Posted 25 February, 2008
Over time computers get clogged up and slow down. A common question
on our ABC radio spots is how to clean up your
computer. Some regular maintenance not only speeds up your computers
but can extend their lives and save you money.
Backup
Before doing any cleanup, backup your important data. Sometimes the
wrong thing gets cleaned up and you can lose important information.
We’ve previously covered how
to back up data on another page.
Take off old programs
Unused programs not only take up space but also have services running
that can slow systems down. We recommend keeping a lean, mean machine
by uninstalling everything that is unnecessarily. We've instructions
on our IT Queries site on uninstalling
programs.
Sort out your email
Most people have the habit of keeping too much old email. Big inboxes
can slow the machine down so it's worthwhile cleaning out mail that's
been sitting around for too long. We have a detailed description of
how to control you inboxes in specific email programs in a separate
article.
Scan for malware
Viruses and spyware can sneak onto your computer in all manner of ways,
these programs can have a dramatic effect on the speed of your computer.
Give
your system a scan to make sure nothing is interfering with your
system.
Clean up your desktop
A cluttered desktop not only takes slows the machine, but affects your
productivity. Move useful files into proper folders and delete things
you don’t use.
Empty your recycle bin
Its surprising how big the Recycle Bin can become, emptying it is another
tip we have on the IT Queries website.
Run a clean up tool
Microsoft have their System Cleanup Tool that will do the basics. We
prefer Cleanup! or the more aggressive CCleaner although you should
make sure important data is saved before running these programs. Mac
users should look at the Maintenance program. We have references to
these utilities on our links page.
Check your hard drive
The nature of hard drives is that errors creep in over time. A Windows
chkdsk will clean this up. Mac users should use the Disk First Aid tool
in the utilities folder.
To run the Windows check disk function, click Start, Run and then
type chkdsk /r, a black screen will appear asking if you want
to run it on restart, type Y for yes and press enter.
Chkdsk will run the next time you start the computer. Be warned,
it's not unknown for Check disk to take two or three hours. You must
not turn off the computer while the chkdsk program is running.
Run a defrag
The method computers use to store data is to drop the data into the
first available space on the hard drive. If that space isn't big enough,
it will save what it can there and then move onto the next available
space. Over time, this can leave data scattered all over the system.
In Windows XP, click Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools
and choose Disk Defragmenter While you can use the computer while
a defrag is running, we recommend turning off all programs including
security utilities and disconnecting from the Internet while it is
running.
All of these tips can help you get a little more from your computer.
If you continue to find your computer is running slow, you should
call your local computer tech to see what can be done to improve your
system's performance.
