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Tech Tips

Uninstalling Spyware and Adware
Clearing Start-Up Items to Improve Performance for Windows XP
Disk Cleanup for Windows XP
Scandisk for Window XP
Disk Defragmentor for Windows XP
Clearing Temporary Internet Files for Windows XP
Clearing Cookies in Windows XP
Clearing History in Windows XP
Support Links for setting up Internet Mail for Various ISP's
Setting up Internet Mail for Outlook Express

"Spyware" and "Adware"

Free software (like file-sharing applications) that are downloaded from the Internet may have some additional unwanted third-party software (sometimes called "Adware" or "Spyware") running on your system that can make it slower. The frequency with which to scan for Adware is dictated by the amount of software downloads performed over the course of a month. If there are any file sharing applications used on the computer, the risk of acquiring Adware increases. Scanning should be performed twice a month for heavy file transfer users and software download intensive users. We use a free utility called Spybot to check for adware on our computers. Spotbot can be found at http://safer-networking.org/en/download/index.html. It is free, but they like donations!

Clearing Start-Up Items to Improve Performance for Windows XP

If your system seems slower than it used to be or sluggish when performing familiar tasks, extra programs and utilities may be loading at boot. A good tool to troubleshoot this is the Microsoft Windows System Configuration Utility (MSCONFIG). The MSCONFIG tool can also be used to disable programs and services that load during the startup process.

Disk Cleanup for Windows XP Disk

Cleanup can be used to free space on your hard disk drive by removing temporary files. To launch Disk Cleanup, follow these steps:

1. Click the Start button, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click Disk Cleanup. The system calculates the space that can be freed, then the Disk Cleanup window appears.
   
   
2. Click to select the options you want on the Disk Cleanup window, and then click the OK button. The system will perform the selected tasks.

Scandisk for Windows XP

Scandisk is the utility that checks the data on your hard disk drive for potential problems. It can also fix problems it may detect. To launch Scandisk, follow these steps:

1. Click the Start button, and then click My Computer.
2. Right-click the hard disk drive you want to scan, and then left-click Properties. The Local Disk Properties window appears.

3. Click the Tools tab.
   The Tools Tab window appears.

4. Click the Check Now button.
   The Check Disk Local Disk window appears.
5. Click to select the box next to Automatically fix file system errors.
   NOTE: Click to select Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors if you would like to perform a physical check of the surface of the hard disk. This procedure will greatly increase the time it takes to complete the scan.                                                                                                                                                                 
6. Click the Start button.
   The system will attempt to scan the hard disk.
7. You may be prompted to perform the scan next time you reboot the computer. If so, click the Yes button. Reboot the computer when necessary. When the system reboots it will scan the hard disk.

Disk Defragmenter for Windows XP

Fragmentation of files may occur as the hard drive removes and adds files from the hard disk drive in your computer. Excessive fragmentation can slow system performance. To run the Disk Defragmenter program, follow these steps:

1. Click the Start button, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click Disk Defragmenter.
   The Disk Defragmenter window appears.
2. Click to select the hard disk drive you want to defragment, and then click the Defragment button.

Clearing Temporary Internet Files for Windows XP

1. Click the Start button.
2. Click All Programs.
3. Click Internet Explorer.
   The Internet Explorer browser window will appear.
4. Click the Tools menu.
5. Click Internet Options.
   The Internet Options window will appear.
6. Click the Delete Files button.
   A Delete Files window will appear.
7. Check the Delete All Offline Content box.
8. Click the OK button.
   Your Temporary Internet Files will be deleted.

Clearing Cookies in Windows XP

NOTE: Cookies are used to store settings from previously viewed websites. Removing cookies may cause you to re-enter passwords and settings on certain websites.

1. Click the Start button.
2. Click All Programs.
3. Click Internet Explorer.
   The Internet Explorer browser window will appear.
4. Click the Tools menu.
5. Click Internet Options.
   The Internet Options window will appear.
6. Click the Delete Cookies button.
   You will be prompted with a box asking to delete all cookies in the Temporary Internet folder.
7. Click the OK button.
   Your cookies will now be deleted.

Clearing History in Windows XP

1. Click the Start button.
2. Click All Programs.
3. Click Internet Explorer.
   The Internet Explorer browser window will appear.
4. Click the Tools menu.
5. Click Internet Options.
   The Internet Options window will appear.
6. Click the Clear History button.
   You will be prompted with a box asking if you are sure you want to delete your history of visited Web Sites.
7. Click the Yes button.
   Your Internet History will now be deleted.

Support Links for setting up Internet Mail for Various ISP's

If you require help setting up your e-mail account, you can reference your ISP documentation, ISP setup software, or contact your ISP to obtain the specific e-mail settings.Check below for your specific ISP support site.

If you have the e-mail settings for your specific ISP, refer to the following Dell Knowledge Base Article to setup Outlook Express:

Setting up Internet Mail for Outlook Express

Overview

To set up Microsoft Outlook Express® to receive e-mail:

First Run the Internet Connection Wizard

NOTE: In order to use the instructions provided you will need your internet account username, internet account password, type of incoming mail server, the incoming mail server name, and the outgoing mail server name. This information can be obtained from your internet service provider.

Run the Internet Connection Wizard

1. Click the Start button, point to Programs, click Outlook Express.
   NOTE: If you get a message asking if you want Outlook Express to be your default mail client uncheck Always perform this check when starting Outlook Express and click Yes.
2. Click the Tools option on the menu bar, click Accounts, click the Add button.
3. Click Mail.
   The Internet Connection Wizard will now start.
4. Type your Display name in the box provided, click Next.
5. Type your E-mail address in the box provided, click Next.
6. Choose the type of Incoming mail server your Internet service provider advised you to use.
7. Type your Incoming mail server name
8. Type your Outgoing mail server name in the boxes provided, click Next.
9. Type your Account name and Account password in the boxes provided, click Next.
   The Congratulations window appears.
10. Click Finish.
    The Internet accounts window appears.
11. Click Close.

You are now ready to send and receive e-mail with Outlook Express.

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