Why so many files?

[waiting]

After we run our AntiVirus definitions we get a report.
We have no viruses but our AntiVirus program has
scanned 140,000 files.


Our last scan took 3 hours to scan a 6GB harddrive.
1.5GB is free space.

Why so many files?

Using Windows98

[Nuclear Krusader]

How many programs do you have installed?

Also, if you have the antivirus set to scan all files then that may be it.

[galaxian]

And,
Do you regularly empty your \Temp folder?
Delete all files in \TIF?
Keep a reasonable number of days in History?
Houseclean unwanted cookies periodically?
Empty the recycle bin?

[waiting]

You both made good points. I'll check it out.........
Thanks....George

PS: please feel free to give us any other ideas......

[waiting]

No, we don't regularily empty our temp fldr
No tif files, but lots of jpeg's
History, I don't know. how do I check History
Cookies haven't been cleaned for four years
Recycle bin is empty

Hi Galaxian.......what do you think now?

[catfishjoe_1]

to dump temp files. start-programs-accessories-system tools-disc cleanup. you will get a choice of drives. Have c selected and click ok. Ensure that your temp windows and temp internet files are checkmarked. click ok.

history and cookies - in an IE window, click on tools-internet options. In the window that comes up you will have choices for cookies and for history.
cat

[Panama Red]

Excellent advice from catfishjoe. Just one caution to add. When using Disk Cleanup, do NOT check the box to compress files.

[catfishjoe_1]

Good point PR. When I use disk cleanup the only thing I have checked is the two temp boxes. I might have a use for the other things it will allow you to dump, just never know.
cat

[waiting]

Hi: Apparently your all using microsoft to clean up. Has anybody used Norton System Works program to do this?
And were you successful? Did you have any problems with NSW? Thanks......George

[catfishjoe_1]

I have not used that feature on nsw, didn't even know it had it. It should work though. I usually use "Il Systemwiper", but when I am in safe mode I use the M$ disk cleanup.
cat

[waiting]

So when you use ms........you go into safe mode. Now thats interesting....why do you go into safe mode?

What other programs do yu run in safemode? Have you ever defraged, or run your virus definitions in safe mode?

[catfishjoe_1]

defrag works best in safe mode. some virus' are easier to get rid of in safe mode and also detect. some spyware is only removable in safe mode or at system boot. idon't do disc cleanup in safe mode except for right before defrag.
cat

[Panama Red]

Norton system works added way to much bloat to my system when I used it with XP. Slowed things down a bunch. Go Back is the biggest offender. Plus everything but the AV is redundant to the XP native features. The only time I use safe mode for defragging is on a machine running something older than XP. XP's defrag hasn't shown me any speed improvement when running in Safe. What has helped a bunch is putting the page file on a separate partition. Been doing that on all XP machines I build and it seems to make the defragging faster and more productive. Before I defrag, like catfish, I always run disk cleanup first as well as deleting all cookies, history from IE, running my Registry Healer program and deleting all but the latest restore point. Here's some good info on the page file/separate partition,

http://support.microsoft.com/default...&Product=winxp

[waiting]

Panama----We went to yur site....appears to be for
WinXP. Maybe Win98 is in there somewhere? We're
using Win98 in the laptrop that has problems. Feel free to give us more tips