at least, on your way to a smoothly running computer, and a good idea to do anyway.

Stop using Internet Explorer, and use a browser that is safer, faster, and highly customizable. You can get Extentions and Themes for it here.

My favorite extention is Tabbrowser Preferences. This extension is an enhancement for the basic tab controls provided in Firefox. It replaces the existing user interface with a new, more visible user interface, and also includes UI for other hidden features that are part of the browser, as well as features provided explicitly by the extension.

Clean off your computer of the excess junk, remove the residue left from uninstalling programs, and even uninstall programs or remove programs from the automatic startup when you're starting Windows. You can get CCleaner here.

CCleaner is a freeware system optimization and privacy tool. It removes unused files from your system - allowing Windows to run faster and freeing up valuable hard disk space. It also cleans traces of your online activities such as your Internet history. But the best part is that it's fast (normally taking less than a second to run) and contains NO Spyware or Adware! :)

It differs from other defrag tools on the market, by enabling you to quickly and simply defrag the files you want to, without having to process the whole drive. Simply run it, select the file and defragment in seconds. No more struggling with the Windows defragmentation tool! You can get Defraggler here.

Recuva (pronounced "recover") is a freeware Windows utility to restore files that have been accidentally deleted from your computer. This includes files emptied from the Recycle bin as well as images and other files that have been deleted by user error from digital camera memory cards or MP3 players. It will even bring back files that have been deleted by bugs, crashes and viruses! You can get Recuva here.

Download this, install it, and run it at least once a week. Ad-Aware is designed to provide advanced protection from known Data-mining, aggressive advertising, Parasites, Scumware, selected traditional Trojans, Dialers, Malware, Browser hijackers, and tracking components. With the release of Ad-Aware 2007, Lavasoft takes the fight against Spyware to the next level.

Keep it for a weekly scan.

Download this, install it, and run it at least once a week. Application to scan for spyware, adware, hijackers and other malicious software.

Why both this and Adaware? Because both will find different things. Better to be thorough.

Keep it for a weekly scan.

Download this, install it, and run it. CWShredder™ is the latest defense against the new Cool Web Search variants.