Overkill? what do you think?

[systemcrash]

im creating my system totally on freeware with 2 exeption.. but what i want to know is have i gone overboard with the security and/or other software? just looking for opions or improvements...

first off im using windows XP 32bit 512Ram SP3

security settings:

PC tools Firewall plus
Avast antiviruswith the on access scanner
Spybot S&D with Tea timer (online protection)
Maleware bytes for monthly scanning or if i want to check
System protect to protect my main folders


Internet security:

Firefox 3.5 internet
WOT site adviser
password scrambler for keyloggers

Recently found
Returnil virtual drive
Sandboxie

which i am using to download and test with.. and just using my regular internet connection to go straight to the safe sites like facebook without messing around waiting the extra few minuites.. well seconds while it starts in sandboxie..

I use [U]Free Ram XP Pro[/U] at start up to automaticly free ram every minuite or optimize if it falls below a certain amount. so i mainly get to keep 316mb of ram free.

Also [U]Startup Delayer[/U] to make sure everything dont load at start up at once and make my computer slow down


Registry Cleaners:

RegCure (Trial pay and got it free)
CCleaner
Glary Utilities
Advanced System care Pro Version
(i used a trial pay and got the Pro version free)

I use the registry cleaners in that order and each one picks up something the other one didnt. But at the end none of them will find anything wrong

I monthly Defrag my system with Smart Defrag, then do a boot time disk check, followed by boot time virus scan, then start up spybot scan, then i'l use malewarebytes.

The registry cleaners i use weekly with cookies remover and history remover ect..

These are my main software that i am woundering if it may be overkill or if theres something better out there.


My Other software include:

HijackThis
Revo uninstaller
(Which Doesn't remove from the registry like it says as my Registry
cleaner find what Revo suposidly already removed??)
Recuva
File Shredder
Sumo
Driver Max (TOTALY FREE DRIVER UPDATER THAT TOOK AGES TO FIND)
Task Killer


Media:

MediaMonkey Free version (music player)
KM Player (DvD Player)
VLC media PLayer (because it plays just about anything)
Any Video Converter
Free Audio Converter


Photo Imaging:

Picassa
Photoscape
Gimp (to Create my own images and backgrounds for my phone)


Disc Copying:

Image Burn


Writing Pads:

Open Office (basicly microsoft office but FREE)
Abiword
Foxit PDF reader (instead of Adobe)


Desktop:

ObjectDock
Rainmeter (To have a sidebar with a clock, System useage meter,
and disk drive to see how full it is)

Rainlander2 (for a desktop calender and todo list)

Dexpot (if my screen gets over crouded)

Launchy (i don't need... but for some reason cant get rid of it and force
myself to use it. when i could just go to the start menu)


and finaly i used these programs.

XP context tools
Unlock Me
Tweak UI
Icon Tweaker
7-Zip
Tera-copy


All Free Except the 2 registry cleaners


Just looking for general opinions on what people think and sugest what to change..

[kendall]

My personal opinion:

1. Get rid of teatimer. You don't need it.
2. I prefer CleanMem to Free Ram XP.
3. Quit using registry cleaners. Period. (CCleaner is fine, just not the registry cleaning part of it.)

What I didn't see is your backup process and/or software? Are you backing up your files, documents, music, pictures, etc. to some type of removal medium? Are you making image backups? In my opinion, you should be doing both regularly.

[J_L]

I agree with kendall on this, but would like to add that Glary Utilities and Advanced System Care aren't registry cleaners as well, they are pc tune-up utilities. You can disable their registry cleaning, but usually you only need one of them.

SandBoxie is fine for normal use, if not overkill (personally, I use DropMyRights and enabled my disallowed-by-default Software Restriction Policy, because it messes up my disk cache and is less convenient for my many add-ons). Returnil should be used for testing purposes (SandBoxie can as well, but not for installations usually), and when others use your computer.

You should only use one media player on your pc, not 2 (KM Player and VLC Media Player). Ironically, I believe VLC player is better for your DVD's, because it can play all regions.

Lastly, make sure you use Spybot's Immunize feature, and maybe switch your DNS into a more secure one (OpenDNS or Comodo Secure DNS). Try this benchmark tool to find out which is faster for you (just add your ISP's DNS [optional, for comparison], OpenDNS, Comodo Secure DNS, and ignore/delete all other entries).

