i want to completely clean up my computer...

[joko]

I have a few things on my computer designed for cleaning it up, but none, i think, do a really good job, because my comp is sluggish, pauses a lot, windows become pale an unresponsive, and basically its just slow

its a pretty good machine an i have plenty of space left on it.

ive run alsorts of scan and defrags etc etc an anything found has been cleared.

id like to clear up any problems, remove unused items, clear away useless left over things, etc etc and basically get my pc 'almost' back to factory settings...except with my docs and programs etc still installed

so can anyone recommend something that will do this? preferably free, but im prepared to pay for a really good one.

thanks

[vignon]

download "windows installer cleanup" and take out what you dont want also free download "piriform ccleaner" do a cleanup on windows by pressing analyze.
See if that helps.
Then do a disc clean and defrag.

[vignon]

Try this, Start>My Computer>right click:-Local Disk C>Properties>Tools>Error Checking>Check now,tick automatic fix file system errors,tick scan for and attemt recovery of bad sectors. Close down computer and restart,Could take up to an hour to go through the checking program.

[SamHolborn]

get all your programmes on to a disk or usb stick,an reformat, i get the same prob after few months of browsing an stuff, but i back up all my stuff then reformat the wee beasty,

or what you could do is backup your programmes and docs an anything else you want saving, an partition you drive(s) keep at least 10gig for your operating system 10gig for programes, 10 gig for games 20 gig for my documents folder, right click on my documents in xp pro anyway, vista it little different, goggle moving user docs in vista or something like that,

well anyaway thats what i do but i got xp pro, hope it helps an give ya some idea's as what to do,

[joko]

thanks vignon, but ive done all that, i already have ccleaner and have done all the cleanups and defrags etc
the only stuff i want removing from my computer is stuff i dont know about if you get me...stuff that the comp can see, but knows i dont need etc...
i have removed all software and files i no longer want...what will the windows installer thing do? it seems to say it willl remove installer files so that i can successfully reinstall software that went wrong...but thats not the problem...does it do other things?

thanks sam, i may end up doing that i think

[Mustardmit]

One of the most common things I've found that slows comps is being clogged up with spyware/tracking cookies -have you deleted history/temp internet files/cookies? if not -might be a good idea. You don't have Norton do you? that can slow everything right down.
If none of the usual stuff works, I'd recommend 'nuke and pave' -ie. backup everything you want to keep on a removable drive then re-install windows.