To accomplish Spyware scans with Ad-Aware please be sure to check off the following options to ensure a “Deep Scan” is done of your system. Follow these steps to ensure a “Deep Scan” is being performed.
Open up Ad-Aware and click on “Start” on the bottom right hand corner of the screen.
The following screen will be displayed.
Here you have two options: 1) You can click on the “Perform full system scan” radial button and it will entirely scan your system from beginning to end, including but not limited to deep registry scans; or 2) You can also click on “Customize” and this will prompt the screen below.
With this option you can manually select a several options. We recommend that you check off all of the options to ensure a full scan of your system and registry. For individuals with more than one hard drive installed on your computer you can also click on “Select drives & folders to scan”. Here you can select any extra drives you may want to scan.
Once you are finished selecting, click “Proceed”, then click “Proceed” again, and lastly click “Next” and your full system scan will begin.
Startup items are programs that are automatically loaded every time you turn your computer on. Some startup programs are absolutely necessary, others are simply a waste of RAM.
The only startup items you absolutely need are:
- ScanRegistry: Verifies that the Registry is in order, and makes a backup.(Assists with System Restore)
- SystemTray: Displays application icons of programs that are running and also system time.
- Explorer.exe: Allows you to view your files and folders.
- Your antivirus program: (Norton, McAfee, Bit Defender, PC-Chillin, AVG, Panda)
Since you need these startup items to be running all the time in order for your computer to work properly, make sure there is always a check mark next to all of these startup items.
If you don't see one or two these items in your list of startup items, that is okay. For example, some people may not have a LoadPowerProfile while others may have two. The important thing to remember is that you don't want to uncheck any of these files if you have them.
However, as for the rest of the startup items, they are completely optional. Whether you leave these optional startup items on or turn them off is completely up to you. A good rule of thumb is to disable only those programs that you recognize and don't need to have running all the time. When in doubt, leave it on. Or, better yet, check out Paul "PacMan" Collins' extensive "Startup Applications" list at http://www.sysinfo.org/startuplist.php
Here's a good example. On my computer I have an extensive collection of MP3s and I listen to those MP3s with a program called WinAmp. For some reason or other, WinAmp decided that it should always be running on my computer even when I am not using the program. That's silly. To prevent WinAmp from automatically starting every time I boot my computer, I ran MSCONFIG and unchecked "WinampAgent." That's it.
Remember, disable only those programs that you recognize and don't need to have running all the time. When in doubt, leave it on.
Remove Spyware - Prevent New Spyware From Installing
Spyware's Most Wanted
The How-To-Guide on Spyware Removal and Preventative Maintenance
All rights reserved and all copyrights are registered to the www.removingspywareforfree.com © 2005-2006