[Anupam]

Hi systemcrash, the softwares you are using are pretty good.

I would suggest increasing your RAM to 1 GB or more. You will notice an increase in system performance because of that. Things will be a bit faster .

I will agree with kendall and suggest that you do not use registry cleaners. Most of the experts who use computers advice against using registry cleaners. First, they offer no advantage in increasing system performance. No noticeable increase in performance has been noted by using registry cleaners. The amount of space used by leftover registry entries is not very much... so from that point of view also, its no good. Further, registry is something not to be messed with. One wrong move, and your system can become unbootable. So, I would advise against using them. You can use registry defrag softwares instead, which are safe.

Many people advise against turning on the TeaTimer function of Spybot, so you will be better off without it. You can use the immunize feature instead. Or better would be to use Spyware Blaster for immunizing the computer.
I would suggest adding Superantispyware along with MalwareBytes for on-demand scanning of spywares.

For Firefox, I would suggest NoScript and AdBlock Plus add-ons. Also FEBE for Firefox backup.

Its your own personal preference whether to use two media players or just one. It offers variety too . I like both KM Player, and VLC Player.

Instead of Foxit Reader, you can try PDF Xchange Viewer for pdf. I find it much better . You can give it a try and see if you like it. There were reports of Foxit now being ad-ridden.

Just some suggestions. Rest all looks quite good .

[systemcrash]

I was advised to download the registry cleaners so that software i download don't interact with old registry keys and interfere with the software..
But i didnt realy believe him as i was talking to him!

I know it's best not to use 2 anti-viruses or fire walls but what about Imunizing? Should i imunize with Spybot and Spywareblaster? or should i just stick with a particular one?

I backed up my drivers with Advanced System Care but found that when i needed to return my display driver back after an update kept making my com freeze i had no idea how and i just had a file with my drivers compressed on it.

But All my Drivers are now backed up with DriverMax that has a roll back feature in case something goes wrong. even if the free version only allows 2 driver updates a day. which is plenty when theres no recent updates

I compress all software installations i like to a removable memory stick. and the same with pictures music ect.

Im trying to make a image backup but havent got my head round how to do it yet. My computer came with a disk just incase but all the software on it is old. So if i use it i gota go onto microsoft website and download everything SP1 SP2 and SP3 done that before and it took 3 hours!! Any help on doing this would be very welcomed

[Sope]

Originally Posted by systemcrash

Im trying to make a image backup but havent got my head round how to do it yet. My computer came with a disk just incase but all the software on it is old. So if i use it i gota go onto microsoft website and download everything SP1 SP2 and SP3 done that before and it took 3 hours!! Any help on doing this would be very welcomed

Here's an article regarding free drive imaging software -
http://www.techsupportalert.com/best...ng-program.htm

You could try nLite for creating a customised XP installation disk with service pack integration, plus more besides.

[J_L]

Immunize is passive protection and can be from multiple different programs. ASC has one as well called Security Defense.

You don't need to install SP2, you can install SP3 over SP1.

[Anupam]

Originally Posted by systemcrash

I was advised to download the registry cleaners so that software i download don't interact with old registry keys and interfere with the software..
But i didnt realy believe him as i was talking to him!

That is not true at all. The old registry keys do not interfere with the software. Maybe some registry entries are left behind, but they are not harmful. Further, softwares which are updated, know very well how to deal with the registry keys, so its not user's headache to worry about that.

Originally Posted by systemcrash

I know it's best not to use 2 anti-viruses or fire walls but what about Imunizing? Should i imunize with Spybot and Spywareblaster? or should i just stick with a particular one?

I am sorry if I was not clear. You should use only one immunization by any software that you trust, or like. It can be SpywareBlaster, or Spybot.

Originally Posted by systemcrash

I backed up my drivers with Advanced System Care but found that when i needed to return my display driver back after an update kept making my com freeze i had no idea how and i just had a file with my drivers compressed on it.

But All my Drivers are now backed up with DriverMax that has a roll back feature in case something goes wrong. even if the free version only allows 2 driver updates a day. which is plenty when theres no recent updates

About drivers, you need to be cautious there... as wrong drivers can cause problems too. I always make it a point to download drivers for a particular hardware, from only from the manufacturer's site. They only offer the accurate information whether the update for a particular driver is available for the particular hardware which is installed on your system.
Driver backup is okay, but I will approach driver updaters with caution.