Thanks for the article on PC maintenance. While I'm certainly no expert on this subject, I did a little research, and discovered that the issue of whether or not to empty the prefetch folder is highly controversial. Some experts advise against emptying the prefetch folder, claiming that doing so may actually slow down system start-up performance rather than enhance it. Check out this web site for more info:
http://www.edbott.com/weblog/archives/000024.html So while the other tips should be followed regularly, I'm not so sure that emptying the prefetch folder once a month is necessarily a good idea unless you're really tight on hard disc space. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mike & Barbara" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "-Blind Computing" <blind-computing@jaws-users.com> Sent: Monday, August 18, 2008 9:36 AM Subject: Re: [Blind-Computing] PC Maintenance > Hi Daleen, > > Here you go. > Subject: PC Maintenance from the Jaws Users tips & tricks page > > > >>From time to time I post information that will assist you in working with > your PC. Just like servicing your car, your PC needs attention also. > > > > Here are some recommendations everyone should do on a regular basis. > > > > There are several things you can do to maintain your PC's performance. > These procedures should be done at least once a month or even more often > depending > > on your usage. > > > > I recommend doing them in this order. > > > > 1. Prefetch > > > > When you launch an application, Windows XP stores that information in a > file > called, prefetch. These files can accumulate over a period of time and > will > > have some affect on the loading of Windows. It doesn't hurt to clean out > this file from time to time and will not affect the operation of your PC > to > delete > > them. > > > > Go to the start menu and either arrow down to run or just type the letter > R. > > > > When the edit box appears, type in: prefetch and press enter. > > > > You will have a list of applications that you have used since you have > been > using Windows XP. > > > > Simply do a control a to select all and then press your shift delete. If > you just press delete, those files will go into the recycle bin, but > adding > the > > shift key will bypass it. > > > > Now say yes to, are you sure you want to delete these files. > > > > Finally press alt f4 to exit. > > > > 2. Disc Clean-up > > > > Whenever you surf the internet or download files, your PC stores > information > on the hard drive in a temp folder. There are other files included in the > > Disc Clean-Up which you probably would want to get rid of. > > > > Go to your start menu, then to All Programs, then Accessories, > next to System Tools and finally to Disc Clean-Up and press enter. > > > > It might take a few minutes for it to open, depending on if it > will compress old files. But once it does, you will probably be asked > which > > Drive your want to clean. Select the C drive. > > > > Once this is selected, you will have a list of items that the > disc clean-up will clean. These may include: > > > > Downloaded Internet Files > > > > Temp Internet Internet Files > > > > Off Line Web Pages > > > > Office Set-Up Files > > > > Recycle Bin > > > > Temporary Files > > > > Web Publisher Files > > > > Compress Old Files > > > > Catalogue Files > > > > As you down arrow through the list, you will notice that they may be > checked or unchecked. If they are checked, this will clean that option > when > the next > > Button is pressed. I recommend checking everything with the exception of, > compress old files. You only need to check this if your hard drive is > getting > > Low on free drive space. > > > > After you have checked the files you want to clean, tab to > next > and press enter. You will be asked if you are sure you want to do this, > just > > Press enter on, yes. It will take a few minutes, but when it is finished, > you will be taken out of the Disc Clean-Up. > > > > 3. Check Disc > > > > The check disc should be performed before a scan disc is > performed. To do this, go to the start menu and then to, run. > > > > When the edit box appears, type in: chkdsk /f and press enter. You will > be > presented with a dialogue that says, the check disc cannot be performed > because > > the volume is in use. Would you like to perform this the next time your > system starts? Just type the letter Y and press enter. > > > > Now you will need to shut down any open applications and > restart your PC. When it begins to boot up and before Windows starts, > your > PC will > > perform a check disc. It will take a few minutes to perform, but when it > is > finished, Windows will start up normally. > > > > 4. Start Up > > > > One of the main reasons for your PC to be slow in starting is > what is included in your start up. The more applications you have in the > start > > up the longer it takes for your PC to load windows and be ready for use. > > > > If you don't feel comfortable in performing this operation, > give me a call and I will be glad to help you with it. > > > > Go to the start menu and then to run. When the edit box comes > up, type in: msconfig and press enter. > > > > You will be presented with several tabs and will be in the > general tab to start with. Press your control tab key until you hear, > Start > Up. > > > > You will now have a list of applications that start when you > turn