WARNING* Some of the guides / software may not support Window Vista.
List of guides:
1. http://home.comcast.net/~SupportCD/index.html - Recommended
2. http://www.ewingsnet.com/documents/CourseO...urComputer.html
3. http://www.blackviper.com/Articles/articles.htm - Recommended
4. http://www.gameboomers.com/forum/ubbthread...p;Number=268903 - Optional
6. http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm - Important
(List of Rogue/Suspect Anti-Spyware products)
7. http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-ca/magazine/cc302206.aspx - Important
8. http://technet.microsoft.com/en-ca/default.aspx - Recommended
9. http://operawiki.info/Opera - Opera browser guide
10. http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/
11. http://text.dslreports.com/?nav=1
12. http://forums.majorgeeks.com/index.php
13. http://www.techsupportforum.com/
14. http://internetrotsyourbrain.com/rridgely/malwareremoval.htm
List of freeware / guides:
http://home.comcast.net/~supportcd/XPFreeware.html (Part of the Optimize Guides) - Recommended
http://www.piriform.com/ (I use all software from Piriform, they r lightweight,free,and powerfull tools) - Recommended
Go to > http://forum.piriform.com/index.php?showtopic=17921&hl by Moderator rridgely from the Piriform forum
Tricks and tips:
DO-NOT list:
*Don't mess with the paging file + Prefetch Folder (or anything to do with it)
*Don't disable Task Scheduler / DNS Client Service - source - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/318803/en-us (read them carefully) & http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.as...=y&arctab=y
*Disable System Restore? no way... - source - http://technet.microsoft.com/en-ca/library/bb457097.aspx
*Some suggested TweakXp.com, which is not that reliable...it contains many misleading information (Try at ur own risk) - http://tweakxp.com/
*CCleaner - Never select "Old Prefetch data" option, cleaning this will increase application and Windows load times (Everthing else its 98% safe to select + clean, i personally never had any backups) source - http://tinyurl.com/6cp9wy
Security Tips:
1. http://askbobrankin.com/windows_xp_security_tips.html
2. http://www.bestsecuritytips.com/ - Optional
3. http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleID=1681
Go to > http://forum.piriform.com/index.php?showtopic=19017
Usefull Websites:
http://housecall.trendmicro.com/ - online virus scan (Require Internet explorer)
http://www.whatismyip.com/ - Ip address scan
https://www.grc.com/x/ne.dll?bh0bkyd2 - Internet security check
http://secunia.com/vulnerability_scanning/online/ - Online Software Inspector (keep ur software up-to-date)
http://virusscan.jotti.org/ - Malware scan
http://www.microsoft.com/security/portal/
http://blogs.technet.com/mmpc/default.aspx
http://www.viruslist.com/en/viruslist.html
http://www.trendmicro.com/vinfo/virusencyclo/
List of recommended Browsers :
Go to > http://forum.piriform.com/index.php?showtopic=19128
Go to > http://home.comcast.net/~SupportCD/FreewareBrowsers.html
FAQ:
Q1) WindowXP vs Vista, which is better?
A1) None of those are better than each other. Window XP support more games and software while vista support less. However, Windows Vista includes many automatic performance enhancing features such as ReadyBoot, ReadyBoost, ReadyDrive, Superfetch and Prefetching. Optimize guide .
Q2)Which is more secured, Linux or Windows?
A2) Here's a quick & simple answer, No. For further information read those article http://www.populartechnology.net/2007/01/w...than-linux.html & http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/bulletins/SB2005.html
Q3)Was FireFox the best browser?
A3) No, because FireFox is slow and it's a resource hog; Also, it has multiple unpatched vulnerabilities and its Extensions(add-ons) can actually be unsafe.
Source - http://home.comcast.net/~SupportCD/FirefoxMyths.html , http://askbobrankin.com/is_firefox_more_secure.html
Q4) No anti-spyware/virus or any protection is needed if avoid going to "Questionable" site.
A4) You are right, You should always be aware of any questionable site. However, it is not a good a idea of using nothing.
This post will always be updating, at least until i die.