There are a few simple things you can do to keep your PC in tip-top shape by improving performance and making more space on your hard drive. They’re fool-proof and shouldn’t harm your files, even if you’re not sure what you are doing.
Windows Update
Your computer should update automatically with the default settings. But if you think it’s been a while since Windows has been updated, simply visit windowsupdate.microsoft.com in Internet Explorer (will not work in Firefox!) and the site will scan your computer to see if you are missing any important patches or upgrades. Keeping Windows updated is a good security measure!
Disk Cleanup
This tool is located on your start menu at All Programs > Accessories > System tools > Disk Cleanup. Even if you have a large hard drive, it’s still a good idea to use this tool to free up some space. First it will scan your PC and see how much space you’ll be able to free, and when it’s finished, you simply check off things you’d like to clear or compress (Recycle Bin, Temporary internet Files, etc). Click OK and then you’re on your way to removing unnecessary files and clearing some room on your hard disk.
Disk Defragmentor
This tool is located on your start menu at All Programs > Accessories > System tools > Disk Defragmenter. You should defrag regularly, and this cool tool will even tell you if it thinks you should or not! See what it thinks by clicking “Analyze”. It will either read “You do not need to defragment this volume.” or “You should defragment this volume.” in which case you should go ahead and click the Defragment button. Be prepared to wait around for it to finish, because although it’s possible to use your PC while it defrags, it is not a pleasant experience! You might be surprised how slow your computer will go when defrag is running. It’s best to do this at night while you sleep or before you go out, so it can do it’s job without interrupting your work. For a more in-depth explanation of what exactly Disk Defragmenter does, go here.
System Restore
This tool is located on your start menu at All Programs > Accessories > System tools > System Restore. You should use this tool to create a restore point once a week or more, this way you can revert back to your old settings and files if Windows ever starts acting funny or you accidentally delete an important system file and need to get it back. Follow the Wizard to either create a restore point or to restore your PC back to an earlier time – it’s very simple and can be very helpful! Be aware however, if you do restore your PC, any files created or edited after that restore point date will be gone. So if today is Friday, and you use the restore tool to revert back to Tuesday, all files made or edited on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday will be lost. This is why it’s a good idea to save important documents and files on a spare hard drive, memory stick, or online server regularly.
