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Perform Full Virus Scan

If you are on dialup, make sure you check for new virus definitions and run a complete scan a minimum of once a week. 

Run Spybot or a similar spyware tool 

Spybot Search & Destroy 1.3 can quickly find and remove sneaky spyware.  Before running, check the web to see if the database has an update. Run Spybot weekly, or at any time you think you have been attacked.

After removing all of the spyware found, be sure to Immunize your computer against all currently known spyware. This will help keep you from getting the same version of those spy programs again.

Having a popup stopper such as the Google Tool Bar can cut down considerably on the amount of spyware on your system.

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Run Ad-Aware SE  

Ad-Aware SE is designed to provide advanced protection from known Data-mining, aggressive advertising, Parasites, Scumware, selected traditional Trojans, Dialers, Malware, Browser hijackers, and tracking components. Before running, check the web to see if the database has an update. Run Ad-aware along with Spybot weekly, or at any time you think you have been attacked. The paid version of this program will not only remove spyware but will keep you from getting them in the first place.

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Organize All Programs Menu (XP)

When you hover the mouse over All Programs you will see a menu appear from which you can access the programs currently installed on your PC. After installing new software it will (normally) appear on the programs menu.

You can rename any program on the menu by right clicking on it and selecting rename from the menu that appears.

To alphabetize the list, right click and choose "sort by name" from the menu.

To open a program simply left click on it,  Some options have a small black arrow to the far right side which indicates that it contains another sub-menu (e.g., the accessories folder has a sub-menu). Check each sub-menu - if it only has one file in the menu, then move that file to the main start menu by dragging it to the main bar - then delete the folder it was in originally.

To remove any program just from the All Programs menu, right click and select delete.  If you want to uninstall a program, check first to see if the program provides an uninstall file and use that to remove the program.  If not, use the control panel to uninstall it.  Deleting it from the programs menu will not uninstall the software.

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