Cleaning Up a Windows 8/8.1 Computer

Basic Info

We will be using CCleaner, Malwarebytes Anti-malware, Windows Defender, and the windows defrag tool. All of these tools are either available for free online, or comes built in with your windows 8/8.1 computer. These tools help scan your computer for registry errors, unneeded data, and malicious software and help clean them up, speeding up your computer.

Goal

This instructable is aimed at teaching a person with basic knowledge of windows 8/8.1 about cleaning up and maintaining their computer.

What is CCleaner?

CCleaner is a free program to help optimize your computer by doing things like cleaning up your registry, internet browsers temporary files, temporary logs on your computer, and more.

What is Malwarebytes Anti-malware?

Malwarebytes Anti-malware is a program that has a free version for home use. It's purpose is to scan your computer to find and remove malware such as Trojans, worms, rootkits, spyware, rogues, and more.

Are these programs safe?

Yes, however if you are worried I would suggest looking at reviews online or asking a more tech savvy friend for advice!

Cost

Free!

Time

6-7 Hours (Mostly spent on hard drive defragging, and if you run a full scan), if you opt to not run a hard drive defrag or a full scan 1-2 hours.

Materials

Windows 8/8.1

Using your internet browser of preference go to https://www.piriform.com/ccleaner

• Click on the download button near the top of the page(it's green colored)
  • On the next page scroll to the bottom, in the column marked free, click download
  • Let the download finish before moving on to the next step

NOTE: After reaching the page that has the Start Download button your download should have started automatically if it did not, click the big green button in the center of the page that says Start Download

NOTE: Don't forget to remember where your download saved to! It will be important later when we are installing the program.

Using your internet browser of preference go to http://www.malwarebytes.org

• Click on Free Version Download it's an orange button
• Let the download finish before moving on to the next step

NOTE: After reaching the page that has the Start Download button, your download should start automatically if it does not Click the big green button in the center of the page that says Start Download

NOTE: Don't forget to remember where your download saved to! It will be important later when we are installing the program.

Navigate to where you downloaded CCleaner, double click it to start the installation

NOTE: If you're unsure where the program downloaded to, the default location will be your Downloads folder

• Once launched select your language and click next
• The next screen will be your installation options, uncheck:
  • Add 'Run CCleaner' option to Recycle Bin context menu
  • Add 'Open CCleaner' option to Recycle Bin context menu
• Once unchecked click install
• Once the setup is finished installing uncheck:
  • Run Cleaner
  • View Release notes

Navigate to where you downloaded CCleaner, double click it to start installation

NOTE: If you're unsure where the program downloaded to the default location will be your Downloads folder

• Select your install language and click ok
• Click next
• Read the Licence Agreement
  • Check I accept the agreement
  • Click next
• Click next
• If you would like to change your installation location you may change it. Click next when ready to move on.
  • NOTE: I recommend using the default installation location
• The next window creates a shortcut for you, if you want a different location for the shortcut you may change it. Click next.
  • NOTE: I recommend using the default shortcut location
• Click Install
• Let the installation finish before moving on

Navigate to CCleaner, a shortcut should have been placed on your desktop, double click to launch.

The first window presented to you will be the basic cleaner, you can navigate around the program by using the menu on the left hand side. your options are: Cleaner, Registry, Tools, and Options. We will only cover the Cleaner tab and Registry tab in this instructable.

• Start off in the Cleaner tab:
  • Click Analyze, this will analyze your computer before running the cleaner
  • Once the analysis finishes(as shown by the green progress bar at the top), Click Run Cleaner
  • Note: If you currently have a web browser open you will be asked to close it before the cleaner finishing running
• While still in the Cleaner tab:
  • Click applications, located right of the left hand side menu
  • Click Analyze, this will analyze your computer before running the cleaner
  • Once the analysis finishes(as shown by the green progress bar at the top), Click Run Cleaner
  • Note: If you currently have a web browser open you will be asked to close it before the cleaner finishes running

Next Click on the Registry tab located on the left navigation menu.

• Click Scan for Issues and wait for the scanner to finish(as shown by the green progress bar at the top)
  • Note: A list of registry entries will show up, make sure all boxes are ticked before moving on
• Click Fix Selected Issues
  • Note: You will be asked to backup your registry before it fixes the selected issues, it is highly recommend you do! If you click yes you will be asked to name your back up. Call it whatever you like and click save.
• Click Fix all selected Issues
• Click Close

Navigate to Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, a shortcut should have been placed on your desktop, double click to launch.

• The first thing you will see is a big alert at the top stating a scan has never been run on your system.
• Click Scan now at the bottom of the window
  • Note: Clicking Fix Now will do the same thing as Scan now.
• The program will now start scanning your computer for malware and other malicious programs
• Once finished scanning you will be shown threats detected, Click Apply Actions
• You will now be shown a window displaying the results and stating it has finished cleaning
  • Note: You may be asked to restart your computer, if so restart your computer now by clicking yes.

WARNING

This step can take upwards of 3-4 hours! Your computer may feel slow if you are using it while running this tool, so it is advised to do something else while the defragging process is running.

Defragmenting

This is a process preformed on your hard drive to help keep data neat and organized so it will run faster. If you want more details on what exactly it does you may find more information here.

• On your keyboard Press windowskey + c
  
  • A menu bar will appear on the right hand side of your screen
  • Click Search and Type in Defragment
  • Click on the option that appeared labeled Defragment and optimize your drive
• A window will appear displaying all drives attached to your computer by default your computers hard drive will be labeled (C:)
  • Select your computers harddrive
  • Click Analayze
• If your drive needs optimization it will state under the current status column
  • Select your computers harddrive
  • Click Optimize

Windows defender is a built in firewall for all computers that have windows 8/8.1 installed on them. You can use this program to scan for malicious virus and software on your computer. It also has a constantly on built in firewall so it's important to keep this program up to date!

• On your keyboard Press windowskey + c
  
  • A menu bar will appear on the right hand side of your screen
  • Click search and type in Defender
  • Click on the option labeled Windows Defender
• You will be on the home screen of Windows Defender, the first thing to do is update the program.
  • Click the update tab right of the Home tab
  • Click the update button on the right hand side of the update window.
• Do not close Windows Defender, we will use it for the next step.

NOTICE

It's important to do this because your firewall is always running. You want Windows Defender to always be up to date so your computer can catch any new viruses or bugs that may be discovered or made.

Much like Malwarebytes Anti-malware Windows Defender has a built in scanner to look through your computer for malicious programs. Windows Defender offers a variety of scan options so it's important to pick which is best for you.

• Navigate back to the home tab in Windows Defender
• On the right hand side of this window you will find your scan options: Quick Scan, Full Scan, and Custom Scan
  • Quick scan:
    • This is the recommended option
    • Preforms a short 5-10 minute long scan of your computer, searching in the common places a virus or other malicious things may be found
    • To preform a quick scan check the quick scan option and Click scan now
    • Let the scan complete
  • Full Scan:
    • WARNING:
      • This step can take upwards of 2 to 3 hours!
    • Preforms a much longer scan if you are worried that a quick scan is not enough use this option.
    • To preform a quick scan check the quick scan option and Click scan now
    • Let the scan complete
  • Custom Scan
    • WARNING
      • Depending on how much you scan will determine how long the scan takes! Meaning it can take up to the same amount of time as a Full scan!
    • To preform a custom scan check custom scan and and Click scan now
    • Custom scan allows you to select which parts of your computer you want to preform a scan on
      • Once you have selected where you would like to scan click ok
    • Let the scan complete