Security ⇒ Windows Update

Click on Change parameters to select how and when Windows should be updated and select:

Mises à jour importantes: read the warning below

Enable Mises à jour recommandées, Qui peut installer les mises à jour, Microsoft Update and Afficher des notifications détaillées

If you use putty, cygwin/X or other applications that may remain open a long time (e.g during the night, weekend, etc…) make sure to select Télécharger les mises à jour mais me laisser choisir s'il convient de les installer instead of the default Installer les mises à jour automatiquement With a full automatic update, Windows will automatically restart your computer (if required) after an update, which will kill the open connections…

Dell specific updates

Start ⇒ All programs ⇒ Dell ⇒ Dell Client System Update or Dell Command Update

Choose to set up things manually

Download the files to a scratch directory: <disk>:\Scratch\<your_login>\Dell_System_Update

Check for updates every week (eg Saturday at noon) and just notify the user about new available updates

Start a manual check from the first screen

HP specific updates

Cleaning the computer

Removing the user's temporary files

Note: temporary files created by Windows (attachments opened when clicking in Thunderbird, etc…)

Display the hidden folders

Go to C:\Users\jypeter\AppData\Local\Temp

Delete the files (it will not be possible to remove the files/folders that are currently being used by the system)

Cleaning the Firefox cache

Go to Tools ⇒ Options ⇒ Advanced ⇒ Network and click on Clear Now

Cleaning the Internet Explorer cache

Go to Start ⇒ Configuration Panel ⇒ Network and Internet ⇒ Internet Options ⇒ General ⇒ Navigation history ⇒ Delete and then select what you want to remove

Cleaning the Java cache

Start ⇒ Control Panel ⇒ Programs ⇒ Java ⇒ General

In the Internet temporary files section, Clear the cache by clicking on Parameters…⇒ Remove files

Note: it's also a good idea to reduce the maximum size allowed for the cache!

Cleaning the Start Up services

Use with caution, if you know what you are doing!

Some programs may install start up services that you don't really need. Disabling these services may free some memory and decrease a bit the CPU usage…

Click on Start, then type msconfig in the search box and launch msconfig.exe

Go to the Services window, hide the Microsoft services, and uncheck the services that you know for sure you will not need

Removing the hibernation file

If you are on a desktop and you don't use the hibernation, you can gain a few Gb on the C: partition by removing the hibernation file. See the appropriate tech note.

Backing up the computer

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