on your PC. > > > > I personally don't' keep anything in my start up, but this is > completely up to you as to what you want starting up. If you are using > certain > > anti-virus programs, you certainly want to make sure those are kept in > your > start up. > > > > As you arrow down through your list, you will see that each > item will be either checked or unchecked. If it is checked, this means it > will > > start with your PC. Arrow down through your list and uncheck each item > you > don't want to start. After you make your selection, tab to OK and press > enter. > > You will be given a dialogue telling you will need to restart your > computer > in order for this process to take affect. You will have two choices, > restart > > now and restart later. > > > > Once you restart your PC, Windows will load, and should load > quicker, and you will have a dialogue telling you that you are in > selective > start > > up, Press your tab to the, don't show this dialogue again and check it by > pressing your spacebar, then to tab to OK and press enter. > > > > 4. Scan Disc > > > > Windows XP doesn't have an actual scan disc, but it does have > something relatively close to it. > > > > To run scan disc, go to your desk top and then to, My > Computer. > If you aren't using the classic start menu, you might have to go to your > start > > menu and then to My Computer there. > > > > Open My Computer and highlight your C drive, sometimes called, > Local Disc C. Don't press enter, just highlight it. Now do an alt enter > to > > bring up the properties. Next do a control tab to the Tools tab. > > > > You will be on, errors checking, check now button. Press your > spacebar and it will say, Start Button, but don't press enter yet. > Instead, > > tab to the check boxes and check, automatically fix files system errors > and > the next check box which is, scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors. > > Check both of the boxes. Now tab to the start button and press enter. > > > > You will be presented with a dialogue saying that the disc > check cannot pbe performed because the disc check needs exclusive access > to > some > > files. Do you want to schedule a disc check the next time you start > Windows? Just press your spacebar on yes. Now tab to OK and press enter. > Alt f4 > > out of the properties and shut down any open applications and restart your > PC. > > > > It may take as long as an hour for this process to complete, > depending on the size of your hard drive and how many errors you have, but > be > > Patient and Windows will restart once the process is complete. > > > > 5. Defrag > > > > Sometimes when an application is shut down improperly, or you > turn off your computer improperly, files are fragmented. When this > happens, > > it takes longer for an application to launch since it has to go looking > for > the files it needs to start. > > > > To run a defrag, go to your start menu, then to all programs, then to > accessories, next to system tools and finally to disc defrag and press > enter. > > > > You will be presented with an analyze button. > Press your spacebar on this and your PC will analyze your hard disc to see > what > > percentage your disc is fragmented. This will only take a few minutes and > when it is finished you can tab to view report and press enter. Arrow > down > > and you will find what percentage your disc is fragmented. If it is more > than 5%, I would recommend running your defrag. Tab to the close button > and > > press enter, then tab to the defrag now button and press enter. This > process will take a while depending on how big your hard drive is and what > percentage > > it is fragmented. Once it is finished you can alt f4 out of the > application. > > > > These are all of the steps I recommend in maintaining your PC > that comes with Windows XP. > > > > Take care. Mike > > > > > > > Visit the JAWS Users List home page at: > http://www.jaws-users.com > Visit the Blind Computing home page at: > http://www.blind-computing.com > Address for the list archives: > http://www.mail-archive.com/blind-computing@jaws-users.com/ > To post to this group, send email to > blind-computing@jaws-users.com > To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > For help from Mailman with your account Put the word help in the subject > or body of a blank message to: > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Use the following form in order to contact the management team > http://www.jaws-users.com/BlindComputing.php > If you wish to join the JAWS Users List send a blank email to the > following address: > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Visit the JAWS Users List home page at: http://www.jaws-users.com Visit the Blind Computing home page at: http://www.blind-computing.com Address for the list archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/blind-computing@jaws-users.com/ To post to this group, send email to blind-computing@jaws-users.com To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help from Mailman with your account Put the word help in the subject or body of a blank message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Use the following form in order to contact the management team http://www.jaws-users.com/BlindComputing.php If you wish to join the JAWS Users List send a blank email to the following address: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
