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Thread ID: 39983	2003-11-24 03:55:00	FAQ #1b Basic computer maintenance	Susan B (19)	Press F1

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194309	2003-11-24 03:55:00	FAQ #1b Basic computer maintenance If you think your computer has begun slowing down a lot recently it may be time for a good cleanout and some basic maintenance . • Firstly go to the forum's FAQ section (link top right of this page), read and carry out the instructions in the following FAQs: FAQ #7 How do I backup my important files - which files should I back up? FAQ #5 Why does scandisk/defrag restart after only 10%? FAQ #9a How do I delete my temp files? Which files can I safely delete? FAQ #9b How do I delete my hidden index . dat file? (for Win 95, 98 and ME) After this do the following: • Empty Recycle Bin • Use a program such as Easycleaner as a good free general disk and registry cleaner and/or delete all your temporary files . See FAQ #9a How do I delete my temp files? Which files can I safely delete? • Delete your Recent files: go to Start>Run type recent and delete all . • Disable your screensaver . • Next use CTRL+ALT+DEL to close all programs down except Explorer and systray . • Open Windows Explorer, right click on the C: drive, choose Properties>Tools>Check now and run the Standard test and choose Fix Errors . Note: instructions are for Win XP, other Windows versions may vary . • Open Windows Explorer, right click on the C: drive, choose Properties>Tools>Defragment now and defrag each partition one at a time . Note: instructions are for Win XP, other Windows versions may vary . • Go to Start>Run, type in msconfig, go to the Startup tab and check out the applications loading at startup with the help of these sites: Pacs-Portal ( . pacs-portal . co . uk/startup_content . php" target="_blank">www . pacs-portal . co . uk) and Startup Problems ( . whidbey . com/djdenham/Uncheck . htm" target="_blank">www2 . whidbey . com) If your list contains applications that are listed as unnecessary you can disable them from loading from within the program itself (preferable) or by removing the tick in the Startup tab . • Download and run Ad-aware and SpyBot to get rid of any spy/adware . See FAQ #8b Spyware . • Run an up-to-date anti-virus scan or get yourself a free virus check at Symantec ( . symantec . com/ssc/home . asp?j=1&langid=us&venid=sym&plfid=20&pkj=AETYESLHFEPGEVVSDUX" target="_blank">security . symantec . com) or TrendMicro's Housecall ( . trendmicro . com/) . Alternatively get AVG, a free anti-virus available from here (http://www . grisoft . com/us/us_dwnl_free . php" target="_blank">housecall . trendmicro . com/) . Alternatively get AVG, a free anti-virus available from here (http:) . • Download and run CW-SHREDDER ( . spywareinfo . com/~merijn/files/cwshredder . zip" target="_blank">www . spywareinfo . com) . This will get rid of CoolWebSearch which you may have on the computer . See FAQ #8b Spyware . • Visit Windows Update and ensure you have the latest updates . • Download and run a registry cleaner, eg RegCleaner ( . majorgeeks . com/download . php?det=460" target="_blank">www . majorgeeks . com) or Microsoft-Regclean ( . com . com/3000-2094-881470 . html?tag=list" target="_blank">download . com . com) (for Win 95/98 only) or RegSeeker ( . webattack . com/get/regseeker . shtml" target="_blank">www . webattack . com) (recommended for experienced users only) to clean up the registry . Please read FAQ #6 The Registry for more advice on the registry and registry cleaners . • Open Internet Explorer, go to Tools, Internet Options, Delete Temporary Internet Files and Cookies . See FAQ #9a How do I delete my temp files? Which files can I safely delete? • Repair Internet Explorer: go to Add/Remove Programs in Control Panel, double click IE, choose Repair . • Make sure you have the correct time, date and time zone set on the computer . • When done reboot and see how the system runs now . ADDITIONAL NOTES: Q . "I have just done a defraq and now my PC is running slower than before . " A . Sometimes, especially after deleting the swap file, the swap file gets moved to the end of the data on the disk, so if your disk is fairly full it can be on the end of the hard drive which is a lot slower than the front of the drive . This is more noticeable on low memory PCs with slow hard drives, so the first cure is to upgrade the RAM . Otherwise a defrag application such as Norton's Speed Disk can move the swap file to the fastest part of the drive . Q . "I did a clean out and now several programs/Windows won't run!" A . Be more careful of what you clean out . It's quite common to find people cleaning out stuff that shouldn't be removed . If in doubt ask first and make backups .	Susan B (19)
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