http://www.auslogics.com/en/software/disk-defrag/ is about the best speed wise.

Use it's optimize disk function once a month and your computer WILL be faster.

There is a myth that goes around the computer community that defragmenting your drive doesn't do much good. Or speed things up. Bollocks. It massively speeds up your experience. And you need to do it at least once a month if not every couple of weeks.


There are others, need to be used with caution, but for a novice, that should set you on the path.


As for it hurting a hard disk or os. They all conform to the windows API and I am sure after millions of downloads and uses we would have heard of a few mishaps by now.

But, like I said, do not listen to me. I am not an expert....
And am always ready to be enlightened.

No porn sites, nor body-building sites

For defragmenting I use IObit Smart Defrag. It can do fast optimize and it completes quickly. I don't use installers and there's no trash files on my computer, so it'll load quickly year after year.

thanks! using the default defrag system on Win7 takes FOREVER

I use Auslogics also. The Optimize function is great. I've found it's best to run Windows regular defrag from time to time also.

another happy MSE user here (ex AVG free user)

That's what they all say!


Then they bring their machines into me for disinfection.

Ewww........


You have got more chance of being infected from a body building site than you have a porn site. Well, read on..

I surf porn. I use an old machine that can hardly get it's frame buffer rate up, but then again, I do sympathize with the old chap. Just kidding, of course I would never do that, and neither would you, nor would anyone else. I have never met anyone in my life that would..

In fact, you have to assume they DO surf porn. Most of the main porn sites are actually pretty clean. If you limit your use to the top 5 sites, you should be pretty safe. It is the others that hold the nasties. The rationale for this is: We are making so much money from giving out free porn - to have an infection spread would be the kiss of death for us. Of course it happens at all sites. But these sites have heavier security than any other site you can imagine, because they are such a main target. Every hacker wants to use ****.*** as a vector. Jackpot!


And while we are on the subject, I know we aren't supposed to talk about cracks here, but... Most of the time you will be safe, but there are many times when you won't be safe. Downloading keygens and cracks is asking for trouble. There are ways around this, but I won't tell you how. But I bet if you download ten cracks - one of them will be infected. Probably just a 'dropper' at first - heard that term?. Does nothing, perfectly safe - just waits until the right moment and voila your bank account details are stolen.

One example. I'll shut up about this now. I don't like scaremongering on either side of the fence. Download your software from legitimate sources, not just because you are less likely to get infected, but because it is the right thing to do. But be prepared. One day, one of these legitimate sources will get infected and you will, with your super duper anti-virus and anti-malware, and oh your H.I.P.S. say 'yes - allow - treat as trusted file'. Your whole system is wiped, all data stolen and you are up s*** creek without the paddle if you did not make a clone/image of your disk and data.


But don't listen to me. Go to the security experts. There must be some on KVR, and I really welcome their input if I got something wrong along the way..


EDIT:
As for defragging. Auslogics does me proud. Fast, free, safe, optimize function.

I also use JkDefrag\MyDefrag v4.0 where I can - excellent.

Did you know, after you do a standard install of winxp, just as you are finished and just about to use the system, it will be about 30 percent fragmented. That is massive enough, that even if you just do a quick defrag with the built in windows defragger, it will noticably speed up your experience. Defragging is not a myth. The worst it can do is stress your hd and make it fail - so back it up.


If you really want to get some speed use this - Puran Defrag Free Version -
http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=296816

Be careful though, it has an easy mode, but you can cause some mayhem with the advanced options.... For tweakers only!

Most people will be fine using those already mentioned by everyone.

I use Ubuntu for the internet now , I occasionally get online in Windows7 for software updates( music/w7 ) , I used to use MSE its free and good enough , but now I don't bother because I don't web surf with windows . If it wasn't for music software or games , I'd just use Ubuntu for everything . If you use a web browser other than Internet explorer, use MSE , some common sense when clicking with the mouse , you'd probably be O.K.

Unless I am making music - it is Linux all the way - Mint mainly but I love to experiment with different distros.

I can surf the net, write documents, watch films (ahem), listen to music, edit music (Audacity), download whole websites, go playing about with network stuff shall we say..

I need windows for NOTHING. Except Energy Xt, Fruity Loops, Studio One etc...

You can still get burned on Linux though, but the average user is 80 percent safer without even trying.

Get a live image of Partition Magic - it not only checks your disks for errors to a level deeper than what can be done in windows, but it can, partition, clean and fix errors on those disks. It has a version of Clam AV that can automatically update it's definitions from the internet and do a check on all your mounted disks. It is just simply out of this world. It is supposed to be a specialist distro, but I loved it so much I donated to they guy making it.
It is totally free. Just go to Distrowatch.com and dl it from there.


It is only one of about 10 I use though, so again, I will stfu


The reason I mention Partition Magic is because it will be of utility to those running windows anyway. It's disk tools and av for a start. But it loads into RAM - it creates a RAM disk and is super fast. The only other distro I use that does this is Puppy Linux. And that is in the top ten....
Distrowatch.com is your friend.

Gonna have to check out that Partition Magic Live disk !! Thanks

Using Microsoft Security Essentials. Wouldn't even know it's running. Never had a problem.

I know it's not free, but McAfee, which I had before was horrible. When I removed it my system felt like it had a 300% performance increase.

Mydefrag is best for defragging, and is more convenient.
Avira free is the lightest and most accurate free antivirus I've come across, based on reports from avcomparitives.

i love my ubuntu live cd.

I also had Trend Micro. I got it on sale, and then Trend offered me a free upgrade to Titanium (nice). It ran in the background and you hardly noticed it. It was a very good security package and actually saved my ass a couple of times.

Which of the suggested free AV solutions for Win7 does not pester you with ridicolous amounts of ads and notifications? Sure there must be some compensation for free tools, I am ok with that. But e.g. Avira Antivir got so bad with the latest releases that I start considering it pesterware, as it annoys me with sheer endless commercial notifications. That is why I want to ditch Avira Antivir. Any suggestions?