WARNING* Some of the guides / software may not support Window Vista.


List of guides:
1. http://home.comcast.net/~SupportCD/index.html - Recommended
2. http://www.ewingsnet.com/documents/CourseO...urComputer.html
3. http://www.blackviper.com/Articles/articles.htm - Recommended
4. http://www.gameboomers.com/forum/ubbthread...p;Number=268903 - Optional
5. http://askbobrankin.com/
6. http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm - Important
(List of Rogue/Suspect Anti-Spyware products)
7. http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-ca/magazine/cc302206.aspx - Important
8. http://technet.microsoft.com/en-ca/default.aspx - Recommended
9. http://operawiki.info/Opera - Opera browser guide
10. http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/
11. http://text.dslreports.com/?nav=1
12. http://forums.majorgeeks.com/index.php
13. http://www.techsupportforum.com/
14. http://internetrotsyourbrain.com/rridgely/malwareremoval.htm

List of freeware / guides:
http://home.comcast.net/~supportcd/XPFreeware.html (Part of the Optimize Guides) - Recommended
http://www.piriform.com/ (I use all software from Piriform, they r lightweight,free,and powerfull tools) - Recommended
Go to > http://forum.piriform.com/index.php?showtopic=17921&hl by Moderator rridgely from the Piriform forum

Tricks and tips:
DO-NOT list:
*Don't mess with the paging file + Prefetch Folder (or anything to do with it)
*Don't disable Task Scheduler / DNS Client Service - source - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/318803/en-us (read them carefully) & http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.as...=y&arctab=y
*Disable System Restore? no way... - source - http://technet.microsoft.com/en-ca/library/bb457097.aspx
*Some suggested TweakXp.com, which is not that reliable...it contains many misleading information (Try at ur own risk) - http://tweakxp.com/
*CCleaner - Never select "Old Prefetch data" option, cleaning this will increase application and Windows load times (Everthing else its 98% safe to select + clean, i personally never had any backups) source - http://tinyurl.com/6cp9wy

Security Tips:
1. http://askbobrankin.com/windows_xp_security_tips.html
2. http://www.bestsecuritytips.com/ - Optional
3. http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleID=1681
Go to > http://forum.piriform.com/index.php?showtopic=19017

Usefull Websites:
http://housecall.trendmicro.com/ - online virus scan (Require Internet explorer)
http://www.whatismyip.com/ - Ip address scan
https://www.grc.com/x/ne.dll?bh0bkyd2 - Internet security check
http://secunia.com/vulnerability_scanning/online/ - Online Software Inspector (keep ur software up-to-date)
http://virusscan.jotti.org/ - Malware scan
http://www.microsoft.com/security/portal/
http://blogs.technet.com/mmpc/default.aspx
http://www.viruslist.com/en/viruslist.html
http://www.trendmicro.com/vinfo/virusencyclo/

List of recommended Browsers :
Go to > http://forum.piriform.com/index.php?showtopic=19128
Go to > http://home.comcast.net/~SupportCD/FreewareBrowsers.html

FAQ:
Q1) WindowXP vs Vista, which is better?
A1) None of those are better than each other. Window XP support more games and software while vista support less. However, Windows Vista includes many automatic performance enhancing features such as ReadyBoot, ReadyBoost, ReadyDrive, Superfetch and Prefetching. Optimize guide .

Q2)Which is more secured, Linux or Windows?
A2) Here's a quick & simple answer, No. For further information read those article http://www.populartechnology.net/2007/01/w...than-linux.html & http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/bulletins/SB2005.html

Q3)Was FireFox the best browser?
A3) No, because FireFox is slow and it's a resource hog; Also, it has multiple unpatched vulnerabilities and its Extensions(add-ons) can actually be unsafe.
Source - http://home.comcast.net/~SupportCD/FirefoxMyths.html , http://askbobrankin.com/is_firefox_more_secure.html

Q4) No anti-spyware/virus or any protection is needed if avoid going to "Questionable" site.
A4) You are right, You should always be aware of any questionable site. However, it is not a good a idea of using nothing.


This post will always be updating, at least until i die.

Good list. I used Black Vipers' guide to create different Services set-ups.

Just a quick note, your CCleaner application crippling source link is broken.

The DNS Client service is not necessary and can cause huge system slowdowns if you use a HOSTS file from hpHosts or MVPS.

Disabling the Windows "DNS Client" service:
http://www.simpledns.com/kb.aspx?kbid=1089

I recommend OpenDNS:
https://www.opendns.com/homenetwork/start/computer

Install a HOSTS file to prevent known malware sites from accessing your system.

HOSTS files I use:
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm <== includes good guide
http://hosts-file.net/?s=Download

Managed with HostsMan and I use its HostsServer proxy to speed up browsing:
http://www.abelhadigital.com

http://tinyurl.com/6cp9wy

True. With the current ever growing security risks on the web along with all the adverts I wouldn't dare browse it without a HOSTS file!

Good services guide for Vista:

http://www.speedyvista.com/services.php

Yes, you can disable DNS services if you want to use OpenDNS instead.

Do you honestly have something against Firefox or is that from the site?

I have nothing against Firefox, its just not the best browser.

I just don't like Firefox.

I like IE7 and IE8 beta2 on my old PIII both with IE7Pro.

It's amazing how strongly people can feel about their browser.

We all like different things in life because we are different.

Sometimes I have to have a particular software on my computer because a different brand won't work right with my setup. For example Avast just doesn't seem to do well on my machine, so I use Avira.

Browsers? Use Opera, personal choice, but have used others. Life's short

My system is the absolute reverse of that, don't know why either. Avira AntiVir for some reason can't be launched after my system has been up and running for a good amount of time forcing a reboot which is annoying to scan a download, hence the reason I use Avast.

I do hope Microsoft's new anti-malware offering next year is very good though to give another free alternative.