Page: 1 2
Wizard27
Global user
Registered: 10-2006
Posts: 122
|
|
Reply | Quote
|
|
Basic Computer Maintainance
Basic Computer Maintenance
This does not involve getting inside the tower or eqipping yourself with a screwdriver etc. Your system needs a Tune Up every now and then and Windows XP has all the basic tools required already installed.
Let's go through the three main tools at your disposal.
1. Disk Cleanup
Free up space on your Hard Drive by using Disk Cleanup. Remove Temporary Files, Empty the Recycle Bin, Delete Temporary Internet Files and remove program components that you no longer use.
To Run Disk Cleanup:
Go to Start/All Programs/Accessories/System Tools and Double-click on Disk Cleanup
When the small window opens, place a check mark against anything you wish to delete from your Hard Drive
All the items listed are quite safe for you to remove
Once all the boxes are checked, just click the OK button
You will be prompted to confirm this action.. select Yes
Disk Cleanup will close after the removal of said items
2. Check Disk - chkdsk (Used to be called Scandisk)
It is very important that this check is carried out at regular intervals. The check will locate and damaged files and/or sectors on your Hard Drive and fix the errors for you. Quite often, you will find that the check will not run while Windows XP is running as some files that are needed are in use by something else. In this instance, you will be notified and given the opportunity to carry out the check on the next Bootup. There is a Quick Check and Thorough Check, as follows:
To start the Check Disk utility
Quick Check:
Go to Start/run
Type chkdsk C: /r (change C to the drive letter that has your OS installed on it - the /r tells the Check Disk utility to Repair any bad sectors on the disk)
Press the Enter key
During the Disk Check, you may see a message similar to this: Chkdsk can not run because the volume is in use by another process. Chkdsk may run if this volume is dismounted first. ALL OPEN HANDLES TO THIS VOLUME WOULD THEN BE INVALID. Would you like to force a dismount on this volume? (Y/N)
Choose Y (Yes)
Restart the computer to begin the check
Thorough check:
Open My Computer
Right-click on the Drive that holds your Operating System (Windows)
Select Properties
Click the Tools tab
Under Error Checking, click the Check Now button
Under Check Disk options, place check marks in both boxes (Automatically fix file system errors and Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors)
Click the Start button
If you get the notification that the Check Disk utility cannot run while other files are being accessed, select to check on the next Bootup
Note: The thorough method can take some time. Be patient! Try to run the Check Disk utility and the following Disk Defragmenter at a time when the computer is not being used.
3. Disk Defragmenter
All the time we are using our computer, lots of our files are being Fragmented. That is to say, they become harder to locate after a while and the need to be Defragmented. The longer you leave the Fragmented files, the harder your computer has to work and can become unstable.
Fix this by running your Disk Defragmenter:
In the days before Windows XP, it was common for the Screen Saver to interrupt the defragmentation process as the procedure cannot complete while the Hard Drive is being accessed. Consequently, after around ten times of trying, the Disk Defragmenter would curl up and die. I have always turned off my screen saver before attempting to Defragment, so...
Right-click an empty area of the Desktop and select Properties
Click the Screen Saver tab
Use the drop down arrow, under Screen Saver, to select None (NOT Blank)
Click Apply
Click OK
After using Disk defragmenter, turn the Screen Saver back ON again
Start/All Programs/Accessories/System Tools/Disk Defragmenter
Choose to Defragment and not to Analyze (this tool is very useful and does a good job of defragmenting your files. However, the analyser can, and will, inform you incorrectly that the volume does not require defragmenting. My advice is NOT to use the analyser button at all)
As stated, this process could take some time. Go away and have a cup of tea.... lots of cups of tea.
Well, that is the basic maintenance schedule I use
Disk Cleanup (Once a week, but at least once a month)
Disk Check (Scandisk - once a fortnight, but at least once a month)
Disk Defragmenter (once a fortnight, but at least once a month).
---  |
|
2/11/06, 16:43
|
|
Erika E
Loyal Member
Global user (premium)
Registered: 10-2003
Location: Should be in bed!!!
Posts: 65
|
|
Reply | Quote
|
|
Re: Basic Computer Maintainance
Fantastic.
|
|
26/12/06, 22:30
|
|
BigCHiPsFan
Registered user
Global user
Registered: 11-2003
Location: Happy Holidays All!
Posts: 3
|
|
Reply | Quote
|
|
Re: Basic Computer Maintainance
Thanks for the reminder, Wiz. My computer is set up for a scheduled defrag each month, but I forget to do the other two sometimes. Will get on the Disk Check immediately! 
|
|
21/1/07, 18:18
|
|
Add A Reply
Page: 1 2
|
You are not logged in (login)
Board's time is: 1/12/09, 7:52
|
|
|
