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Computer Maintenance Tips

At American PC Solutions the service doesn’t end after your computer or laptop has been redeemed or delivered to you. We also want you to know how maintain or keep up with your PC to keep you running smoother. The following instructions show how to properly use software that American PC may have installed on your PC, such as CCleaner (pronounced See-Cleaner), Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, or AVG Free Antivirus. All of these programs are at no additional cost and are free to download from the Internet. Full versions can be purchased, contact American PC Solutions for more information.

If you do not have any of these programs but would like to install them yourself go to the following websites to do so.

Table of Contents

CCleaner

Let’s start with CCleaner. CCleaner is a program used to cleanup nonessential files that are on your PC. Files like Cookies, Internet History, Temporary Files, etc. Removing these files periodically will help keep your PC from accumulating unnecessary data, but could also erase potential malware from installing itself on your PC.

Instructions to use CCleaner:

First open CCleaner. There should be an icon on your desktop. Double left click to open and it should look like this.

The check boxes to the left have been preset by American PC to delete what should be deleted.


Left click on “Run Cleaner” which is located in the bottom right corner.


Once the cleaner is finished removing the files you may exit the program by left clicking the “X” on the top right corner.


CCleaner can be performed at anytime. We recommend at least once a week.

Malware

Malware exists everywhere. The definition of malware according to Wikipedia.com is:

Malware, short for malicious software, is software designed to secretly access a computer system without the owner's informed consent. The expression is a general term used by computer professionals to mean a variety of forms of hostile, intrusive, or annoying software or program code. The term "computer virus" is sometimes used as a catch-all phrase to include all types of malware, including true viruses.

Malware changes all the time. New techniques are created to get passed your PC’s antivirus program. So in a sense there is no fool proof antivirus program. There is no guarantee that you PC will never pickup malware.

Malware is mainly contracted from the Internet. Many people believe that if you stay away from explicit websites that you will never contract malware. Unfortunately, this is a miss conception. Malware can be picked up from anywhere. Whether it is logging on to your local news website or performing a simple search on the Internet malware is always hiding.

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware

Malwarebytes is an antimalware program that maybe installed as on your PC located on your desktop. It is ran manually which keeps it from interfering with your antivirus program and in turn will not slow your PC down. The reason Malwarebytes is installed is due to the way malware or “malicious software” installs itself on your PC. It will more than likely attack your antivirus program first, leaving Malwarebytes to be able to run and remove the malware on your PC. This won’t always work, but is still good to have on your PC just in case.

Instructions to use Malwarebytes Anti-Malware:

First double left click on the icon provided on your desktop.


If you are able to connect to the Internet click on the “Update” tab.


If you get the following screen then your program is up to date and is ready to begin scanning.


Click on the “Scanner” tab which will bring you back to the main page of Malwarebytes. Next your options are going to be “Perform Quick Scan”, “Perform Full Scan”, or “Perform Flash Scan.”

Note: The “Perform Flash Scan” is only usable in the full “paid” version.

You will click “Perform Full Scan” first. Once you click it a window will appear asking Which drive(s) do you want to scan. Check “C:\”, then click scan.

Scans can be as short as 45 min, but can take as long as up to 4 hours so don’t be alarmed.


Once the scan is completed you will see a log showing what the scan found. Exit from the log by clicking the “X” on the upper right corner.


Once you exit out of the log file you will see a window at the center of the Malwarebytes program that will show you that whether if found infected files or whether it didn’t.

If it did not you will see a screen like this:

At this point you just click “OK” in the center window, and then click “Exit” on the lower right of Malwarebytes.


If Malwarebytes does find infected files it will look as follows:


Click “OK”, then click “Show Results”


All the infected files are already checked at this point you need to click “Remove Selected”

A Malwarebytes log will appear which shows what was done. Close this log file.


Once you close the log file you may receive a message indicating that the in order for the removal to complete a restart will need to occur. Click “Yes” restart your PC.


