Vista Maintenance

Does anyone have a list of "must have" maintenace apps for optimal Vista
Performance?

I have heard CCleaner is good, and I assume Defraging, but how often should
I defrag?

Beyond that what is good?

Do any of these so called reg cleaners really do anything?

I personally use CCleaner, but 'not' the registry option. My philosophy on
registry cleaners is: 'if you are not competent enough to edit the registry
manually, then leave well alone.' Registry cleaner cause more problems than
they solve.

Defragmenting the drive is a must. I don't use Vista's own defragmenter I
much prefer third party defragmenters. I use PerfectDisk and my hard drive
is defragged every week.

Make sure you also have a good anti virus application (not Nortons or
Mcafee) There are plenty of free ones about. I recommend AVG; others
recommend Avast.

My only other 'addition' is Malwarebytes Anti Malware (www.malwarebytes.org)
which is a free spyware/malware application. Yes Vista does have Windows
Defender, which I also use, but I also like to run Malwarebytes.


--

--
John Barnett MVP
Windows XP Associate Expert
Windows Desktop Experience

Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org
Web: http://www.silversurfer-guide.com

The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any
kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable for
any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the
use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this
mail/post..


"roraniel" <> wrote in message
news:1FE25A7E-7CB7-4710-9E9C-...
> Does anyone have a list of "must have" maintenace apps for optimal Vista
> Performance?
>
> I have heard CCleaner is good, and I assume Defraging, but how often
> should
> I defrag?
>
> Beyond that what is good?
>
> Do any of these so called reg cleaners really do anything?

Thanks. I see PerfectDisk is not a free defrag program. Can you recommend a
free defrag app? Someone told me to try Smart Defrag.


"John Barnett MVP" wrote:

> I personally use CCleaner, but 'not' the registry option. My philosophy on
> registry cleaners is: 'if you are not competent enough to edit the registry
> manually, then leave well alone.' Registry cleaner cause more problems than
> they solve.
>
> Defragmenting the drive is a must. I don't use Vista's own defragmenter I
> much prefer third party defragmenters. I use PerfectDisk and my hard drive
> is defragged every week.
>
> Make sure you also have a good anti virus application (not Nortons or
> Mcafee) There are plenty of free ones about. I recommend AVG; others
> recommend Avast.
>
> My only other 'addition' is Malwarebytes Anti Malware (www.malwarebytes.org)
> which is a free spyware/malware application. Yes Vista does have Windows
> Defender, which I also use, but I also like to run Malwarebytes.
>
>
> --
>
> --
> John Barnett MVP
> Windows XP Associate Expert
> Windows Desktop Experience
>
> Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
> Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org
> Web: http://www.silversurfer-guide.com
>
> The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any
> kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
> reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable for
> any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the
> use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this
> mail/post..
>
>
> "roraniel" <> wrote in message
> news:1FE25A7E-7CB7-4710-9E9C-...
> > Does anyone have a list of "must have" maintenace apps for optimal Vista
> > Performance?
> >
> > I have heard CCleaner is good, and I assume Defraging, but how often
> > should
> > I defrag?
> >
> > Beyond that what is good?
> >
> > Do any of these so called reg cleaners really do anything?
>
>

On Tue, 28 Oct 2008 11:16:09 -0700, roraniel
<> wrote:

>Does anyone have a list of "must have" maintenace apps for optimal Vista
>Performance?

Regular reinstallations of XP until Vista is gone is a good policy.

>I have heard CCleaner is good, and I assume Defraging, but how often should
>I defrag?

Be careful with CCleaner. It can clean out things you want.

Vista Defrag allegedly runs in the background and you never need to
defrag again. In real life, I suggest every couple weeks - if you wait
longer then it may take a while to do. A lot of folks are using 3rd
party defraggers since Vista gives no estimate of fragmentation level,
time required, or time remaining.

>Beyond that what is good?

Backup your data.

>Do any of these so called reg cleaners really do anything?

I don't think they matter all that much. Perhaps if you install and
un-install a lot of programs they might remove some unneeded entries
but it's not really a key performance item.

No sadly PerfectDisk isn't a free program but you get what you pay for.
However, if you are looking for a free disk defragmenter then Auslogic disk
defrag (http://www.auslogics.com/disk-defrag) is good.

I can't comment on Smart Defrag simply because I've never used it.


--

--
John Barnett MVP
Windows XP Associate Expert
Windows Desktop Experience

Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org
Web: http://www.silversurfer-guide.com

The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any
kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable for
any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the
use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this
mail/post..



