Operating System Checklist

1
Computer Checklist(s)
If your system is slow? One of these could be the
problem

• Viruss,
• spyware, malware, greyware, bhos, popups,
• Trojans, worms, rootkits, keyloggers,
• Backdoors!

Does the system have a virus checker(s)?
Virus Updates
Does the system have a spyware checker(s)?
Run free online checks often
Firewall (software or router)?
Cookies may not be all bad? But most spyware is
bad!
Are there any conflicts in device
manager? Control Panel, system,
Hardware Checks
Operating System Checklist

• Use Windows Utilities to troubleshoot or change
  startup-Msconfig

No conflicts allowed
Noises, fans, smell, cables, dust

• Backups- restore (points)

Disk Indexing?
Turn off!
Performance Enhancements
Temp Temporary Internet files
Cleanup with utilities or inside Internet
Explorer
Uninstall Before Deleting Any software!!

• Driver updates, windows updates, firmware
  updates, device parameters

Fragmented Disk(s)

• Reboot upon any
• windows failure!

Registry Cleanup / Defrag

• All search bars are not nice!

Use known utilities to accomplish this!
Dale Finley 214-244-2100 Cell
Right cable hookups, master/slave etc.
2
Things U can do

• Do virus and spyware updates and full system
  checks!
• If you system is slow, you may have been
  hijacked. A good spyware checker and firewall
  will help.
• Msconfig will let you check/uncheck boxes for
  startup programs that eat up your patience and
  system resources. Start/run/msconfig
• Do windows updates often. Manually or
  automatically. Launch IE and then do tools,
  windows update
• Do system defragmentation once a month. Start/all
  programs/accessories/system tools, disk
  defragmenter
• Reboot after any software uninstall or any
  windows error.
• Always Uninstall software instead of just
  deleting the files. Start/control panel/ add or
  remove programs
• Watch out for phishing emails asking for you to
  update your profile, personal information.
• 10. Watch out for spam emails. Do not click on
  their link in the email. Always go to the link
  manually via Internet Explorer address bar.
• 11. Do system backups of your pictures and data
  files (often) and more importantly, know how to
  restore (copy your files) from a floppy or CD
  back onto your system.
• 12. Disk indexing, I believe with todays fast
  computers is NOT necessary. This only slows down
  your system performance. Start/my computer/drive
  c/properties uncheck the box.
• 13. I believe most unasked for Popups are bad. I
  use Google tool bar instead of Yahoo, MSN, etc.
• www.google.com more toolbar, take
  defaults. This will block popups and put a
  search bar below your address bar in IE.
• 14. Active X plug-ins and other plug-ins are
  potentially bad.
• 15. Reboot after any major system software
  install or change!
• 16. Use free online checks from www.norton.com or
  www.mcafee.com or www.trendmicro.com
• or Microsofts http//safety.live.com OFTEN
  for virus checks, spyware checks!
• 17. Use the disk cleanup utility in accessories
  to cleanup your system of recycle bin, temp
  files, etc. Start/all programs/accessories/system
  tools/disk cleanup
• 18. Beware of downloading files. It is best to
  download them to a known folder, then do a
  manual virus scan of the file(s) before
  installing.

3
Mouse, Printer, Hard Drive, Keyboard, CD/DVD,
Modem, Network, Internet, Wireless, Keyboard,
Slow, Backup/Restore, Time/Date

• MOUSE - Skippy or Slow or Wont Work
• 1) Either the mouse is dirty or the
  system is busy (see SLOW below)
• 2) Clean track ball and rollers by
  removing circular ring holding the ball in the
  socket. Then clean the rollers usually a small
  ring of lint is wrapped around the rollers
  (2each) Clean with a small sharp instrument and
  then clean the ball and socket.
• 3) Make sure your mouse is plugged in
  good, then reboot system.
• PRINTER - Will not Print, Print quality bad,
  Paper Jammed,
• 1) Check Ink cartridge (s), check to
  see if the
• small scotch tape is removed do not remove the
  brass.
• 2) Check to see if print spooler is
  full of print jobs. Double click
• on the printer icon on the task bar and CANCEL
  all jobs AND
• you may have to turn off your printer to empty
  the printers
• cache memory, then retry printing.
• 3) Some printers wont print or come
  ready if one of the cartridges
• is not inserted properly and the tape tab is not
  pulled off.
• 4) Printer driver is not installed.
  Always install USB printer software
• first, then PLUG in your printer to complete the
  software install.
• 5) Check to see if paper is installed
  and not jammed. Turn it off to recycle
  printer initialization / power up sequence after
  clearing problem.
• HARD DRIVE Busy, slow, LED on all the time, or
  Wont Boot
• 1) A hard drive that is busy, ie,
  the LED is on all the time when
• you are not doing anything could indicate a bad
  hard drive,

4
HARD DRIVE (continued) 4) If your system wont
boot up into windows, try the following Reboot
or try to reboot (ie shutdown, restart. I would
not power it down just yet). While the system is
booting up, try using the F8 function key to go
into the safe mode. Let it boot up into the safe
mode (note the screen will look funky its
ok), then exit safe mode by doing start/restart.
If this fails, then power off, wait 30 seconds
and then try rebooting If this fails, call
me. This is BAD, you could loose all your data
(not the programs). I can try to recover it by
using one of my many tools and techniques. I can
USUALLY slave your drive to another drive and
recover your pictures and data files. Maybe ??.
The hard drive may have really crashed. I can
tell with my tools. Hard drive recovery is
expensive, so backup your data. Please. ALWAYS
save OR save as BEFORE PRINTING. KEYBOARD Wont
work, Locked, Wrong keys printed on screen 1)
Check to see if keyboard cable is plugged in.
This will require a reboot if it is partially
unplugged. Windows does not like the keyboard to
be unplugged.