To keep your computer in peak running condition, it is essential to do a weekly maintenance routine. Not doing maintenance will make even the most "Cutting Edget" machine run poorly.
Scandisk: This is a Windows based application that recovers lost hard-drive space, mis-reported files, and pinpoints hard-drive failure, amongst numerous other things.
To perform this function:
This will open the scandisk utility. Ensure that Drive C is highlighted. Perform a Thorough Scandisk, which checks the surface of your hard-drive. Do not automatically fix errors, if an error appears that you do not understand, get in touch with your service-personnel. Click start, the computer does the rest. When scandisk is complete, click close.
Defragmentation: This is a Windows based application that puts your files back together. When you download, install, or use the internet, files are placed on your computer's hard-drive, picture there is not enough room in one area, so it goes to another area, then another, until eventually they are helter-skelter all over the hard-drive. Then when you run the program, or open the different files, your computer has to hop all over the place to find the different files it needs. When you defrag, the computer sorts what is on your hard-drive, and puts it all together, like a filing cabinet, so it doesn't have to work so hard to get what it wants. You should do a defrag at least once a week.
To perform this function:
This will open defrag utility It will ask which drive, you want Drive C, physical drive Click OK, the computer does the rest. When defrag is completed, click close.
Virus Scanning: This is something that should be done at the very LEAST once per week. There are many Virus Scanners software available, such as Norton 2000 and McAfee. For someone who doesn't want to install the software, there is also some very good web-based scanning available, such as Trend Micro, Incorporated. For software that is installed on your machine, you should do a live-update before doing a virus scan, to make sure you have the most recent detection software available. The web-based applications are consistently updated. You should also run a virus update and scan when informed of new viruses from your ISP, virus protection people, or just a concerned friend that has received notification. You can never be over-cautious in virus protection.
When these utilities are completed, please re-boot your computer.