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Step by step instructions for: Windows XP: Defragmentation, Error Checking, Disk Clean up.
All clicks are LEFT clicks, unless otherwise stated!
Also keep in mind, that while any of these tasks are being performed, you cannot be on your computer. The tasks have to run undisturbed.
(I usually like to do the "clean up disk" before I do the "defragmentation". But here, I am showing the Defrag 1st, as some people only want to do that step. Normally, "Check for Error" is the last step, because you have to restart your computer for it to occur, and I usually do that task when I am DONE with my computer for the night.
(The longer time between performing these tasks, the longer it takes for them to be completed. IF YOU HAVE NEVER DONE ANY OF THESE, It may take several hours to complete them for the first time, but then, you can do them once a month or so, and they will go pretty quickly)
DEFRAGMENTATION: (Usually the SECOND step, but some people want to do only this, so I am putting it first)
DEFRAGMENTATION:
If your computer is moving slowly, it is possibly because your "C" drive is running out of room. It's kind of like a ice cubes in a glass. If the ice is in cubes, and to the top of the glass, you cannot put anything else in the glass. However, when the ice cubes melt, you can either fit a few more in there, or you can add more water. That's how your "C" drive is. Each page you visit online, takes up room in your "C" Drive. After a while the drive gets filled up, and there may not be room for you to continue to browse the web, play games, play music, watch videos, etc... (The Defrag sort of "squishes" things together, so that there is more room for new things). That is why Defragmenting is necessary from time to time.
1)Click on "Start"-->then "My Computer"-->then RIGHT CLICK on "Local Disk C" drive.
2)Scroll down to "Properties", and click that.
3)You will then see a box with "General", "Tools", "Hardware", "Sharing", and "Quota".
4)Click on "Tools". You will see "Error Checking", "Defragmentation", and "Back-up".
5)Click on "Defragmentation", then when the new screen shows up, click on the row that is showing, (usually at the top--it will be shaded in gray, and turns blue when you click it), then click Defragment.
You don't have to click "Analyze", because it will do that automatically when you Defragment. (You can if you want to, but it isn't necessary. That just tells you whether the volume needs to be defragmented or not) Usually, it says that you don't NEED to do it, but it's kind of like cleaning out your closet...you look at it, and go, "I can let it go one more day, but you KNOW it needs to be DONE!
CLEAN UP DISK:
With this function, you will see a "pie". The less PINK you see, the less room there is for things to be stored in your computer, ie; pictures, documents, etc... Some people have not cleaned up their Disk Drive in so long, that they don't even have room left for the Process!!
CLEAN UP DISK:
1)Click on "Start"-->then "My Computer"-->then RIGHT CLICK on "Local Disk C" drive.
2)Scroll down to "properties", and click that.
3)You will then see a box with "General", "Tools", "Hardware", "Sharing", and "Quota".
4)Stay on the "General" tab, and click on "Disk clean up".
Once you do that, you will get a message telling you that it is calculating how much disk space you'll be able to free up, and that it might take quite a while to do so.
It will then show you a list of the things that you may, or may not want to be rid of. The main boxes that you do NOT want to be checked, should be, "Downloaded Program Files", and "Web Client Publisher Files". The others will all pretty much be pages that you have visited while online, or just considered "temporary files". If it shows that you have several hundred thousand KB's to get cleaned up, then you will want to continue with the task. (Just remember to uncheck the two boxes I mentioned above (If they are already checked) ...if you don't, you may end up getting rid of things that your computer NEEDS to function.
The last stage, is the "CHECK FOR ERROR" function:
I always set this function when I first turn on my computer, because, if your computer starts to act up, or freeze, you will not be able to access this function. But, if you have set it up to "error check" for the next time you turn it on, if you needed to unplug it in a hurry, (which you may need to do if it freezes up on you, or you begin to see tons of windows open at once), when you DO plug it back in and turn it on, it will automatically check for all of the "mistakes", and fix them.
When you click on this particular task, it will ding, and tell you that it has to perform the task the next time you start Windows. Just click "yes", and then the next time you turn on your computer, it will run the Error Check.
ERROR CHECKING:
1)Click on "Start"-->then "My Computer"-->then RIGHT CLICK on "Local Disk C" drive.
2)Scroll down to "Properties", and click that.
3)You will then see a box with "General", "Tools", "Hardware", "Sharing", and "Quota".
4)Click on "Tools". You will see "Error Checking", "Defragmentation", and "Back-up".
5)Click on "Error Checking".
When it comes up, there will be two boxes to check. One, is to "Automatcally fix file system errors", and the other, will be to "Scan for, and attempt recovery of bad sectors"
If you check the box for fixing system errors, it takes about 1/2 the time to complete. If you check them both, it takes a pretty long time to complete, but at least it's thorough. You should check them BOTH, the FIRST TIME you do this. After that, you can only check the 1st one if you so choose.
If you HAVE only checked the first box, and while you are online your computer starts to act funny, you may go back into the same area, and check BOTH boxes for the next time you turn it on.
As I said before, you should perform these tasks when you don't need to be ON your computer. If you just feel like it though, you can start these tasks, and just check the computer every so often, so that you can set up the next task when one has finished.
In order, they would be:
Disk Clean up
Defragmentation
Error Checking
If all else fails, and your computer just stops responding, there is always "System Restore". Only in severe cases of malfunction, will you need to use this feature. But if your computer starts acting crazy, (I mean, REALLY crazy, not just a little slow) do this right away. If you wait too long, you will not be able to use this feature.
All you do for that is:
1)Click Start-->All Programs-->Accessories-->System Tools-->System Restore
2)Then just choose a date to go back to, that your computer was working perfectly. System restore will guide you. Just follow the prompts. After it resets, the computer will restart, and should work like it did before it messed up.
Well, I guess that's it for now. I hope I haveat least helped SOMEONE with this information.
Good luck, and may your computers move faster, and more smoothly!
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