Computer Fixer-Upper Methods

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(for Windows-based PCs, listed in order of most to least frequent)

Saving
When: whenever you save
Save everything you want to keep in a folder of your own creation under the C:/ drive.
Do not save anything under
• my documents folder
• your profile
• the desktop

Virus Scan
When: once a week
do it manually

Browsing History
When: 1 to 3 weeks of using internet
Open your internet browser / tools / internet options / browsing history / delete… / delete all…

Folders to delete from
When: 1 to 3 weeks of using internet
My Computer/C/Documents and Settings/Administrator/Local Settings/Temporary Internet Files/Content.IE5/

Startup and Running Programs
(for Windows XP)
When: every six months, or if your computer starts to take a while to start up
Start / Run... / type the following: msconfig
this lets you select which startup programs you want to start when your computer starts

Defragmentation
When: every six months to a year
right click on Local Disk (C:) / Tools tab / Defragment Now...
defrag 2 or 3 times

Error Checking
When: every six months to a year
right click on Local Disk (C:) / Tools tab / Error Checking / Check Now...
defrag 2 or 3 times

Disk Cleanup
When: every 1 or 2 years
Right click on Local Disk (C:) / General tab / Disk Cleanup /
Check the following:
• temporary internet files
• temporary files
click OK

Add / Remove Programs
When: every 1 or 2 years
Start / Control Panel / Add or Remove Programs /
to remove any programs you don't want
then go to C: / Programs and remove the rest of whats left of the removed programs

Stop Processes
When: whenever you think your computer is running slow
Why: to see which programs or service are making your computer run slow
ctrl+alt+delete / Processes tab /
to stop any programs that might be bugging you down

User Account
When: when profile gets too big, over 20MB or so
Create new user profile
Make sure you are logged off old user profiles and log in with new user profile
Right click My Computer / Properties / Advanced tab / User Profiles / Settings / select all old user profiles and delete.
Control Panel / user Accounts
make sure they are deleted in there too.

Startup Programs to Disable
When: once
click here

Automatic Updates
When: once
automatic updates can crap up your computer, I disable them
Control Panel / Automatic Updates / Turn off Automatic Updates

Performance
When: once
Right click My Computer / Properties / Advanced tab / Performance / Settings / select "Adjust for best performance" but check Show window contents while dragging option

Display Properties
When: once
Right click on desktop / Properties / Appearance tab / Effects... /
Turn all off except for "Show window contents while dragging"

Hidden Files
When: once
Control Panel / Folder Options / View tab / check "Display the contents of system folders" and "Show hidden files and folders"

Unnecessaries
When: once
Certain things can be deleted from computer:
• sound files in: C: / Windows / Media
• image files in: C: / Windows
• most log files in: C: / Windows
• image files in: C: / Windows / Web
• most cursors in: C: / Windows / Cursors
• image files in all User Profiles
• undesired games in: C: / Windows \ system32

MSInfo
When: whenever
for Windows XP
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\MSInfo\msinfo32.exe

Desktop Image
When: whenever
A background image can make your computer slower

Cookies
When: whenever
Open internet browser / Tools / internet options / Privacy tab / Advanced / choose what you want

Registry Editor
When: whenever
Start / Run... / regedit


-ej- 2009   ---   last updated 01/13/09