Maintenance

5 tips to keep your PC running well

Just like a car, routine maintenance is a great idea to keep your computer running well. This can help your computer start up or run programs more quickly. It can also free up more space on your Hard Drive, and speed up your internet browsing. Click on any of these items to jump to detailed instructions:

1. Defragment frequently
2. Run "Disk Cleanup"
3. Empty your web "cache" and "cookies frequently
4. Remove unused programs
5. Download latest updates, especially for Windows®

The step-by-step guides explain how to do these tasks. There are a number of ways to do achieve these tasks, and the steps list only one of these. Depending on your computer setup, the layout may vary.

Please note that the instruction are for users of Microsoft Windows XP (R). Users of other versions of Windows (eg Vista, Millenium, 98) can also follow these instructions, but the layout, appearance and naming will change slightly between program versions. Whiles these tips are offered in good faith, we accept no laibility for any consequences that result from following them.

1. Defragment frequently

Why defragment?

When your computer installs new programs or saves files on its Hard Disk Drive it puts them wherever there is space. Sometimes there is not enough space in one spot, so it has to split the file up and save it in several places on the Hard Drive.

Think of a filing cabinet that is arranged alphabetically. Maybe the "C" section is full up, but you have a new file that needs to go in the "C" section.

Instead of forcing it into the "C" section, you notice that the "Q", "Y" and "Z" sections are quite empty, so you decide to use this space instead. To remind yourself you put a note in the "C" section of where you put this new file. It works fine doesn't it? Plus you're making use of all that unused space!

Except, when you need to open that file again, you have to go through the C, Q, Y & Z sections of your filing cabinet to get the file out again. It works, but it takes a long time, every time. Wouldn't life be great it you reorganised your whole filing cabinet and just made the "C" section loads bigger so everything would fit, and make the Q, Y and Z sections much smaller instead? This is what defragmenting does.

As your computer fills up, files get split apart and saved where they will fit. Defragmenting gets these split up files, reorganises everything, and puts the files back together.

Then, when you open the file, your Hard Drive doesn't waste time looking everywhere for the different parts of the file, and it can open it much quicker. So your computer runs more quickly too! This can make a difference, especially if you haven't defragmented for quite a while.

How often should I defragment?

It depends on how often you use your computer, how much data you have stored on it, and how full the hard drive is. The more of these, the more often you should defragment. A good guide though, is to defragment on a weekly or fortnightly basis.

How to defragment: Click on START, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Disk Defragmenter.

Click on (C):, then Defragment.

(If you have more drives, listed as (D:), or (E:) you can always defragment these as well.)

Defragmenting can take a while, and will make you computer run more slowly while it's defragmenting. You can keep working, but it's not a good idea to run an intensive program (like a game) at the same time as defragmenting as your computer might slow to a crawl.

Don't forget, you can always click "Pause" or "Stop" if you need to, and finish defragmenting later. The more often you defragment, the quicker it will go, however the first few times may take an hour or more. Generally the quicker it takes for defragement to finish, the better shape your computer is in!

When it's finished, this box pops up. Click "Close".

If you wish you can run the Defragmenter again. Sometimes you might need to run it several times, especially if your computer is quite fragmented.

2. Run "Disk Cleanup"

As you use your computer, it can accumulate a lot of clutter as it makes backups - especially if you install or remove programs, keeps old files downloaded from the internet and from web sites you've visited, among many other things.. Think of "Disk Cleanup" as going through your filing cabinet, and throwing out all those old files or brochures that you haven't used in the last few years, and that you know you won't need again.

PLEASE NOTE: We recommend that you do not remove copies of installation files (programs), unless you have the original disks the program came on.

To begin Disk Cleanup: Click START, All Programs, Accessories, System Tooks, Disk Cleanup.

Click the box next to the items you want to clean up. A tick means that item will be removed.

NOTE: It is recommended NOT to clean up Program Installation files (like "Office"). If you clean up these files, you may need to insert the installation CD when you download updates or patches.

If you are happy for the computer to complete the cleanup, click yes.

It may take a while as your computer cleans these files up.

3. Empty your web cache and cookies frequently

Your "Web Cache" stores a history of web sites you have visited in the past. This can include the actual web pages and the pictures on the site as well. After a while these can fill up, especially if you download things from a website as well.

Cookies are used by web sites to make visiting them easier. For example, if you return to a website, you might find it "remembers" you, by letting you log in automatically.This is an example of a cookie.

However, cookies can also be used for "tracking" purposes. For example, a cookie might record how long you visit a web site for, or which pages you look at, and then report these "back to base". Unfortunately this can be exploited by some websites which might collect personal information, among other things. If you clean out your "cookies" this removes them.

Depending on your browsing habits, you may consider removing your cookies frequently.

Please note: removing cookies will also remove your automatic login for things like ebay, web email (like yahoo, msn, hot mail), Qantas, Telstra, etc. Please make sure you have a record of your log on name and password before you proceed, as you will need to re-enter this information next time you visit that website.

Using Internet Explorer, open Internet Explorer (as you usually do to start surfing the web), then click Tools, then Internet Options.

The Internet Options box pops up. In the middle of the box, click Delete Cookies and/or Delete Files. (When the confirmation box pops up, just click OK.) Your computer may seem to stop for a few moments - this is normal, and will take longer the less often you clean these up.

