101 software tips, tweaks and tricks

System Maintenance

097. Use Windows update, keep drivers updated

If you haven't got it set on automatic, make sure to check Windows Update every now and then for your operating system updates. Also make sure to install driver updates for your hardware, such as GPU, sound and chipset drivers, as they can fix problems and add new features.

098. Install anti-spyware software

To make sure you're protected, we'd recommend you start with at least SpyBot Search & Destroy and Spyware Blaster. After updating both, you can immunise your system against threats. Should you already be infected with spyware, Spybot is a good first line of defence, but won't catch everything. You may have to use a number of tools, including Ad-Aware, Hijack This and dedicated tools from trusted antivirus sites like Kaspersky, F-Secure, Eset and Symantec.

099. Install antivirus software

Although the most advanced users can usually get by with none whatsoever, there's always the virus that slips through the net — Chernobyl and Blaster, just to name two. A wise user will have an antivirus program by their side, whether a free one like Avast, AntiVir or AVG, or a paid subscription to something like Kaspersky, Nod32, BitDefender or Norton.

100. Find out what's wasting space on your hard drive

More than once we've stopped to think: what could possibly be taking up all the space on our hard drive? SpaceMonger attempts to address this, showing how much files and folders are taking up on your hard drive in a spatial manner — that is, using dynamically sizeable boxes. You can even double click on the boxes to drill down to lower levels, and find those unfinished downloads you completely forgot about. The 1.40 version is free, and a little digging around on its website will unearth the download link.

101. Clean things up

CCleaner can track down and remove all sorts of temporary files you don't need, as well as help clean up your registry. Well worth the download.