Removing the Deadwood

As we use our computer, temporary files build up. In some ways, this can be good for those with a slow Internet connection. However, malware has been known to nest in various temporary locations. Although such a cleanup can be done manually, as described below, there are a couple of software programs that make it much easier to remove the deadwood.

A software that works well for Windows 2000 and Windows XP is ATF CLeaner by Atribune. Instructions for using ATF Cleaner:

Double-click ATF-Cleaner.exe to run the program.
Under Main choose: Select All
Click the Empty Selected button.

If you use Firefox browser

Click Firefox at the top and choose: Select All
Click the Empty Selected button.
NOTE: If you would like to keep your saved passwords, please click No at the prompt.

If you use Opera browser

Click Opera at the top and choose: Select All
Click the Empty Selected button.
NOTE: If you would like to keep your saved passwords, please click No at the prompt.

Click Exit on the Main menu to close the program.
For Technical Support, double-click the e-mail address located at the bottom of each menu.

Another popular software is CCleaner. You can download CCleaner from this direct link: http://www.ccleaner.com/downloadbin.asp?f=2 .

Clean Temporary Internet files with CCleaner as follows:

• Close all open programs, including Internet Explorer, Fire Fox and any instances of Windows Explorer.
  
• Launch CCleaner and under Options > Advanced > UNcheck "Only delete files in Windows Temp folder older than 48 hours".
• A pop up box will appear advising this process will permanently delete files from your system.
• To protect logon cookies that you wish to retain, under Options > Cookies. Select and using the arrow move those cookies to the "Cookies to keep" column.
• Then select the items you wish to clean up.
• In the Windows Tab:
  • Clean all entries in the "Internet Explorer" section.
  • Clean all the entries in the "Windows Explorer" section.
  • Clean all entries in the "System" section except Windows Log Files.
• In the Applications Tab:
  • Clean all in the Firefox/Mozilla section if you use it.
  • Clean all in the Opera section if you use it.
  • Clean Sun Java in the Internet Section.
  • If you need assistance with a malware infection, please UNcheck "Utilities" (i.e., Ad-Aware, ewido and other security program logs.)
    

• Click the "Run Cleaner" button and it will scan and clean your system.
• Click exit.

To manually clean the temporary internet files, do the following:

• Quit Internet Explorer and quit any instances of Windows Explorer.
• Click Start, click Control Panel, and then double-click Internet Options.
• On the General tab, click Delete Files under Temporary Internet Files.
• In the Delete Files dialog box, tick the Delete all offline content check box , and then click OK.
  
• Click on the Programs tab then click the Reset Web Settings button. Click Apply then OK.
• Click OK.

Empty the Recycle Bin by right-clicking the Recycle Bin icon on your Desktop, and then clicking Empty Recycle Bin.