How to clean up your PC
Procrastination will never get you anywhere. Why
wait until spring is upon us to clean up your computer's hard
disk or finally reorganise your files and folders?
You'll be surprised at just how much easier a
well-ordered PC is to use and at the improvements in your
computer's performance you can make by clearing some of your
computing clutter.
- The best way to start a clean-up of your hard disk is
by casting your eye over the documents and files you have
stored on your computer and deleting anything you don't
need any more.
- Make sure that any files you do keep are clearly labelled
so they are easily recognisable, making them easier and
quicker to find using the Find tool in the Start menu in
Windows.
- Next, you should create a logical filing system or integrate
any stray files you've found into your existing system.
Windows lends a helping hand here in the form of the My
Documents folder, which usually appears as a shortcut on
your Desktop.
You can create subfolders for different types of file,
such as images or music files or files for different users
if more than one person uses your PC. You can create subfolders
for different types of file, such as images or music files
or files for different users if more than one person uses
your PC.
If you find you have a large number of image or music
files, which can take up an awful lot of hard disk space,
why not store them on removable media rather than on your
PC and reclaim some hard disk capacity?
- CLEAN UP YOUR EMAIL - Next, you should create a logical
filing system or integrate any stray files you've found
into your existing system. Windows lends a helping hand
here in the form of the My Documents folder, which usually
appears as a shortcut on your Desktop.
- Uninstall unused or uneeded programs. You can do this
by selecting Settings, Control Panel from the Start menu.
Double click on the Add/Remove programs icon and a dialogue
box will appear on your screen. Scroll through the menu
of software and select the application you want to uninstall
from the list in the dialogue box, then click the Add/Remove
button.
Whenever you install a new piece of software on your
PC, you will also be installing an associated 'Read Me'
file which gives you information on the application.
If you don't need the application any more, you won't
need the Read Me file either. While they are small in
size, they can quickly add up to a fair bit of clutter
on your hard disk.
Usually these will get blitzed automatically when you
uninstall the associated application, but if you want
to be thorough go to Start, Find and perform a search
for 'readme' on your PC's hard disk. If in doubt whether
a Read Me file is still of use, read through it before
you consign it to the Recycle Bin.
- Empty your TEMP FILES:
Open C:\WINDOWS\TEMP - choose EDIT>>SELECT
ALL then hit delete
- Empty your TEMPORARY INTERNET FILES:
Open C:\WINDOWS\TEMPORARY INTERNET FILES
- choose EDIT>>SELECT ALL then hit delete
- Clear out your COOKIES folder:
Open C:\WINDOWS\COOKIES - choose EDIT>>SELECT
ALL then hit delete
- Open C:\PROGRAM FILES - go thru and delete folders for
uninstalled programs, email
me if you have a question or suspicion about a folder
prior to deleting it.
- Empty your recycle bin
- Run Scandisk
- Deframent your hard drive
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