System Maintenance: Tools and Techniques
Every system needs periodic maintenance to keep it running properly. Over time; files become fragmented; scattered across many sectors of the hard drive; causing the system to run a little slower. The hard disk can become cluttered with remnants of deleted files or applications; which can also degrade system performance.
Fortunately, we have a series of tools available that help us keep our systems running smoothly. Below is a short description of each tool and the proper way in which to deploy them.
Windows Update
Windows Update ensures that your Operating System and all of your Microsoft applications are up to date. This is especially important because of the nearly constant need to apply new security "fixes" to Windows, Internet Explorer and other Microsoft applications. It is best to set your system to automatically download and install Windows Updates so that they will take place without additional effort on your part.
To use it:
Go to "Start" - "Accessories" - "System Tools" - "Windows Update".
Follow the prompts.
To configure Automatic Updates:
Open the "Control Panel" and double click the "Automatic Updates" icon.
Select "Automatic".
Disk Cleanup
The Disk Cleanup utility helps to free the hard disk of clutter and temporary files that simply take up space and bog down the system. I suggest running this utility about once a month.
To use it:
Double click the "My Computer" icon.
Right click on the "C" drive or hard disk icon and choose "Properties".
Click "Disk Cleanup" from the lower right and select the files to be removed.
Error-checking
Error-checking examines the integrity of the file structure and checks the status of the physical hard drive. This tool can repair damaged files; and if it detects problems with the hard disk such as a sector that is failing or going bad; it can recover the data from that portion of the drive and move it to another "healthy" sector of the drive. Like the Disk Cleanup, you should do this about once a month.
To use it:
Click on "My Computer".
Right click on the "C" drive or hard disk icon and choose "Properties".
Select the "Tools" tab.
Select "Error-checking" and also select the two "Check disk options".
You will be prompted to schedule the Error-check the next time Windows restarts, select "Yes" to schedule the Error-check.
Restart your system in order to run the Error-check.
Disk Defragmenter
Over time; files become fragmented and scattered across the hard drive. This can slow system performance. I like to run this utility about once a month as well; or more frequently if I have deleted a significant number of files or removed some applications.
To use it:
Click on "My Computer".
Right click on the "C" drive or hard disk icon and choose "Properties".
Select the "Tools" tab.
Select "Defragment Now".
Select "Defragment" to run the utility.
Backup
Every system should be backed up periodically to ensure that data and applications are not lost in the event of a hard disk failure. It is not so much a matter of will your hard drive fail as it is a matter of when that drive will fail. Frequency of back ups will depend upon how quickly and how significantly you modify the contents of your computer. I personally perform back ups about every sixty to ninety days... you have to decide what is best for you.
As for the actual back up; you can back up to disk or CD or DVD; or; as I suggest; to an external hard drive. External drives are pretty cheap these days and can hold the entire contents of your hard disk without having to keep up with multiple CD's or DVD's.
To use it:
Click on "My Computer".
Right click on the "C" drive or hard disk icon and choose "Properties".
Select the "Tools" tab.
Select "Backup Now".
Follow the prompts in the Backup Wizard.
To restore your system from a system backup:
Follow the instructions above and select "Restore" from the Backup Wizard.
Follow the prompts from within the Backup Wizard to retore your system.
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