Here are a couple of routine maintenance things you can do to help you PC/Laptop run smoothly. These can also help if you notice it begins to run slower. This won't solve all your problems, but this is something that keeps your PC healthy for the most part. I do both at least once a month at home and at work.
Try these two things first and in the following order.
They will probably take a while, so I would start the process before you start to do something else. They will slow your computer down if you are using. I recommend doing the following once a month for good measure.
1. Disk CleanUp - This removes unnecessary files from your PC. Make sure all the check boxes are checked. FYI, this will probably remove the cookies saved by the web, so you may have to log in to websites you were previously auto logged in.
a. To perform disk clean up
1. Go to the Start Menu, Select Accessories, Select System Tools, and Select Disk Cleanup
2. It will run for a while then a window will display a list of the folders (types) where files will be removed from.
3. Click OK to start the process. It will finish automatically.
b. Here are more details from Microsoft if this isn't very clear. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310312
2. Disk Defragmenter - Files on your computer are saved on the hard drive. Ideally they are saved in a continuous type of grouping. Over time, By writing new files or removing files, you hard drive can be come fragmented. Which means the files are stored in a continuous group and are spread out. Because of this, it takes your computer longer to perform actions, because it is spending time looking for files.
a. To perform Disk Defragmenter
1. Go to the Start Menu, Select Accessories, Select System Tools, and Select Disk Defragmenter
2. Click on the button to analyze. This will take a while
3. When it is done, if you see alot of read and not a lot of blue, your hard drive is really fragmented.
4. Click on the button to Defragment. Again this will take a long time. The more red, the longer the time.
5. I think there is a prompt letting you know it is finished.
Try these two things first and in the following order.
They will probably take a while, so I would start the process before you start to do something else. They will slow your computer down if you are using. I recommend doing the following once a month for good measure.
1. Disk CleanUp - This removes unnecessary files from your PC. Make sure all the check boxes are checked. FYI, this will probably remove the cookies saved by the web, so you may have to log in to websites you were previously auto logged in.
a. To perform disk clean up
1. Go to the Start Menu, Select Accessories, Select System Tools, and Select Disk Cleanup
2. It will run for a while then a window will display a list of the folders (types) where files will be removed from.
3. Click OK to start the process. It will finish automatically.
b. Here are more details from Microsoft if this isn't very clear. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310312
2. Disk Defragmenter - Files on your computer are saved on the hard drive. Ideally they are saved in a continuous type of grouping. Over time, By writing new files or removing files, you hard drive can be come fragmented. Which means the files are stored in a continuous group and are spread out. Because of this, it takes your computer longer to perform actions, because it is spending time looking for files.
a. To perform Disk Defragmenter
1. Go to the Start Menu, Select Accessories, Select System Tools, and Select Disk Defragmenter
2. Click on the button to analyze. This will take a while
3. When it is done, if you see alot of read and not a lot of blue, your hard drive is really fragmented.
4. Click on the button to Defragment. Again this will take a long time. The more red, the longer the time.
5. I think there is a prompt letting you know it is finished.
support.microsoft.com
This article describes how to use the Disk Cleanup tool in Windows XP.
