Automate Your PC

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Last Update: Wed, 11/04/2009 - 18:00 — Rizar

This article gives an overview of free software products that aptly run automatically to clean, secure, update, or maintain your PC, whether with the windows scheduler, with built-in features of free software, with windows' auto start, with delayed start, or with dependent-start settings.

Automation features are one of the most valued features of programs, so, of course, they are often the first to become parts of pay versions of software. IObit's free version of Advanced SystemCare, for example, lacks many of its automation features. But there are ways around paying -- just use some of the following freeware options to accomplish many of the same features and more!

I. Programs to Schedule

(1) For example, I set JKdefrag to run once a day through the task scheduler. I use the JkDefragCmd.exe version, without commandline arguments. Its default defrag is optimal for daily use. IOBit's SmartDefrag has many built-in scheduling and automation features if you don't want to deal with the task scheduler.

(2) I also use the task scheduler to run CCleaner. It seems to run surprisingly well when triggered to run daily and once every hour for 12 hours (during the day, for example), but on other computers I just set it to run once a day like JKdefrag. This is sometimes better than its "run on startup" feature because some people leave their computers on for several days. You do need to add a commandline argument or else it will just open and sit there. Under Actions, click to the "Add Arguments" box and type "/AUTO". Gizmo wrote an excellent article that gives more detailed instructions: How to Schedule Programs to Run Automatically.

(3) Windows programs: I let the windows updater schedule and update critical updates. I have to set it to merely check for updates and give me the option of when to download and install them because otherwise it will greedily take over my dialup connection, usually when I need to use it most.

(4) I should probably backup and image more often, but I'm sure these two types of programs would be popular to schedule. If you get Vista Ultimate, it has automatic backing up and imaging built-in. To use the imaging feature, you have to make a "Complete PC Backup," which is a non-technical term for making a drive image.

(5) I schedule Avira AntiVir to scan and update.

II. Programs to Autostart

(6) My favorite programs to autorun as tray tools are primarily security apps like Comodo & Sandboxie. The Sandboxie tray tool is not necessary, but it adds some functionality such as quick recoveries (that I can't do without). On some computers, I run BOINC.

If you want more of a lightweight firewall than Comodo, Online Armor is a good choice for inbound/outbound protection since you can close its interface and tray tools with a right-click to its tray tool to save even more system resources.

Other programs also allow you to disable use of its tray tool and still run the program in the background. For example, you may run both of Avira's scheduler and active guard without having its tray tool auto start; you could disable it in a startup manager like Autoruns.

(7) Most software updaters have auto start features. I'm currently using Update Notifier with good results, but I personally use it on-demand since its scheduler for auto checking program updates doesn't seem to work very well with dialup connections (you get popup messages about it failing to connect even when you just turned on your PC and didn't connect to the Internet yet!).

III. Delayed Start Programs

(8) Thanks to Jojoyee for pointing out:

"Other than programs to schedule or autostart, there's another one somewhat a bit different-- Delayed Start. Useful when I want to boot up Windows faster, and only run certain programs say 3 or 5 minutes later. This feature is included in one of the freeware products WinPatrol 2009."

IV. Dependent Auto Programs

Another option are programs that run automatically as dependents.

(9) There are many extensions or add-ons that fit this section if they automatically run dependently on a browser or other program, such as Firefox add-ons. Right now I happen to use AdBlock, CustomizeGoogle, DownThemAll, FEBE (it schedules nicely), Finjan, Ghostery, LastPass, NoScript, PDF Download, Redirect Remover, RefControl, & WOT. No plugins other than the Mozilla default plugin. See Gizmo's list here.

(10) For example, Sandboxie can set eraserl to securely erase the contents of a sandbox instead of using its normal RMDIR command. The makers of Sandboxie have a preset delete command for it in "Sandbox Settings" > "Delete" > "Command"; you just have to install Eraser and know that "Eraserl" usually installs in Windows/System32 or similar folder (or search for it).

(11) If you click on music files in windows explorer, then you may set it to autostart a music player of your choice. Jaangle would be a good, lightweight option. It's also my choice for playing music over long periods of time, usually with its mini-player.

V. Automation Apps to Disable!

Here are a sample of programs that do not deserve supreme status as automation applications. Many automation apps actively use memory and CPU resources, so it is best to keep them to a minimum.

(12) When I used (a) Adobe PDF Reader I always had to disable some of its apps from autostarting, but I haven't used it for awhile. I believe it has an autostart app that tries to speed up load times even if you only use PDF readers every great once in awhile. I use them every week and still wouldn't want that specific auto start program.

I also dislike (b) Java update scheduler running all the time; it's completely unnecessary since I like to use a software updater.

And then there are all the windows tray or invisible programs that have to go such as (c) Windows Defender.

(13) If you don't want extra windows services running, you could disable them per instructions here. And you may also want to investigate the long list of windows programs in the task scheduler to disable; Vista has many of them that I didn't see any need to run all the time and they are easy to restart (if anything goes wrong later) if you don't completely delete them.

In addition, there are many related tweaking programs that allow you to disable programs and services: windows has its own built-in one in "Programs and Features," and we have a few articles on many additional and more powerful freeware options: Best Free Vista Tweaks and Free Utility Speeds Up Vista.

VI. Related Links or Articles: