So we all know that we need to do PC maintenace to catch all the nasty things we pick up surfing the web. I've been doing it once a week on Sundays for along time. Not really having a problem except lately I'm wondering if it needs to be done once a week.

The reason behind this is that I think I just might have gone overboard with the amount of programs that I use to assure myself of being bug free, as it were. Only one anti-virus program, because we all know that more than one on your machine can cause problems. I than have six, yes, anti-spyware programs, one of which doesn't require a scan. Then there are those HDD, registry and just plain clean up programs, five more there. Oh, and lets not forget the defrag program. One a month I run MS's Safety Scanner.

I think part of my problem comes from the fact that all the prgrams that I run are free or free versions of paid software. Really, can you pass up such a deal. Of course having all these programs poses a secondary problem, have to go and see if there are updates, usually check them a couple times a day. Yeah, I know, I have a whole lot of time on my hands.

Okay so my concerns or questions are as follows:

1. Do the programs that have scans need to be run this often?

2. The virus/spyware programs offer quick, full or custom scans. I've always done full scans. Should I run quick or customize the scans?

3. By running defrag once a week could I possibly be shortening the life of the HDD?

As you might of figured out the process of doing maintence the way I've been doing it usually takes up one day. I didn't identifly what the programs are, really doesn't make a difference. You can take it that they are some of the most popular ones talked about here and then some others. I also understand that it is suggested that you scan your machine when you feel it's slowed down or just plain not working right.

I'm sure one of the underlying factors is where you may go on the Web. Well I'm pretty much a stay at home person with that. Other than here and the sites that have links from here I pretty much stay with what you would call trusted sites.

So lets hear some thoughts on this. I'm even open to suggestions, just as long as they don't include wearing a blindfold and going into a dark room.