There
are 3 Tools for System Maintenance:
(depending
on your OS – Operating System)
Types of ScanDisk
a.
Standard
b.
Thorough
3. Disk Cleanup
Before making any
changes, always make sure your data is properly backed up before you attempt
any repairs on your PC!
ScanDisk or CheckDisk is used to “clean up” the hard drive on a computer. The hard disk drive can become cluttered or scattered. Folders and/or files can become damaged. ScanDisk or CheckDisk can fix these and other problems.
Here's
how to use ScanDisk:
1.Click the Start
button.
2.Point to Programs,
point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click ScanDisk.
3.Click the drive
you want to scan, and choose either the Standard or Thorough test.
4.Click Start.
1. ScanDisk or
CheckDisk (continued)
1.The Standard test checks the files and folders on the selected drives for errors.
2.The Thorough test will give you further options. It performs the Standard test plus checks your hard disk drive for physical damage. You can even specify to scan areas of your disk containing only data files, or just the areas with system files, or both.
Both Standard and Thorough have
a set of Advanced options that help you to deal with lost file
fragments, invalid files, and files that overlap the same disk space. You can also
choose to keep a log file of what ScanDisk finds.
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System Maintenance
The Disk
Defragmentation Tool will rearrange the data on the disk so that the files are back
in order. Computers store information in clusters. With normal use, hard drives will slow down, because files become
stored in separate clusters. This will happen when files are deleted, new files
are written to the disk, new software is installed, or when files are
downloaded from the Internet.
System
Maintenance
2. Disk Defragmentation Tool
(continued)
If you use your computer a lot, it's a good
idea to run Disk Defragmenter on a regular basis. It's also a good idea to run
Disk Defragmenter after you install a lot of applications to enable them to run
at top speed.
Here's how to do it:
1. Click Start, point to Programs, point
to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click Disk Defragmenter.
2. Click the Settings tab, select the check boxes you want (to ensure fastest startup of programs, select the first box), and then click OK.
3. Click the drive you want to defragment,
click OK, and then click Yes.
Note: It is best to shut down all your applications before you run Disk Defragmenter.
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System Maintenance
3. Disk Cleanup
Disk Cleanup helps
you free up space on your hard disk by removing files you don't need. It
constantly monitors the status of your hard disk, notifies you when your disk
is getting full, and provides a list of files you might want to delete.
System
Maintenance
3. Disk
Cleanup (continued)
You can delete any type of unneeded file
permanently, including:
•Deleted files in the
Recycle Bin.
•Temporary files.
•Cached Web pages
that you don't use.
•Downloaded
program files temporarily stored on your hard disk.