When finished, just click OK to close the box.

Additional: You can also click "Clear History". This will remove all your old visited web pages, so no record is held on your computer of the websites you have visited.

4. Remove unused programs

Do you have old programs on your computer that you don't use any more? Did you computer come with "free" programs that you never use? You can consider removing these if you don't use them any more. Kids can sometimes install games or other "demo" programs that only get used once, and never again.

Removing these programs will make more room on your computer, and in some cases can help it start up or run other programs more quickly.

Please note: if you think you might need to use the program again in the future, do not remove it as you will need to re-install it again later. You will need the original disks to do this, so if you don't have the original disks, consider whether you should remove the program.

To remove unused programs: Click START, then select Control Panel.

Depending on your computer setup, you will see one of two screens. This one below is most likely. Regardless, look for an entry called Add or Remove Programs, and click it.

The computer generates a list of installed programs on your machine. This may take a few minutes. When the list appears, your installed programs are listed alphabetically. Click on the program you no longer use. It will then be highlighted blue, and give you the option to click on the Remove button. Depending on the program, you may get additional options like Repair or Reinstall. Selecting these will not remove the program.

Please note: If you are unsure what the program is, it may be best not to delete it in case it is important. Do not delete a program you think you might use again in the future, unless you have the original installation disks that you can use to install the program again.

Follow the prompts and wait until the uninstall operation is complete.

The computer may ask you to "restart". In this case make sure you have saved all your files that you are working on, and close any programs you have open, before allowing it to restart.

5. Download latest updates, especially for Windows®

Windows®, and many other programs release updates to make them run better. If you are experiencing "crashes" (where the program or whole computer stops working properly until you turn it off and back on again) you should consider downloading latest updates. As people use programs they discover problems that the program writers didn't consider. The programs writers then make an "update" that fixes the problem (sometimes also called a "patch"), but you have to install it first to make it work.

Windows® in particular releases many updates, and these are important to keep your computer running well and to protect you from hackers and viruses. Computer hackers are always looking for weak spots to "break into" computers. Windows® releases updates to "plug up" these weaknesses as they occur.

Please note: You should only download updates from the genuine companies that make the software (not off a random website) and only if you own the software, or have a licence to use it.

To check your automatic updates are working click: Start, Control Panel.

Depending on your computer settings, you may see the following screen. If so, click Switch to Classic View, otherwise continue below.

Double Click Automatic Updates.

This box shows the options for Automatic Updates. You have 4 options to choose from. Whichever "Button" has the dot mark in it, these are your current settings.

1. Automatic updates: this will do everything for you, by downloading and installing any updates released automatically. However, you have no choice about what Microsoft decides to install to your computer. This option is best if you don't like frequent notifications that "updates are available".

2. Download updates for me, but let me choose when to install them. Like option 1, this downloads all updates, but then gives you the choice of which ones you want to install. This gives you more choice of what you install, but will still use up your monthly internet download allocation, regardless of whether you decide to install the updates or not.

3. Notify me but don't automatically download or install them. This option only notifies you that updates are available. You get to select what you want to install, and then your computer goes and downloads what you select. This is our preference, as you only use your "bandwidth" to download the updates that you want, and you have control over what is installed to your pc.

4. Turn off automatic updates. This turns off all updates. Whilst your computer will most likely keep running okay, you will not be protected if a new threat is discovered. In the case of computer hackers discovering a "hole" to hack into computers, Microsoft will create an update to "patch" that hole. Turning off automatic updates can make your computer vulnerable, as it will not download this particular patch. Also, if you install new programs that were released after your computer was built, these may not run properly, as the computer has not downloaded updates it needs for these new programs to function correctly.

After you have chosen which option suits you best, make sure the check mark is in the circle, then click OK.

If you have chosen option 2 or 3, after a while, you may notice a yellow shield in the little box by your clock in the bottom right corner of your screen. This is you update notification.

If you click this box, it will pop up with a notification similar to:

Using this example (by selecting option 3 - Notify me but don't automatically download or install them) you are given the option of what you want to install. A ticked box means the item will be installed. If you don't want a particular item installed to your comptuer, don't put a tick next to it. After selecting the preferred downloads, click download. The computer will then download these updates. This can take a while.

Once the download is complete, it will then ask you to install the updates.

Follow the prompts on the screen. These may vary depending on the updates.

Quite often, once the updates are installed, you computer may ask you to install new updates again. This may happen several times, especially if you have not been downloading updates, and seems to happen because the updates require further updates. When the process is over however, you can be sure that your computer is as up-to-date as possible.

Other updates. Most programs have an option in their menus to check for updates. These can be useful if the program is playing up, or you want to stay up to date. It is worth considering however, that sometimes updates can cause a new set of problems as well, because they may cause an as yet unknown glictch on your computer. We suggest you use updates with caution, and consider that, if your program is working well, whether you should upgrade the program, unless for a good reason (eg new security settings / anti-virus updates etc).

Disclaimer: While these tips are offered in good faith, Compuwell, its owners, representatives or agents accept no responsibility for any problems, losses, costs or other incurred by persons using or following these tips or instructions. Please use caution, if unsure don't proceed, or seek appropriate advice. Always ensure you back up your data and settings to a secure location.