CCleaner---File Cleaning

• 1). Download the free CCleaner program from the CCleaner website.
  
  
• 2). Install the program on your laptop and allow it to place a shortcut on your desktop, then click on the CCleaner shortcut to launch the program.
  
  
• 3). Review the list of files that the program will clean such as cache files, temporary files and memory dumps. These files take up space on your hard drive and can slow your laptop's performance. You can remove checks from the files you don't want the program to clean.
  
  
• 4). Choose to "Analyze" your laptop. The program will report how many files will be removed and how much space on your laptop will be cleaned.
  
  
• 5). Click the "Run Cleaner" button to start the cleaning process. Allow the program to completely remove all the excess files from your system.
  
  

CCleaner---Registry Cleaning

• 1). Click on the CCleaner shortcut to launch the program.
  
  
• 2). Click on the "Registry" tab located on the left side of the program. It will look like a group of small blue boxes. This will take you to the registry cleaning portion of the program.
  
  
• 3). Click the "Scan for Issues" button and allow the program to complete the scan. It will report what issues it has found such as unused file extensions, empty file classes and other obsolete registry entries that can clutter up the laptop's registry.
  
  
• 4). Choose which issues you want the program to remove by adding a check next to the item in the list.
  
  
• 5). Click the "Fix Selected Issues" button. You will be prompted to save a backup of your registry. Usually this is a good idea to do any time you make changes to the registry.
  
  
• 6). Choose "Yes" to save a backup of your registry and choose the location on your laptop where you want to save the backup.
  
  
• 7). Click the "Fix All Selected Issues" button to quickly allow the program to clean the registry. If you wish to review each item instead, you can click "Fix Issue" for each issue until you have completely cleaned your registry.
  
  
• 8). Click the "Close" button once registry cleaning is complete.
  
  

Malwarebytes

• 1). Download the free Malwarebytes program from the Malwarebytes website.
  
  
• 2). Install the program and allow it to upgrade if it prompts you for an upgrade at the end of the installation.
  
  
• 3). Click on the Malwarebytes icon on your desktop to launch the program.
  
  
• 4). Navigate to the "Update" tab and click the "Check for Updates" button. This will update the database to the newest version. Click "OK" when this is complete.
  
  
• 5). Navigate to the "Scanner" tab.
  
  
• 6). Choose the "Perform Quick Scan" option and click the "Scan" button. Allow the program to scan your laptop for any hidden malware or viruses.
  
  
• 7). When the scan is complete, the program will report if it has found any malware. You will see a list of suspected malware and will be allowed to mark which items to remove. Click "Remove Selected" and allow the program to remove the issues.
  
  
• 8). Reboot your computer when the program prompts you to do so.
  
  

SuperAntiSpyware

• 1). Download the free SuperAntiSpyware program from the SuperAntiSpyware website.
  
  
• 2). Install the program and allow it to put an icon on your desktop.
  
  
• 3). Click the SuperAntiSpyware icon on your desktop to launch the program.
  
  
• 4). Allow the program to update its definitions if it prompts you.
  
  
• 5). Click on the "Scan your Computer" button to view the scanning options.
  
  
• 6). Choose the drives on your computer to scan. The C drive is usually the default. Then make sure that "Perform Quick Scan" is selected and click the "Next" button.
  
  
• 7). Allow the scan to run on your computer.
  
  
• 8). Review the scan summary. This will alert you to any problems the scanner has found.
  
  
• 9). Click "OK" to see a list of possible issues. You can choose which issues you would like to remove.
  
  
• 10
  
  Click "Next" and allow SuperAntiSpyware to remove the issues. Reboot your computer if prompted after the scan.