If your Windows system is slow and you’ve already tried to clean up the autostarts you may have other issues. To do a global check on your system you can follow these steps:
- Download Hiren’s Boot CD (list of software installed here)
- Extract the zip file in a new folder (the zip contains many files)
- Use the shipped CD creation tools BurnCDDC or use the excellent cdrtools Frontend going to CD image > Write image and choosing the Hiren’s.BootCD.x.x.iso file inside
- Restart the PC with the CD in and boot from disk: after the boot a screen will be presented, usually you have to press a key like F12 to choose a boot device or press a key like F2 to go to BIOS and choose the boot order putting the DVD first
- Choose Start Mini Windows XP and press Enter
- After boot, you’ll see an interface similar to Windows XP: on Desktop click on My Computer to view if all drives are listed. Take a look at the space left on devices
- Start > Programs > Check disk, insert the letter of the drive to check and then Enter
- (Optional) After the disk check, you can also use other disk tools from Desktop > HBCD Menu > Programs > Hard disk tools if needed. Be careful, some tools can be dangerous and you have to know what you’re doing
- Now that disk error are fixed, go to Desktop > HBCD Menu > Programs > Antivirus/Spyware and choose Avira or Malawarebytes’ Anti-Malaware
- Choose the units and the scan mode and then run the tool
- Repeat these steps with all tools you need in the Antivirus / Spyware section
- Go to Desktop > HBCD Menu > Programs > Cleaners > CCleaner or ATF Cleaner and clean temporary files and entries from your system. Warning: personal data like browser saved password could be lost, choose the cleaning options carefully
- On Desktop > HBCD Menu > Programs > Cleaners > MyUninstaller uninstall all application you don’t need
- Check the space left on the disks on Desktop > My Computer. If little space is left on the main drive use Desktop > HBCD Menu > Programs > Cleaners > Windirstat to find big files (about Windirstat)
- Now it’s time to look at the apps in autostart: go to Desktop > HBCD Menu > Programs > Startup tools > Autoruns: this is a Microsoft app that lists all application executed automatically. Look for suspicious entries and disable what you don’t need
- You can explore other tools on this bootable CD depending on your needs
Tested with Hiren’s BootCD 15.2
