PC problems can be real time sinks. That's why people are willing to pay for programs that them help find, fix, and prevent tech glitches. Smith Micro's $49.99 CheckIt Diagnostics claims to help you prevent hardware failures before they happen. The program's hardware tests put your system components through the wringer, but if it finds a problem, the solutions suggested by the utility can be severe.
For instance, when my 8-month-old laptop failed CheckIt's memory and video tests, the advice the program offered in the first case included reinstalling the CPU. For the second failed test, I was instructed to update the machine's video drivers and to avoid using third-party drivers.
I hadn't noticed any problem with the notebook's memory or display, so I thought these might be examples of the failures the utility nips in the bud. What stopped me in my tracks was the memory-failure advice, which entailed disabling external cache and changing a BIOS setting in addition to reinstalling the CPU, memory modules, and cooling fan. These actions seem a little extreme to perform on a relatively new system that hadn't exhibited any symptoms of trouble.
Smith Micro's CheckIt Diagnostics may suggest dire solutions to failed tests.
(Credit: Smith Micro)As for updating the video drivers, I'm disinclined to update a driver when the device in question is functioning normally. But at least the test results have made me more diligent in monitoring my PC's health. While CheckIt's test results may be difficult to interpret, the program provides a thorough view of your system components.
CheckIt's System Information screen gives you the lowdown on your memory, processor, BIOS, video, audio, storage devices, network adapters, printers, and software. An uninstaller is provided, but it doesn't offer the features of the free Revo Uninstaller is described in a post from last August.
The details of your system components are presented in a single, multitabbed CheckIt Diagnostics window.
(Credit: Smith Micro)Other CheckIt tools include a video calibrator, a ping and tracert automator, a benchmarker, and a stress test that combines various component tests. In addition to the memory and video tests, CheckIt tests your processor, audio, modems, graphics, and disks of every sort.
The scope of CheckIt's tools and tests is impressive, but Iolo's System Mechanic—which I reviewed along with Stardock's TweakVista in a post last May—remains my preferred all-in-one Windows utility, despite System Mechanic's annual fee.
Still, if you manage more than a handful PCs, especially machines that are getting long in the tooth, CheckIt Diagnostics can save you plenty of time, and possibly some money by helping you get a jump on component failures. Just be sure to take the program's advice with a grain of salt.
Editors' note: This article was first published on February 27, 2008, and was titled, "Clean your PC with Trend Micro HijackThis." It was updated on May 21, 2009.
Malware has gotten more sophisticated at hiding its tracks compared with a few years ago. Adware, it seems, with its pop-ups and unwanted browser toolbars, has taken a backseat to the sly, ever-dangerous, and much more lucrative realm of the botnet, also known as that class of malware that conscripts your computer into an army of spam-spewing zombies, or worse.
If you suspect your Windows computer may be compromised, you should always try running standard adware-removal programs first. Ad-Aware and Avira AntiVir Personal Free are two good starts. If they can't seem to keep the nasties at bay, Trend Micro HijackThis digs deep. For most, HijackThis will be diagnostic software for Windows XP (with high compatibility for Vista) that creates a log of your Windows Registry and file settings. It is not a spyware removal tool. However, its capability to identify commonly abused methods of altering your computer can help you (and the Internet community) determine your next course of action.
Step 1: Install it
Version 2.0.2 of HijackThis contains an installer, unlike the previous version that launched from a ZIP file or EXE. If you're using that legacy version, be sure to update. You'll find that this build also downloads a desktop icon for quick-launching.
Step 2: Scan your system
If you scan without a log file, you can always create one later on.
Trend Micro HijackThis opens with a simple interface that offers limited instruction. Running the program and interpreting its results can be confusing. Click either of the two "system scan" buttons to bring up a list of registry and file entries. Expect to see a mess of entries--even a Firefox plug-in on a completely healthy computer can produce multiple listings. If you choose to scan the system only, you can still save a record after the scan by selecting the "Save log" button on the bottom left. This will save the log as a plain text document that you'll be able to open in Notepad.
Step 3: Identify problems
Add safe entries to the Ignore List to speed up future scans.
Here's the rub--now that you've got a long list of your computer's contents, how do you determine which results are critical, and which benign?