"roraniel" <> wrote in message
news472058F-6250-4252-ADF1-...
> Thanks. I see PerfectDisk is not a free defrag program. Can you recommend
> a
> free defrag app? Someone told me to try Smart Defrag.
>
>
> "John Barnett MVP" wrote:
>
>> I personally use CCleaner, but 'not' the registry option. My philosophy
>> on
>> registry cleaners is: 'if you are not competent enough to edit the
>> registry
>> manually, then leave well alone.' Registry cleaner cause more problems
>> than
>> they solve.
>>
>> Defragmenting the drive is a must. I don't use Vista's own defragmenter I
>> much prefer third party defragmenters. I use PerfectDisk and my hard
>> drive
>> is defragged every week.
>>
>> Make sure you also have a good anti virus application (not Nortons or
>> Mcafee) There are plenty of free ones about. I recommend AVG; others
>> recommend Avast.
>>
>> My only other 'addition' is Malwarebytes Anti Malware
>> (www.malwarebytes.org)
>> which is a free spyware/malware application. Yes Vista does have Windows
>> Defender, which I also use, but I also like to run Malwarebytes.
>>
>>
>> --
>>
>> --
>> John Barnett MVP
>> Windows XP Associate Expert
>> Windows Desktop Experience
>>
>> Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
>> Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org
>> Web: http://www.silversurfer-guide.com
>>
>> The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any
>> kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
>> reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable
>> for
>> any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of
>> the
>> use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this
>> mail/post..
>>
>>
>> "roraniel" <> wrote in message
>> news:1FE25A7E-7CB7-4710-9E9C-...
>> > Does anyone have a list of "must have" maintenace apps for optimal
>> > Vista
>> > Performance?
>> >
>> > I have heard CCleaner is good, and I assume Defraging, but how often
>> > should
>> > I defrag?
>> >
>> > Beyond that what is good?
>> >
>> > Do any of these so called reg cleaners really do anything?
>>
>>

On Tue, 28 Oct 2008 13:01:01 -0700, roraniel wrote:

> Thanks. I see PerfectDisk is not a free defrag program. Can you recommend a
> free defrag app? Someone told me to try Smart Defrag.

Don't clutter your OS. There is absolutely nothing wrong using the built-in
utility!

Hi Anne,

Vista's defragmenter is fine and as you are not a heavy user defragmenting
monthly should be okay.

The third party defragmenter I recommended, PerfectDisk, defragments the
drive far better than the one Vista has, after all, it is an extremely
'light' version of Diskeeper.

Vista's defragmenter does the job it is supposed to do but, like everything
else, free versions are only the basic, for more substantial features you
have to pay for them. PerfectDisk also defrags the boot files, something
that Vista defragmenter doesn't do, yes the boot files can be defragged
using command line parameters but it isn't something that the Vista
defragmenter does automatically.

Most users complain about the Vista defragmenter, not because it isn't any
good, but because they can't see what it is doing. If you used Windows XP
you will remember that the disk defragmenter displayed a progress bar
showing how much fragmentation you had and also how disk defragmenter was
re-arranging it. Windows Vista doesn't have this user friendly interface and
people resent that; but that was a decision Microsoft took and they will,
know doubt, stick to it.

Auslogic, on the other hand is free and has a user friendly interface where
you can see, block by block, exactly how the drive is being defragmented and
what the progress is.

Even though PerfectDisk has a friendly interface and also displays the
progress of the defragmentation it is very rare that I sit and watch each
block move around the screen. I just set it and forget it.

So, Anne, in a nutshell you aren't missing anything by using the Vista
defragmenter unless, of course, you want to see little blocks being moved
around. Personally I think it's like watching paint dry.


--

--
John Barnett MVP
Windows XP Associate Expert
Windows Desktop Experience

Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org
Web: http://www.silversurfer-guide.com

The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any
kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable for
any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the
use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this
mail/post..


"Anne" <> wrote in message
news:L1NNk.252295$...
>
> "John Barnett MVP" <> wrote in message
> news:%...
>>I personally use CCleaner, but 'not' the registry option. My philosophy on
>>registry cleaners is: 'if you are not competent enough to edit the
>>registry manually, then leave well alone.' Registry cleaner cause more
>>problems than they solve.
>>
>> Defragmenting the drive is a must. I don't use Vista's own defragmenter I
>> much prefer third party defragmenters. I use PerfectDisk and my hard
>> drive is defragged every week.
>>
> Hi John,
>
> Is there a reason why you suggest a 3rd party defragmenter?
>
> I don't use this box for business and am not a heavy user except for a
> little photo editing.
>
> Am I missing something using Vista's defrag?
>
> thanks, anne
>

On Tue, 28 Oct 2008 16:10:49 -0700, Anne wrote:

> Am I missing something using Vista's defrag?

The build-in utility is an *integral* part of the operating system; It is
doing what it is supposed to do very effectively. Yes, it hasn't got the
bells and whistles... And is slower than some of the 3rd party programs;
But we're about minutes not hours!

"John Barnett MVP" <> wrote in
news:#:

> Vista's defragmenter does the job it is supposed to do but, like
> everything else, free versions are only the basic, for more
> substantial features you have to pay for them.

I don't get it.

You mean to say the money paid for the Vista does not include defragmanter?

"Jag Chan" <> wrote in message
news:ge97l3$kbj$...
> "John Barnett MVP" <> wrote in
> news:#:
>
>> Vista's defragmenter does the job it is supposed to do but, like
>> everything else, free versions are only the basic, for more
>> substantial features you have to pay for them.
>
> I don't get it.
>
> You mean to say the money paid for the Vista does not include
> defragmanter?

Find it at:
Start/All Programs/Accessories/System Tools/Disk Defragmenter
It seems to work fine but gives so little feedback that it's hard to be sure
just what it's up to. But you can safely set it to run on a schedule. Choose
a slack time when your computer is nevertheless switched on, set it up
forget it.
Doug