HP Pavilion a6712f Desktop Computer List    2012/11/28-30, 2012/12/01
by CW Cyrix

Operating System:
* Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium x64 Service Pack 1

Problem:
* System is slow and randomly hangs/crashes.
* Sometimes it actually makes it to the desktop and is usable to some extent
  afterwards.
* Fan ran loudly, probably to compensate with stability.

Notes:
* Safe Mode was still accessible.
* Client noted that Internet Explorer was used throughout the computer's life.
* Another mentioned that they used to defragment the drive. Unknown as to how
  long ago.
  
What was found so far:
* Extremely dusty. Even the power supply was very dusty. Apparently never even
 cleaned at all since they got the computer.
* Infected with Vista Antimalware 2012, amongst other things found. Over three
  adware and six unwanted toolbars. VA2012 disabled all security programs and
  removed some Windows security service registry entries.
* Also, Vista Service Pack 2 had come out in 2009. Still had Service
  Pack 1 installed.
* Later on, found out that the drive had data spread throughout the drive,
  despite only having ~50% of free space (fragmentation).
* Also, had over 25GB of temporary data on the drive. Disk Cleanup had never
  been run ever.


What I did with the computer so far:
* Clean the entire inside of the computer. After cleaning, the computer was
  practically silent!
* Check physical RAM. Checked fine.
* Check hard disk. Found one UNC sector. Left alone, as it wasn't causing any
  boot issues. My laptop has that same flaw (though I caused that on my own).
* Ran Disk Cleanup. Removed 25GB of temporary files.
* Removed Vista Antimalware 2012 and other adware and unwanted toolbars.
  Thanks, MalwareBytes! :)
----
Delayed working on computer for one day due to moderate power issues. Not
risking destroying a PC due to a power surge just to get it over with.
----
* Windows Update was enabled in Services. Easy.
* Used known good Vista registry entries to restore normal functionality in
  the following:
  - Windows Firewall
  - Windows Defender (though not used, it will produce an annoying error every
    startup otherwise because of integration with Windows Vista)
  - Windows Security Center
* Windows Update: a LOT of security updates and bugfixes, Vista Service Pack 2,
  Internet Explorer 9, even more security updates and bugfixes. Around three
  sessions of installing updates.
* Ran a disk defragmenting program. Goes for six hours. (~3:00 AM)
* Computer restarts during defragmenting due to critical Windows Updates (I was
  asleep at the time), so I run it again (~9:00 AM).
* Make factory restore DVDs. Used DVD+R DLs. Make two copies using either 1:1
  copy software or making a DVD image and burning a copy from there.