how to "clean" computer without reformating?

next week i will "clean" my boss personal computer since its already slow (his son using for chat and maybe with other dark night adventures )

the problem is he don't have the recovery disk so that i will reformat his computer.

anybody can help me how will i start to fix his computer.

ex. defrag, scandisk, clean internet browser, etc etc.

 

1. Check for and clean viruses and spyware/malware using a good set of free tools (SuperantiSpyware, MalwareBytes Anti-Malware, and Avira or Avast Free) assuming the boss doesn't have any good or any antivirus/antispyware programs already.

2. After it's clean, download and install CCleaner. It's a free clutter/old registry entry cleaner. When it asks, let the program save a copy of the registry before it starts cleaning it. It will also clean out browser temp files and such.

3. Defrag the disk and do a ChkDisk (scandisk).

4. See if he may possibly consider using SandboxIE and/or Returnil. Both have free versions and both have the ability to save files that you want to keep and dump everything else (temp files, browser history, all that). They take just a few minutes to get to know and they are both extremely safe using their default install (sandboxIE can be configured to be locked like Fort Knox as far as safety, but that's beyond the scope of your question).

The first 3 steps will get him clean, the 4th will KEEP him clean.

 

Hi

I think you should run several tools, such as AntiVir, DrWeb Cureit, Kaspersky AVP Tool, Superantispyware and Malwarebytes Antimalware.

And consider getting your boss to get GesWall or pay for DefenseWall for protection against malware in future. They're easier to use than Sandboxie and Returnil.

 

I right-click Firefox to run it in the sandbox (IE is sandboxed by default), and right-click the tray icon to delete the sandbox contents. With Returnil, you turn it on with one click, you turn it off with one click and a reboot. Defensewall and Geswall (Geswall even more) needs some adjustments to give full protection (I'm thinking along the lines of having to add certain things to untrusted lists and such when I say that).

SandboxIE and Returnil can let everything run normal and anything bad caught is kissed goodbye upon cleaning the sandbox and/or a reboot. Seems much simpler to me, and free.

 

thank you for the reply guys.

is it better to do online scan or just download and scan using free antivirus such us avira?

my boss told me that it almost take long to start his computer and his internet browser.


anymore suggestion?

 

I would first start here: http://housecall.trendmicro.com/. This is an online virus scan. Once that's done, I would still download maybe Avira Free to do another scan as a 2nd opinion. I also still suggest the antispyware apps mentioned previously as they can catch things that the antivirus may have missed. It also sounds like maybe he has a little too much running in the background if his computer is taking so long to load up. When it comes up, check what all is running, you may be able to disable some of the less used/unnecessary startups.

 

Follow-up DW's suggestion's with silent runners.vbs, upload the result's file as an attachment.

S

 

ok after i run that and identified there's a virus in the computer, do i need to install avira (free) or any steps to delete the virus?

 

I haven't ran HouseCall in ages, I THINK it can clean viruses to a certain extent, but I'm not sure on that. After at least identifying there's a problem (if HouseCall won't clean it), then yes, get Avira on there and let it run and see how much it can get off of there. In all honesty, I would do that even if HouseCall does clean up the viruses it finds. A little backup can't hurt.

Edit: If Housecall does do cleaning, it should ask you if you want to let it clean. I forgot to mention that.

 

Just one word: Backups.

 

Malware Cleaning : KAV 2009
Spyware Cleaning: SUPERAnti Spyware + Ewido/AVG Anti Spyware or Ewido Micro Scanner
Tune up: CCleaner to remove crap and fix some registry entries,
Ultimate Defrag, run a trial, defrag the computer.
Remove stupid startup entries.

 

Hi

I know it's not very hard, but if they don't want to do anything at all GesWall and DefenseWall are easier to use.

Thanks

 

Try cleaning the virus with CureIt or AVP Tool

 

To:xps

Since your boss has no recovery disks things could get tricky.

In addition to the NESSASARY BACKUP (preferably an entire image) I would issue your boss a kinder and friendlier version of the normal disclaimer (not responsible for lossess: yes you could lose everything; ect.) before starting the tuneup.

It is the same thing a brain surgeon would say before any operation, even the most routine ones.