ROUTINE TUNE UP FOR COMPUTERS

The following actions should be done at least
once a month, however, heavy internet usage
dictates that they be done at least once a
week.  By not doing these actions, you will
see your computer performing slower and slower
until it may finally lock up.

TAKING OUT THE TRASH...

Click START/FIND/FILES OR FOLDERS.
Type in *.tmp then click FIND FILE.
These temporary files are created by Windows
and are SUPPOSED to be closed out when you
shut down your computer.
Sometimes Windows forgets some.
Enough of those leftovers are called TRASH!
Also type in "netscape.hst" and "cache" and
delete everything inside these files.
 Delete them, all of them!  Do this each night
when you turn off your system.  If you don't
turn off your system, do it daily.
  The next time you go there the "*.tmp" the
"netscape.hst" and the "cache" will be in the
drop down box and you will delete from there.

Remember the letter to that you wrote months
ago to a friend? Throw it and all the other
“old stuff” into the recycle bin by deleting
them.  Especially true for old pictures.

If the pictures have to be saved, save them
to disk for the future and free up space on
your hard drive, for smoother operation.

Empty the recycle bin!

Keep a minimum on your CLIPBOARD.  Clipboard
items are stored on your RAM memory.  Don’t
slow down your system by using up RAM to hold
something you don’t need.
RAM is precious, protect it always.

Click START/SETTINGS/CONTROL PANEL,
Double click on the INTERNET icon.
The folder you’re looking at has 6 tabs.
We will deal with the NAVIGATION and ADVANCED
tabs.  Click NAVIGATION.
See “HISTORY’ on the bottom half?  Set the
days to 1 if you use the web a lot, set to 5
if you don’t.

Now click view "HISTORY” and you can see
where you’ve been!
But, too many will clog up your machine.

Click EDIT/SELECT ALL, now click FILE/DELETE.
Close the NAVIGATION window.
Click ADVANCED:  See the TEMPORARY INTERNET
FILES in the middle, click to “view files” –
Click EDIT/SELECT ALL,
now click FILE/DELETE.
Close the TEMPORARY INTERNET WINDOW.

On to two built-in maintenance programs.
SCAN DISK basically scans the disk for errors.
Click:
START/PROGRAMS/ACCESSORIES/SYSTEM/TOOLS/SCANDISK.
Make sure there is a dot next to “THOROUGH” and
a check next to “Automatically FIX ERRORS.”
Click start and go do the dishes,
it usually takes a while.

DEFRAG:  It takes the hard drive longer to find
things if you don’t use this once in a while.
Click:
 START/PROGRAMS/ACCESSORIES/SYSTEM TOOLS/DISK
DEFRAGMENTER.
On the tiny window that appears, click “ok,”
On the next tiny window,
click “START” and let it run until finished.

I am told that many people use the scan disk
and the defrag daily.  Perhaps it depends on
how much you add and delete things from your
hard drive.

Click START/PROGRAMS/WINDOWS EXPLORER – think
of what you see as a book that’s folders open.
Whatever you highlight(by clicking on the word)
on the left, it’s contents will be shown on the
right.
On the left page, click the “+” next to the
word “WINDOWS” And look for the word “COOKIES”
Click  EDIT/SELECT ALL, click FILE/DELETE.
There are a few that will not go away if you
have not had them blocked.
But delete all that you can.

Continue under “WINDOWS” and look for
“TEMPORARY NET FILES” and empty those too,
also check the “HISTORY” file to see if there
is anything to delete.  Come back to desktop.

Now restart your computer and see if you are
running more smoothly without all of those
illegal errors and freeze ups.

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Page created by:
"Twink's Ink"
June 9
2001