How To Keep Your Computer Running Smoothly

When you use your new computer for the first time, you were probably amazed by its blazing speed. But now it seems to have slowed down. Chances are it needs just a little routine maintenance to get it back in tip-top shape.

Defrag
When you add a file or a new program to a brand new computer, the hard disk is relatively empty so new data is written to the hard disk in one contiguous block. When you need to use that information, the computer can quickly access it because it is all in one place.

As you use your computer adding files and programs, the hard disk begins to fill up. Deleting files or removing programs creates small empty areas among the other data that the computer will reuse. After awhile, the computer is no longer saving information in large blocks. Instead, it stores information in the many little empty nooks and crannies of your hard disk. The result is that one program or file is broken up, or fragmented, into little pieces and stored in many different areas of the hard disk. The computer ingeniously keeps track of the addresses of each piece of data and puts it all together when it is needed. Yet, obviously, the more broken up the information is, the longer it takes to access the data and the slower the computer becomes.

The solution is a simple one. Your Windows computer comes with a program that will defragment your hard disk. This process reunites all the data into large blocks and gathers all the free space on the hard disk into one block making data retrieval faster and easier for the computer.

Most of you will be able to find the disk defrag program by clicking on the Start button, then choosing Programs, Accessories, System Tools, and finally clicking on the Disk Defragmenter. If you have any trouble finding it, simply click on Start, then Help. Click on the Search tab and type in the word "defragment." The computer will give you a link to the defrag program.

Depending on your computer and your hard disk, defragmenting the hard disk can take a bit of time. After you defrag, you will see no difference in your computer, except for a little faster speed if the disk was very fragmented. You should routinely defrag your computer. Once a month is a good practice for most average users.

Check for Free Space
One little known fact about computers is that they use the hard disk as sort of a scratch pad when they perform many functions. If your hard disk begins to fill up, it slows down these functions and the computer will seem very sluggish. You should occasionally check your hard disk to make sure that you have enough free space for the computer to function properly. To check the status of the hard disk, click on My Computer, then right-click on the C drive. Choose Properties, and you will see a pie chart showing the amount of available space. If you have only a sliver of free space remaining, you will want to free up some space immediately. Depending on the size of your disk, I recommend keeping a minimum of 100 megabytes (MB) of free space.

Your hard disk may be partitioned into several sections. When you click on My Computer, you may see disk drives for C, D, E, etc. Even if you have other partitions, the C partition is the area where the computer needs space.

Cleaning up Your Hard Disk
If you are lucky enough to have a newer computer with Windows 98, when you check the properties of your C drive, you will see a button labeled "Disk Cleanup." Click on this button and a window will pop up enabling you to empty the recycle bin, delete unnecessary files like temporary files, and downloaded program files.

If you are using an older version of Windows and do not have this button, you will have to do this cleanup by hand. Emptying the recycle bin by right-clicking on it and choosing "Empty Recycle Bin" can often free up a lot of space.

If you are low on hard disk space, you will also want to clean up your disk by removing any unnecessary files and programs. To delete a file, highlight it and press the DEL key on your keyboard, or drag it to the Recycle Bin. Remember although you have deleted files by placing them in the Recycle Bin, they still take up room on your hard disk until you actually empty the Recycle Bin. To remove a program, click on the Start button, click on Settings, Control Panel, and then choose Add/Remove Programs.

Cleaning up your computer should be a monthly ritual, whether you think you need it or not. Removing unused programs and files will keep both you and your computer more organized. If you are ever unsure about whether you will need a file or not, better to be safe than sorry. Make a copy of the file on a floppy disk, zip disk, or other backup medium before you delete it completely.

Start and Stop Properly
Two other routines can go a long way towards keeping your computer running smoothly. Be patient and always allow your computer to complete its entire start-up routine before you start to use it. Even more importantly, be sure to shut down correctly. Turn the computer off by clicking on the Start button and choosing Shut Down, Okay. Allow the computer to turn itself off or press the off button when the screen says it is okay to do so. If you turn the computer off without going through this necessary process, it will invariably lead to problems.

Have you ever had your computer freeze forcing you to turn it off improperly? If you have, don't worry; it's not unusual. In fact, the computer has a routine to try to correct any problems that this improper shut down may cause. It's called Scan Disk. I'll explain what Scan Disk is and how it works in my next "How To."