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Improve the Performance of Your Hard Drive

Perform these tasks on a regular basis to improve the performance of your hard drive.
  1. Scan disk for errors
  2. Cleanup the disk
  3. Scan for spyware and adware
  4. Defragment the disk
  5. Empty the Recycle Bin
  6. Delete .tmp files
  7. Delete files that begin with a tilde (~)
  8. Delete old .zip files
  9. Delete Netscape Cache and Clear History
  10. Delete Internet Explorer Temporary Internet Files

Scan Disk for Errors

Scan Disk checks your hard drive for errors.
Note: You should not have other programs running while scan disk is running.
  1. Click Start; My Computer.
  2. Right click on C: Local disk; Select Properties.
  3. Select the Tools tab.
  4. Select Check Now in the Error-Checking section.
  5. Under Check Disk Options, select the box for Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors check boxes click on Start.
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Disk Clean Up

Disk Clean up is used to free up space on your hard drive.
  1. Click Start; All Programs;Accessories; System Tools; Disk Cleanup.
  2. Disk Cleanup may run a quick prescan before opening the disk cleanup window.
  3. When the disk cleanup window opens check off all of the boxes and select Ok; then select Yes when the message comes up asking If you are sure you want to perform this action.
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Scan for Spyware and Adware

AntiSpyware programs are used to remove adware and spyware (software that covertly gathers user information through the user's Internet connection without his or her knowledge, usually for advertising purposes) and other threats from your computer.
Note: If you already have SpyBot Search and Destroy then skip to step 7.
  1. Open your web browser (Internet Explorer or Netscape or other).
  2. Go to http://www.download.com.
  3. Type in Spybot in the search bar on the Cnet Download website; Click Go.
  4. Click the Download button next to Spybot Search & Destroy on the list of downloads.
  5. Click Save; Click Save; Click Run; Select a language from the list and click Ok.
  6. Click Next, select I accept the agreement; click Next; click Next; click Next; click Next; click Next; click Install.
  7. Click Start; All Programs; Spybot-Search & Destroy; Spybot-Search & Destroy.
  8. Once the program opens click Search for Updates. If there are updates available then click on Download Updates. If there are no updates available or when the updates have finished downloading then click on Search and Destroy from the list on the left of the screen.
  9. From the Search and Destroy screen Click on Check for Problems.
  10. When the scan is complete click Fix Selected Problems. If a message appears asking you if you are sure you want to remove these entries then click Yes.
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Defragment the Disk

Defragmenting reorganizes files on your hard drive to allow your computer to run faster and more efficiently.
Note: This could take several hours to perform; you will not be able to work on other programs while this scan is running. Try setting the defragmenter to start when you are ready to leave for the day.
  1. Click Start; All Programs; Accessories; System Tools; Disk Defragmenter.
  2. Select the C: drive and click Analyze.
  3. When the computer finishes analyzing the C: drive a message will appear recommending you to either defragment your hard drive or not; click Ok.
  4. If the message recommended that you defragment your hard drive then select the c: drive and click Defragment. If the message did not recommend that you defragment your hard drive then you can choose to defragment anyway if you have a couple of hours to spare away from your computer.
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Empty the Recycle Bin Recycle Bin

Deleted files are not permanently deleted from your hard drive until you empty the recycle bin. By default, Windows NT allows 10% of your hard drive to be used for deleted files. You should periodically empty your Recycle Bin as follows:

  1. Right-click on the Recycle Bin from your desktop.
  2. Click Empty Recycle Bin.
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Delete .tmp files

  1. Click Start; Search; All Files and Folders.
  2. In the All or part of the file name box type *.tmp.
  3. In the Look in select (C:) or Local hard drives (C:, D:).
  4. Click Search.
  5. Click on the Date Modified column heading to sort by date.
  6. Highlight the *.tmp files created prior to the current day.
  7. Hit the Delete key or right-click on one of the highlighted files and click Delete.
  8. Click the Yes button or hit the Enter key to confirm the deletion.
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Delete files beginning with a tilde ( ~ )

  1. Before deleting these files, close all programs. For many word-processing, spreadsheet, and graphics programs, the temporary file your are currently viewing sometimes begins with a tilde.
  2. Click Start; Search; All Files and Folders.
  3. In the All or part of the file name box type ~.*.
  4. In the Look in box select (C:) or Local hard drives (C:, D:).
  5. Click Search.
  6. Highlight all of the files by pressing CTRL + A.
  7. Hit the Delete key or right-click on one of the highlighted files and click Delete.
  8. Click the Yes button or hit the Enter key to confirm the deletion.
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Delete old .zip files

There is no need to keep a .zip file after it has been unzipped.
  1. Click Start; Search; All Files and Folders.
  2. In the All or part of the file name box type *.zip.
  3. In the Look in select (C:) or Local hard drives (C:, D:).
  4. Click Search.
  5. Highlight all of the files by pressing CTRL + A.
  6. Hit the Delete key or right-click on one of the highlighted files and click Delete.
  7. Click the Yes button or hit the Enter key to confirm the deletion.
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Delete Netscape Cache and Clear History

  1. Click Edit and then Preferences.
  2. Expand the Advanced category on the left by clicking the plus sign.
  3. Click Cache.
  4. Click the Clear Disk Cache button.
  5. Click OK button.
  6. Click Navigator under the list of categories on the left.
  7. Click the Clear History button.
  8. Change Pages in history expire after: from 9 to no more than 3 days.
  9. Click the OK button at the bottom of the Preferences dialog box.
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Delete Internet Explorer Temporary Internet Files

  1. Open Internet Explorer
  2. Click Tools ==> Internet Options.
  3. Click the Delete Files button in the Temporary Internet Files section of the General tab.
  4. Click the OK button.
  5. Click the OK button at the bottom of the Internet Options dialog box.

You can set Internet Explorer to automatically delete Temporary Internet Files when the browser is closed.

  1. Open Internet Explorer
  2. Click Tools ==> Internet Options.
  3. Click the Advanced tab.
  4. Scroll to the Security section.
  5. Check the box next to Empty Temporary Internet Files folder when browser is closed.
  6. Click the OK button at the bottom of the Internet Options dialog box.
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Last Updated: Wednesday, 29-Aug-2007 16:35:06 CDT