Good Morning All, (I'm back)

Once a month I do scheduled maintenance on my PC to keep it healthy.

Can anyone suggest the best order for these steps?

1. Create System Restore Point

2. CCleaner (clean registry)

3. Delete Old Registry Backup files

4. Check Startup List for unnecessary programs running in background (msconfig)

5. Spybot

6. Virus Scan

7. Check Disk (Detect and Repair Disk Errors)

8. Disk Clean Up (Purge temp files, etc.)

9. Defrag


Back up to external drive:

10. Internet Bookmarks

11. Outlook Express Data

12. Data Files

13. Power Cycle Modem and Wireless Router


Have I forgotten anything?

THANK YOU…

Every few months you want to open the case and blow/vacuum the dust out.

That's a good checklist, as far as I can see.

JB,

Is there an optimum order in which these procedures should be done?

Here is the order which I would suggest, as you say you do this monthly

5, 6, 7, 4, 3, 8, 2, 9, 1

Should do the backups 10, 11, 12 first

This is the way I would approach it

Thank you Seahwk/JB. Excellent!

I would think, however, I should do a virus scan before backing up my files to eliminate chance of transferring a virus to my backup drive?? No?

Yes, virus scan before anything and you should be al set

Just one thing.
If you have your installed AV set up correctly the need for a monthly scan should be negated, although an online scan now and again is helpful.
Once you have done the initial full scan.
I always set mine up to auto scan all read and write actions on ALL files and to delete anything infected.
This coupled with daily updates stops any infections.

Curlyben,

I am set up the same way, and get auto updates all day long.

My AV nags me to do a full scan every 31 days, so I do it, but have never found anything.