There are a few determining factors. Some entries may be obviously tied to a legitimate program you installed. A browser helper object like Adobe PDF Reader Link Helper is clearly harmless and installs with the Adobe Reader application. Listings like these you can ignore or can add to the Ignore List to bypass in future scans. To excuse any entry from showing up in the results list in the future, click the adjacent box to add a check mark and choose the button reading "Add checked to ignorelist." See it in action in this video (Note: The video accurately demonstrates using the ignore list on a previous version of HijackThis.)
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PCs do the darnedest things. When a program crashes, your system slows down, or a file or program refuses to open, it's probably due to a problem with an application or device. But not always. Computer viruses and worms will cause your PC to exhibit many of the same symptoms as a failed or failing component or program.
Here are some of the primary indicators that your system is infected:
• Your system slows to a crawl for no apparent reason.
• The machine crashes, with or without an automatic restart.
• Error messages pop up repeatedly.
• Programs or files open slowly or not at all (especially security apps).
• You can't access drives or other storage media.
• Certain Web sites won't open in your browser, especially those of security software vendors.
• You can't download updates for your antivirus software.
• You can't print.
• A program disappears from your system.
• Strange icons are added to your desktop, or programs appear that you never installed.
• The unused space on your hard drive disappears (which could mean a worm is making copies of itself).
• People in your contacts list receive e-mail from your account, often with a virus attached.
• There's a big jump in the amount of traffic on your network, especially outbound.
How to disinfect a PC
Whenever your system starts acting funky, the simplest remedy is to use Windows' System Restore feature to turn back the clock to a time when the machine worked. (Note that many viruses and worms can outsmart System Restore, so this is far from a cure-all.)
Microsoft's Help and Support site offers step-by-step instructions for using System Restore in XP (which also describes how to undo a restoration). Vista users will find information on System Restore and other system-recovery options for that operating system on the company's Windows Help and How-to site.
Even if System Restore appears to fix your PC, update your antivirus software's definitions and do a full system scan with the program. If you don't use AV software, download and install a copy. You'll find a list of free and low-cost antivirus programs on this Download.com page. Two freebies that get rave reviews from most users are Avira AntiVir Personal and Avast Home Edition.
Another option for virus and worm removal is Microsoft's own Malicious Software Removal Tool, which can disinfect a PC but doesn't prevent infections. Note that if your system is set to receive automatic Windows updates, it probably already has the tool installed. You can read more about MSRT on the Microsoft Help and Support site.
Of course, if the virus or worm has blocked your PC's access to the Internet or is preventing your security software from running, you'll have to use another system to download and install an up-to-date antivirus program on a flash drive, optical disc, or other external storage device. Then plug or insert that device in the infected machine and run the AV program from there. One option is the free ClamWin Portable, though many other free AV programs can be installed and run off external media.
Where did the virus/worm come from?
When you're in the midst of a PC disinfection, the source of the virus may not be your first concern. But once your system is working again, you want to avoid whatever action caused the problem.
In the past, most viruses and worms traveled via e-mail and latched themselves onto your hard drive when you clicked to open an attachment, or sometimes when you merely viewed a message. Now infections are more likely to occur after you browse to an infected Web site or download and open a file.
The recent Conficker worm takes advantage of Windows' Autorun feature that allows programs to open simply by plugging in the USB flash drive, CD, or DVD on which it's stored, sometimes even if you thought you had disabled Autorun and AutoPlay on the machine. Microsoft released a patch that closed this hole late last year, though you still must disable these features manually. You'll find instructions for doing so on this site.
Your best virus/worm-prevention strategy is to keep Windows and your antivirus/antispyware/firewall software up-to-date, don't open e-mail attachments you weren't expecting (even if they appear to be from someone you know), and avoid file-sharing and other dicey Web sites. This is no guarantee of keeping your PC virus-free, but it will keep the odds in your favor.
A reliable freeware application, Wise Disk Cleaner Free may surprise you with its quick scanning pace. Novices will appreciate its optional wizard to guide you through the process of naming and taming space-sucking files. More experienced users can proceed on their own.
