Cleaning, Protecting and Fixing a Windows PC

Whether you want to protect your PC from viruses and spyware or cleanup or fix your PC after viruses and spyware have taken over, or troubleshooting an unknown problem, the first step is going through these steps to clean and protect your PC (if possible and not already completed). Many problems act like hardware problems when in reality they are related to spyware or viruses. 

Step 1: Installing Microsoft Security Essentials.

Installing Microsoft Security Essentials

1. Go to:  http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security_essentials/default.aspx and follow the instructions to install.

Step 2: Updating Windows

1. Click the Start button and then click Windows Update.
2. Click the Express button.
3. If asked to do a Genuine Windows Validation click the Continue button.
   a. If it says you have an invalid Product ID you will need to contact the company that sold you the computer and ask them to provide you with a genuine copy of Windows. You will not be able to update Windows on your PC until this is resolved. Contact the ITS Help Desk for more information.
   b. Otherwise click Install Updates and then click I Accept.
4. Click the Download and Install Now button.
5. Click the Continue button
6. If requested reboot your PC.
7. Repeat steps 1 through 6 until no high-priority updates are available.