Advice On Keeping My Windows 8 Laptop Nice And Speedy

[IshTing]

Hello everyone.

I have been through a few laptops lately. The last 2 I had I downgraded my windows 8 to windows 7 because I hate Windows 8 with a passion. I just bought a HP Pavilion and I just can't be bothered to go back to 7 so I'm putting up with Windows 8. I am using the laptop for work, not gaming and I am looking for advice on how to keep my laptop nice and speedy as they always seem to start slowing rapidly.

Here are my system specs

First I am going to post a list of programs on the laptop and would like to know what is crapware and what I should keep.

Adobe Shockwave Player 12.0
AMD Catalyst Install Manager
Apple Application Support
Cyberlink YouCam
DHTML Editing Component - Microsoft
Energy Star - HP
HP DriveGuard
HP Connected Music
HP CoolSense
HP Documentation
HP Support Assistant
HP System Event Utility
HP Utility Center
HP Wireless Button Driver
Microsoft Silverlight
Realtek Card Reader
Realtek Ethernet Controller Driver
Realtek High Definition Audio Driver
Realtek Wireless LAN Driver
Synaptics Pointing Device Driver
Windows Essentials 2012

I also have a long list of C++ Redistributable packs and SQL server 2005 but figured I needed them.

Also do people recommend using System Optimisation Software? I usually use ioBit Advanced System Care but not sure if its necessary?

Thanks

 

[Danbuscus25]

best thing to keep it speedy is dont download a bunch of crap. seriously, only download things from well known websites.

 

[USAFRet]

Also do people recommend using System Optimisation Software? I usually use ioBit Advanced System Care...

If you want a crappy system, keep using that.
There is zero reason to have that mucking up your system. Seriously.

An active virus scan (one of the good free ones)
Backups
A regular on-demand malware scan
backups
Save an image of the drive elsewhere
Don't download stuff from weird sites
Backups
Practice safe computing


Oh, did I mention backups?

 

[IshTing]

Also do people recommend using System Optimisation Software? I usually use ioBit Advanced System Care...

If you want a crappy system, keep using that.
There is zero reason to have that mucking up your system. Seriously.

An active virus scan (one of the good free ones)
Backups
A regular on-demand malware scan
backups
Save an image of the drive elsewhere
Don't download stuff from weird sites
Backups
Practice safe computing


Oh, did I mention backups?

Ok so System Optimisation software is a no no.

For anti virus I have always used Avast or AVG, any recommendations are appreciated though. Same with Malware.

 

[USAFRet]

Ok so System Optimisation software is a no no.

For anti virus I have always used Avast or AVG, any recommendations are appreciated though. Same with Malware.

AVG and Avast are both good. As is what is included with Windows.
For malware? Malwarebytes. A regular scan and delete with CCleaner.
Spybot.
HitmanPro if you really need it for something

 

[IshTing]

Ok so System Optimisation software is a no no.

For anti virus I have always used Avast or AVG, any recommendations are appreciated though. Same with Malware.

AVG and Avast are both good. As is what is included with Windows.
For malware? Malwarebytes. A regular scan and delete with CCleaner.
Spybot.
HitmanPro if you really need it for something

Ok thanks.

Any advice on my bloatware situation?

 

[USAFRet]

Ok thanks.

Any advice on my bloatware situation?

The ones in bold, you can probably uninstall. Probably.
The unbold ones, unknown.

Energy Star - HP
HP DriveGuard
HP Connected Music
HP CoolSense
HP Documentation
HP Support Assistant
HP System Event Utility
HP Utility Center

Personally, I almost always just wipe a new PC and get rig of all of it. Install whatever drivers are needed to make it operate.
In this case, the "HP DriveGuard" is particularly unknown. Is it some sort of encryption?