How does one clean out their computer when all they have is AOL ?
September 1, 2010
Question:
How does one clean out their computer when all they have is AOL ?
I have an elderly friend who has a Windows 98 computer with only AOL. I have no clue how this was orignaly set up but you can’t even download yahoo messanger. Her home page is AOL and has no IE. It keeps freezing up on her which I think is because nothing has been cleaned. (cookies, temp files etc) Also it needs a disc clean up and defragment. She lives in th States and I am in Canada so I can’t look at the computer directly. I also don’t know Window 98 computers. Can some one give me some thorough info on how to help this lady and remember she cant download anything and I will be directing her over the phone.
HELLO, SHE DOESNT RUN XP ITS 98 AND CAN NOT DOWNLOAD ANYTHING AND I DONT KNOW IF SHE HAS AN AOL CD
Best answer:
Answer by basscleff
I’d suggest some basic windows xp housekeeping:
a links is below:
also try a program called tune up utilities
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tell her to remove aol,then from a AOL cd take the IE .sometimes aol user load several copies of aol .its very commom.
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these steps below will help clean up your computer
In Internet explorer at top of window select tools – then delete browser history
- then another box will open – select delete all- this will not remove your book marks
-Then close explorer then open again .At first pages will be slow once
and then will load fast after it loads 1 time.Also email etc you will have to sign in 1 time with pass word etc.
This will create new cookies.
Also go to start at bottom of on task bar.
click start 1 time then select find or search depending on your operating system.
Select all files and folders – then type in defrag and click search.When icons come up double click
and new box will come up – select analyze then you will see how fragmented you are –
then choose defrag.You can put this program on your desk top by right clicking on the icon you found in search for defrag.
Right click choose create short cut.This will put a short cut on your desk top.Then you can use as needed in future.
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find search delete history
on key boad press ctlr h
no software needed
you have what you need
find search delete history
on key board press ctlr h first
In Internet explorer at top of window select tools
then delete browser history – then another box will open – select delete all- this will not remove your book marks
Then close explorer then open again .At first pages will be slow once
and then will load fast after it loads 1 time.Also email etc you will have to sign in 1 time with pass word etc.
This will create new cookies.
Also go to start at bottom of on task bar.click start 1 time then select find or search depending on your operating system.
Select all files and folders – then type in defrag and click search.When icons come up double click and new box will come up
select analyze then you will see how fragmented you are – then choose defrag.You can put this program on your desk top
by right clicking on the icon you found in search for defrag.
Right click choose create short cut.This will put a short cut on your desk top.Then you can use as needed in future.
if you want book marks removed click on star at top of screen
right click the ones you don”t want choose delete
GO TO THIS SITE TO
http://onecare.live.com/site/en-us/default.htm
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add and remove programs
click start bottom left on task bar
control panel
add and remove programs
find the program(s) you want to remove
choose remove
reinsall if needed
check status as you do it
SEARCH
go start on blue bar (task bar)
choose search or find
then choose all files and folders
type in word you are looking for
when you see these icons
double click on them until you find what you are looking for
so you dont have to do this again
go back to same icon
right click
choose create short cut on desk top
close all windows
a new icon will be on your desk to
click 2 times to open
yahoo virus scan etc online care
http://security.yahoo.com/
http://onecare.live.com/site/en-us/default.htm
AUTOMATIC UPDATES FIREWALL ETC
go to start (in the blue bar)
control panel
security center
set up options
-defrag-
Click Start, point to Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click Disk Defragmenter.
Click the Settings tab, select the check boxes you want (to ensure fastest startup of programs, select the first box), and then click OK.
Click the drive you want to defragment, click OK, and then click Yes.
Note: It is best to shut down all your applications before you run Disk Defragmenter.
-disc cleanup-
Clear up the clutter with Disk Cleanup
Click Start, point to Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click Disk Cleanup.
Click the drive you want to scan, and wait while the program calculates how much disk space is available for cleanup.
To delete obsolete files, click the Disk Cleanup tab, select the check boxes of the files that you want to remove, click OK, and then click Yes.
To remove Windows components, click the More Options tab. In the Windows Componentsarea, click Clean Up.
Well, I think the answer may vary slightly depending on which version of aol she is running, but on the aol toolbar, look for / click on “settings”, look for / click on “internet properties”, & there should be either an option to clear footprints (ie: the cookies, web browsing history, temp files that you mentioned), or on an older version I think a window opens that gets you within a click or 2 of doing each one of those separately / manually. After that she can run a disc clean up & de-frag. After that, AOL offers free security center tools, anti-virus protection, anti-spyware, etc, getting all of that may be critical to getting her unit healthy again (I’d be willing to bet she’s loaded with spyware given the win 98 era). That aol security software can be downloaded for free, but you said she cannot do a download, so, she should be able to request that aol send her a copy of that software on CD. Again, it is free for the asking. Goodluck.
The way to delete temorary files, defragment, and clean up files on Win 98 is to go into start, programs, accessories, then in there there should be another folder called system tools. In there should be defrag, clean up, etc. Hope this helps!