As you would with any system cleaner, you'll still need to take precautions when fixing problems. Luckily, this app wisely lets you move files to the Recycle Bin in the event you've deleted something important.
Wise Disk Cleaner Free is simple, has just enough options for more serious users, and can quickly make a difference in streamlining your system for speed.
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CNET)
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CNET Networks)
Most of the time our Macs run smoothly due to the well-designed Mac OS X (choose your big cat) operating system. But over time, as you download more applications, visit more Web sites, and begin to use up space on your hard drive, your Mac won't run as quickly and smoothly as it did out of the box. Some users reason that it must be a RAM or hard-drive issue, but more often than not it's a question of maintenance rather than inadequate hardware.
I've talked about programs for uninstalling old or unused apps in an earlier post, but even with the extra space provided by app uninstallers, you still might find your Mac isn't running up to snuff. For a good way to keep your Mac running smoothly and diagnose overall-system health, download CheckUp. With this shareware system utility ($29) you can quickly view your system stats and abilities in a visually appealing interface. Use the tabs to find out more about your what operating systems your computer can run, processor load, memory configurations, available disks, your network, and running processes. Each are well designed and very easy to read, even for novice users.
Use the profile tab to get a detailed overview of your Mac's specs.
(Credit: CNET Networks)CheckUp isn't just about viewing your Mac's current health, though. From the main interface you'll be able to determine which operating systems your specific Mac can run--from various flavors of Windows to Ubuntu Linux. You also can uninstall apps directly from within CheckUp, but in the feature-limited trial version we were unable to uninstall apps. More on this later.
Get processor specs as well as realtime processor load with the Processors tab.
(Credit: CNET Networks)At the top of the interface are tools you can use to improve your Mac's performance (registered version only). The Notifications button lets you configure when CheckUp will alert you if your processor is exceeding a certain temperature, if your Mac is using too much RAM, if your hard drive is almost full, or if your network is exceeding predesignated bandwidth limits. The Tools button offers several functions to fix your Mac when it's not running properly: you can perform tasks which repair disk permissions, run maintenance scripts, and rebuild your spotlight database. Each button comes with a detailed description of what each function does so you won't feel like you're pressing a button just to see what happens.
Along with real-time network activity, you can detect nearby Wi-Fi networks and signal strength.
(Credit: CNET Networks)CheckUp is an excellent program for monitoring the various system processes on your computer, but the trial limitations are a bit too strict. Most maintenance functions and scripts are disabled in the trial (including the app uninstall feature). We would have preferred a 30-day full-featured trial so users could see how each function affected performance, but even without registration, the CheckUp trial is useful as a stand-alone system-information and monitoring tool. We think with all these easy-to-understand features and the visually appealing layout, it's worth it to spend the $29 to keep your Mac running smoothly.
When Power Downloader is hard at work in the Powerlair he often has several programs running simultaneously. Though he has plenty of RAM in his super system, Power likes to keep track of memory usage to see what's taking up the most space. It also helps to have memory tracking apps when he needs to diagnose system slow downs.
Use the preferences to choose which trackers you would like displayed
(Credit: CNET Networks)To keep track of how much memory is being used by his mission-critical apps, Power Downloader uses FreeMeter. With this free program on his computer, Power can track disk space usage, memory usage, disk transfer rates, and more all from a constantly updating interface. He can customize FreeMeter to show him only the usage statistics he wants to see and can designate which drives to track. To see how his computer is performing at a glance, Power also can display icons in his system tray showing memory and CPU usage. In the event of a system slow down, Power can check FreeMeter to see if an unexpected amount of memory is being used making it possible for him to zero in on potential problems and hidden resource hogs.
In Power Downloader's line of work tracking down Internet criminals, his computer must always be running at peak performance. With FreeMeter on his hard drive, Power can easily track several components of his computer's performance for free.
When Power Downloader returned to the Powerlair after finishing up a case, he knew he would have plenty of e-mails to go through before he could have any downtime. Powering up his computer, Power waited while his computer went through its normal startup routine and then proceeded to open his e-mail client to see how many new messages he had. To his delight, several of the e-mails were easily deleted and only simple confirmations or answers were required of his usual global contacts.