Once your PC reboots open Malwarebytes again, however this time click on the “Quarantine”.

Then click “Delete All”.

That way you will remove the items in quarantine. Very seldom is an infected file able to do any damage while in the quarantine folder; however it has been known to happen so we recommend removing those files from Malwarebytes.

AVG Free Antivirus

AVG Free Antivirus is a free antivirus program which will perform automatically on your PC, which means it will update and perform scans on its own. AVG has paid versions of their program which gives more benefits, such as tech support, that AVG offers.

If you already have an antivirus program but would like use AVG you must first remove your existing antivirus program. If more than one antivirus program is installed on a PC, the performance of you PC will be affected. It is a common misconception that having more than one antivirus on your PC will makes you “more protected”. This is false.

AVG has “real time” protection which means that if something attempts to sneak in AVG will find it and prompt you to either ignore it or remove it. AVG will perform a full scan of you system once a week, but can edited to whatever day and time you choose. AVG also has and an automatic updater so that it stays up to date with the latest file protection.

American PC Solutions will edit scan settings so that you receive the most out of every scan AVG performs.

Even though AVG Free runs automatically it is recommend that the “Virus Vault”, which is AVG’s quarantine folder, be emptied periodically. Whether, that is once a week, once every two weeks, or even once a month it is completely up to you.

Instructions to use AVG Free Antivirus:

To get to the “Virus Vault” first you want to open AVG by double left clicking on the icon provided on your desktop. This will bring up the “Overview” page.


Then click “Scan Options” which is on the left side just below where it says “scan now”.


Then click “View Virus Vault” which is located on the lower right corner.

If there are any items listed you will click the “Empty Vault” button just above the “Close” button on the bottom righter corner.


If you ever need to perform updates manually, on the main Overview page all you need to do is click on “Update Now” which is on the left side and is the last option you can click.


To edit scan schedule to whatever time or day you choose click on “Scan Options”.

Then in the main center area under Scheduled Scans, click “Manage Scheduled Scans”.


Once you are in the "manage scheduled scans" area you will click the “Edit scan schedule”.


At this point this is where you can customize your scan schedule.

Once the settings are to your liking click “Save” and you may exit from the AVG Free program.

American PC Solutions, Inc.

After all is said and done American PC Solutions is fantastic at virus and malware removal, and we do our very best to help prevent future infection.

If you have performed all of these steps and are still having issues with performance, random pop-ups, Internet connectivity, etc. contact American PC Solutions as soon as possible so that we may diagnose your PC and get you back up and running again.

At American PC Solutions we keep track of programs that may be installed on your PC by us. So if a new version comes out or new program is available we will test the program and be sure that it is just as good as its predecessor. Because of this all programs we may install are susceptible to change

Other Practices to Perform

Consistent Backup of Data Files

Data backup is very important. Computer hardware on your PC is susceptible to failure at any given time. Keeping a periodic backup of your data would keep your personal information such as videos, pictures, music, and/or documents safe. If you have a backup of your data and if something goes wrong with your PC American PC Solutions is happy to assist with any data migration needs.

If you have not been keeping a backup of your data, but would like to know how contact American PC Solutions for assistance. We have different programs available that will automatically backup all of your data. We also carry external hard drives which are mostly used to keep your backed up data apart from your computer so that if the computer crashes your data is safe and sound on your external hard drive.


UPS Battery Backup Unit

UPS stands for Uninterruptible Power Supply, which basically means that if you lose power a UPS or Battery Backup Unit will sustain your computer for a period of time. There is a battery in the unit which will allow you to shut your computer down properly. Battery Backup units are recommended to not only protect your computer from power spikes and brown outs, but they also help regulate power flow to your computer as many homes have frequency instability, which means the main power coming into your home may be irregular and can be harmful to you computer. American PC Solutions stocks UPS’s at all times. If you have need of more information, about a UPS or Battery Backup Unit, please contact us.