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Table of Contents
Keeping your Win7 machine clean and up-to-date
Software updates
Symantec Endpoint Protection
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
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…)
- 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
