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How to clean up junk files on your computer

4/20/2016

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Clean Junk Files!
It's been a while hasn't it? Well there's a good reason for that: we've been working on a big web project which will be released by the end of this year (hopefully) so stay tuned!

Anyway, today's topic is how to clean up the junk files that remain on your computer after installing programs, accidently agreeing to install adware, etc. These files can be irritating, take up free disk space, and slow your PC down when they accumulate. Furthermore, some of these junk files are actually executables and run silently in the background; making them likely culprits for unusual lags and slow performance.

So to clean junk files, there are two main tools that we use: CCleaner and Malwarebytes. Both are completely free and very effective at getting rid of junk programs and the debris they leave behind.


CCleaner

CCleaner
As the name suggests, CCleaner, is a program that cleans your PC of unnecessary files. However, most people don't know what the 'C' stands for; looking up CCleaner on Wikipedia might give you a bit of a chuckle. Anyway, CCleaner has been 'cleaning' computers for over 12 years, so it's reliability can't really be questioned. However what about its effectiveness? Well we've placed CCleaner to the test, on a computer that was filled with adware and a lot of junk data. What happened? Take a look below!

CCleaner Results!
As you can see, CCleaner can help you a lot with removing unnecessary files; freeing us 1.5GB of disk space: a space saver for those who use SSDs! However, although CCleaner removed most of the unnecessary files from the PC, it did not remove any of the adware and junk programs that were running in the background. To amend this issue, we turn to our second tool: Malwarebytes Anti-Malware.

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware is one of the programs that we are a big fan of because:

1. It is free
2. It works well
3. It was originally written in Visual Basic 6, which is one of our favorite IDEs/Languages until Lazarus came along!

But how well does it work? To find out the answer to that question, we placed it to the test on our very own adware/junk filled PC. Not surprisingly, the results were very respectable.

Malwarebytes Scan Results
As you can see, Malwarebytes picked up a lot of unwanted programs, adware and even spyware that CCleaner missed. This is mainly because MBAM, is an anti-malware/anti-spyware program, while CCleaner is a general purpose junk cleaning application. If we only used MBAM to clean junk files, it will miss all the temporarily files that CCleaner helped us clean.

Therefore, in this way, if you want to clean up junk programs and files on your computer, make sure to use both these tools to get the best from both worlds: CCleaner to free up disk space, and Malwarebytes to remove those nasty junk programs that run on your PC!
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Should I upgrade to Windows 10

10/8/2015

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Should I upgrade to Windows 10
Windows 10 is the latest and last version our inconsistent but loveable operating system. But the question that users all over the world ask is: should I upgrade?

Don't worry, XetoWare is here to give you a quick yet through overview of the pros and cons of getting Microsoft's latest product.
Information on Windows
​As one of our trademarks is to cut to the chase: if you are using Windows XP, Vista, 8 or 8.1, immediately upgrade to Windows 10. Why? Do we really have to explain?

However if you are still on Windows 7, then this is the guide for you.

Picture

Windows 7 vs Windows 10

Windows 7 is easy to use
One trend that is highly prominent is Windows 7s ease of use and simplicity, making using a PC a walk in the park. Windows 10 complicates things that 7 made easy for us.
Metro Apps and Start Screen
​One example is the introduction of Metro and Universal Apps for Desktop PCs. The issue is that desktop users do not really enjoy using apps designed for tablets and phones. Furthermore, the introduction of the Start Screen in Windows 8, caused confusion and irritation. Windows 10 still includes the start screen it only takes up half your screen now. If you're an user who likes things simple and nice, stick to Windows 7; because it still just works.

Windows 10 is fast
​Windows 10 is faster. That is simply a fact. It starts up a bit faster, runs applications smoother and saves you a few seconds when copying files. This is usually the case with newer operating systems, however that does not mean that Windows 7 is slow and useless. A slow computer running Windows 10 can be much slower than a normal PC running Windows 7.

Windows 10 has a lot of extra features
Windows 10 has a lot of extra features. A prime example is Cortana, the intelligent virtual assistant that may even rival Siri. Cortana allows you to quickly set reminders using your voice, look up things without opening your browsing and much more. Another new feature, is Edge, the web browser that will succeed the apparently slow and inefficient Internet Explorer. Among other things, Edge is known to outperform Chrome at its Google's own speed tests! Thus, upgrading to Windows 10 will give you the perks of a faster browser, and a friendly assistant! Of course, there are also other additional features such as virtual desktops, and a more unified OS overall, but those features can be easily added to Windows 7 through freeware third party applications.

Windows 10 has privacy issues
Windows 10, however, has recently come under heavy criticism for a lot of privacy issues that Windows 7 does not encompass. By default, users of Windows 10 are opted in for sending 'anonymous' usage data to Microsoft. This includes their keystrokes, browsing history, etc. Although there are tools that help you disable most of these features, you can never be too sure, especially as Windows is a closed-source operating system. Windows 7, on the other hand largely remains satisfactory in terms of maintaining a formidable level of user privacy.

Windows 10 is more secure
Despite its hiccups with privacy, Windows 10 is a more secure operating system than all its predesscors. This is largely because new exploits that affect all previous versions of Windows are automatically fixed in Windows 10. Therefore, to the everyday computer user, adopting Windows 10 will make your computing experience more secure. However, if you use Windows 7, and have Windows Update enabled, there is not much to worry about in terms of security, provided that you have common sense and a good Antivirus software.

​Therefore, we hope that our concise inspection of Windows 10 and 7 helps you decide if you want to upgrade to Windows 10 or not. Our take on any drastic upgrade is that if its not really required, don't get it. Sure, Windows 10 has a lot of new features, and enhanced security, but Windows 7, with the help of some good freeware can be equally as good, if not better. Thus, our opinion is, if it works, don't fix it, and with that in mind, XetoWare stays with Windows 7.
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  • Home
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    • Multimedia >
      • Air Media Player
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      • Video2MP3
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