Physically
Cleaning you computer.See details at http://www.computerhope.com/cleaning.htm
Maintaining
your computer system
As you add, create, and delete data and programs on your computer your hard
drive becomes jumbled with bits and pieces of files all over, some essential,
some not even required any more. As a result your computer will slow down and
maybe even freeze.
There are several programs available to help with this. Some people run uninstallers
especially to get rid of all mention of an unwanted program.
However a lot of good can be done simply by scanning the hard drive with SCANDISK
and DEFRAGging the hard drive (which essentially means putting all the bits
of the same file together and all the same type of files together so it can
find them more easily)
Start
out with a Disk cleanup (in accessories > System tools)
In later versions of Windows this allows you to quickly delete temporary files
and other space eating data that is stored automatically by your computer.
Cleans your computer's hard disk by removing files you don't need, and lets
you know when your hard disk is getting full.
Disk cleanup is the easy way to do several things - delete temp files, clean
your internet cache and empty your recycle bin all of which need to bone before
a defrag.
Remove unused
programs
Control Panel > Add remove programs
This will uninstall programs correctly from your system. Just deleting a program
from the hard drive can leave a lot of junk behind and cause problems.
The other option is to look in the program's start up menu folder for an uninstall
and run that, or to look in the program folder on the hard drive fro an uninstall.exe
or unwise.exe.
XP add/remove programs actually shows the frequency of use and last used date
of each program.
ScandiskTo run scandisk (to check and fix errors on the disk)
Go to the start menu and click "Run"
type in Scandisk
Follow the prompts.
Defrag Before you defrag you need to turn off any screensavers (right click on your
desktop, select properties, select screensaver tab and choose none, then apply
and OK.)
Run other cleanups, delete files, move things etc BEFORE you defrag.
To defrag either go to the start menu > Run and type in defrag or go to
start menu > accessories > system tools and select disk defragmenter.
Follow the prompts. This will take a while to finish. It's a good idea to set
it up before you go to bed, turn off your monitor and leave it to whir away
on it's own.
Programmes
Try not to mix 'breeds'. If most of your programmes are made by one manufacturer
don't expect another to run well with them. For example if you use MS word,
MS Excel, then don't use Claris for spreadsheets, or if you must, then don't
run them together
Anti virus
Keep your anti virus definitions up to date.
Start up Disk
Back to the Tutorials