Close to the end of his list of new e-mail, Power Downloader found a message from Kitty Kilobyte who had returned to school after the holidays. She wanted to know if there was an easier way to monitor system usage. In the past, when her system started to slow down, the first thing she would do would be to open the Task Manager to check for memory-intensive processes. Though this is an effective method of diagnosing some problems, she wondered if there was a way to see system information at a glance without sifting through a confusing diagnostic app. She had tried a few other programs, but the programs she tried were all more complicated than she actually needed. She wondered if there was a quick way to see why her computer might be getting sluggish.
The higher the water, the more RAM you're using
(Credit: CNET Networks)Happy to help out his niece, Power Downloader immediately got to work on her unique request. After some searching at Download.com he found a few good system diagnostic apps, but they all seemed to follow a similar list-like layout. Thats when Power found Rubber Ducky. With this little utility installed on her hard drive, Kitty would be able to glance at a tiny aquarium in the lower right part of her screen to find out what was slowing down her computer. The little animated tank displayed a rubber ducky, waving plants, little blue fish, and rising bubbles, all signifying a specific system process. Blue fish going from right to left indicated inbound network traffic. Waving plants meant programs were writing to disk. An increase in rising bubbles meant a program is using too much of the CPU. Though Rubber Ducky did little to fix any of the problems, Kitty would be able to zero in on issues with only a glance using a fun and unobtrusive little app.
Though Power Downloader was tired from traveling and ready for some much needed rest, he always had time to help out his niece. Hopefully the next time Kitty's computer seemed a little sluggish, she would glance at the tiny aquarium and think of her software super hero uncle.
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CNET Networks)
As a frequent downloader of new software, I test and review a ton of programs on my PC at work. But after installing and uninstalling so many programs, it doesn't take long for my registry to become a complete mess, which causes errors, sluggishness, and sometimes even crashes. The problem is that not all programs uninstall as easily as they install and often registry entries are left to stagnate in your system and may eventually cause problems.... Read more
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CNET Networks)
No matter what kind of computer you're running--a brand new dual-core Alienware model or your aunt's old Dell laptop--it's hard to gauge the performance of your machine by factory specs alone. Especially with all the versions of Windows PCs out there using any number of hardware configurations; it's tough to really know how your computer measures up to today's fastest systems.
Finding complete system specs is especially important to gamers of course, but they're not alone in their need for system speed. Today's release of the graphics-intensive specs for Crytek's Crysis (from Crave, CNET's gadget blog) surely has many gamers praying their computers have what it takes to really bring the long-awaited game to life. But even if you're not a gamer, you might want to know, for example, whether your computer can handle the latest image- or video-editing software. Fortunately, you can find out in advance using a good benchmarking app. This category of software runs several diagnostic tests which check everything from processor speed and drive efficiency to the output of your graphics and sound cards.... Read more
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CNET Networks)
If there's one thing Power Downloader has learned while working with computers and software, it's that there will inevitably be problems. With new viruses and new strains of spyware set loose onto the Web every day, Power knows he needs to stay on top of updates and the latest definitions for his programs. But even with the best protection available, occasionally something can sneak through Power's defenses, leaving his computer unusable.
To make sure he's prepared for the worst, Power Downloader keeps a bootable CD with a variety of programs meant to troubleshoot an otherwise unusable computer. Fortunately, it's easy to get it all in one download with UBCD4Win. With this catalog of free programs burned to a CD, Power can rest assured that in case of a full computer meltdown, he'll be able to boot the CD and run diagnostic tests, clear out any viruses, and retrieve or delete files. The download is loaded with diagnostic and security troubleshooting programs, many of which Power has used and trusted before like AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition, and Trend Micro HijackThis. It takes some work to build and burn a usable emergency CD, but fortunately UBCD4Win comes with step-by-step documentation, making it easy for anyone to have a go-to when nothing else seems to work. The large collection of programs takes some time to download (184MB), but Power knows that it's better to be safe than sorry when it comes to all the important files on his computers.
All computers are vulnerable to problems and some are unfixable--even with these programs. With his computer experience, Power Downloader realizes that not every problem can be fixed, but with UBCD4Win, at least he has a great set of tools and one more avenue to explore before giving up on his important files and his machine.
