Hard Drive

[Muhammed_Hamed]

I am back up and I am installing Windows updates. Nothing seems slower so far. He put in a 1.2TB HD.

Good to hear mate! Congrats on the new drive. 1.2 TB is quite good for boot drive.

Do you guys install any PC optimizing software or registry cleaners?

You can use CCleaner once every month or so, it will take care of many things. The free version should work fine, but you can buy if you like it later on.
Then in your task manager, go to startup tab and disable any unecessary apps that might slow down your bootup. you will find update services for many apps..
This should be enough and this is what I tell my clients to do.
If you want to go the extra mile and have control over everything, there is an app called AVG PC Tuneup
I've been using it for over 11 years, when it was called Tune up Utilities before. What I like about this app is that it dynamically controls the CPU priority for foreground apps. Say you are rendering with Max and want to use your browser, so instead of going to task manager and changing the priority for 3Ds Max manually, this app will do that for you automatically.
Other advantages is that you will be able to control all windows services like Cortana, power options, windows updates and many other settings.
Like I said above, you will be fine without this app, but it is an option if you are into having this kind of controls..

How about virus software? I also read that you are just as likely to get a virus through them, so they are a waste and Windows built-in virus software is all you need

Windows defender should be fine as long as you are very aware of what you click, and you should turn on windows update if you are solely relying on it.
Being aware of what you click is not easy for many people, so usually when someone's account is hacked(skype/facebook/discord..etc) automated messages will be sent to all his contacts with links.. The link can be a GIF, or something that looks like a youtube URL and such
Many people will fall for this and they will click the link.. So this is the case where windows defender and other antivirus apps cannot do anything and you will get hacked. See here,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajRE59vy9WU
So for piece of mind there is Malwarebytes which is very highly rated and offers web-based protection, having control over your browser. It will block any harmful pages and it can auto block downlaods and pop ups..
Malwarbytes works with windows defender(doesn't replace it)..I always install Malwarebytes and CCleaner on all new builds for my clients if they agree to

[glorybound]

Thanks for the info. I have always installed and used both Malwarebytes and CCleaner, although this year I read a virus came through CCleaner, so I removed it.

[glorybound]

Up and running. Now I remember why I dreaded this. People say, “just reinstall Windows”! It has taken me two days to install and license everything. Everything is running quickly. MAX has crashed three times today, which is getting old. Things like changing 2D displacement crashed MAX twice and once for no obvious reason. I can press 8 on my keyboard now, without crashing, so that’s awesome. Thanks for all the advice. Onward and upward