*** PC Care Basics (95 & 98) *** (***) = Karl's 2 Cents = 5/6/2000 ***) Windows 98 Product Guide: Maintenance Wizard Features Maintenance Wizard/Windows 98 Second Edition **ALL** computer's need to have some sort of regular maintenance. With the Maintenance wizard your computer can practically maintain itself. Over time, as programs read from and write to your computer's hard disk, the hard disk stores the information wherever it can find room. Rather than storing files of information in side-by-side clusters, the disk splits up, or fragments, the files into noncontiguous clusters. This fragmentation is normal, but the more fragmented the files on your computer's hard disk become, the harder it gets for your computer to read and write information. A "fragmented hard disk" equals a slower, less efficient computer. ***And that's not good***. That's why Microsoft® Windows® 98 Second Edition includes the Maintenance wizard, which performs the following three tasks automatically, or at times that you schedule: ***ScanDisk*** Windows 98 Second Edition runs this utility automatically whenever your computer's operating system is shut down improperly or your hard disk indicates that it is faulty. You can also run ScanDisk at any time to check your computer's files, folders, data structures, and the surface of the disk for errors. It finds and fixes errors, helping you regain unused disk space and making your computer run more efficiently. ***Disk Defragmenter*** This maintenance task rearranges your computer's hard disk by placing all the files associated with a given program in the same location on the hard disk. When Disk Defragmenter is used regularly, your computer can locate and open your programs faster, rather than having to search the disk for what it needs. ***Disk Cleanup*** As its name implies, this program cleans your computer's hard disk by removing files you don't need, and lets you know when your hard disk is getting full. When this happens it provides a list of files that you may want to delete, including files in the Recycle Bin, files you downloaded during Web browsing that you no longer need, and Windows 98 Second Edition uninstall information files (when you're confident that you won't need to reinstall your old operating system). It doesn't allow you to delete files that your computer needs, or move system components to the wrong place. Last updated: Tuesday, May 6, 2000 © 1999 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Terms of Use. *** Y-All Win 98ers should "Scheduale" THESE "@ least" once a WEEK *** ** Update to 2nd edition if You Do Not have it ** * Leave Computer On or Standby during those times (Monitor can be off) * * Microsoft (above) did not tell you where it is = Programs, Accessories, System tools, Maint. Wizard:* (There is Scheduale/Settings and Perform Now = Familiarize Yourself of settings) *** Scheduale Scan Disk "BEFORE" the other 2, especially "with" Defrag. *** *** Disc Cleanup can be on it's Own day *** *** My 10 Gig Drive = I allow 1 1/2 hrs for Thorough-Scan disk & before Defrag starts *** ** Every Blue Moon = DO - "Perform Now" and Pop-in/check all is Doing well ** * Another COOL THING of Maint. Wiz = Start Windows More Quickly (IN Settings) = A Place to Disable annoying Programs initializing @ Power-On ! * ********************** BELOW IS MY - "OLD SHhtuff" FOR WINDOWS 95 & 98 (Revised)************ From an Internet PC Specialist "*" = My 2 cents (AAAAaaae!!!) ***THIS IS ONLY for Personal Computers = DO NOT Do IT if connected to a Network*** **This is for Windows 95 & 98** ***[Your System Administrator DOES it For the Company, Regularly!]*** *** SO MANY people were never TOLD to do these Basics! = Now We'LL ALL know! *** 1. Data Integrity: Scandisk Type of Test Standard is quick and checks basic directory integrity. I run this "many" times a week. Thorough - can take a long time, but checks and verifies the surface of the hard drive. I run this once a month. Save yourself a lot of babysitting time by checking the “Auto Fix Errors” box before clicking “Start” **1a.** Also, I HIGHLY recommend! Scandisk a Blank floppy, Zip disk &/or Superdisk before EVER Using it! {IT Hurts! to find a backup was recorded on a New Bad Disk!} **1aa.** You can Scandisk a used floppy BUT uncheck "Auto Fix" 1st, to see any problems. **1b.** Some experts, Format any BLANK new disk before EVER using it!*** (It Auto Scandisk’s it and warns of any problems) 2. File Optimization: ‘Defrag’ Why bother defragmenting my drive? Files broken into “fragments” take longer for the processor to gather and assemble. The directory grows larger as it must keep track of each file fragment and what order to re-assemble when we open the file. Power User Tip: A fragmented “Page file” makes the whole computer run slower. 2a. Run defrag every two to four weeks to keep files optimized **2b.** Never! Defrag. a Floppy, Zip Disk &/or Superdisk!!! *** -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Great Advice = From the Doctor on the Internet; *** My Tip is REGULARY do the above, AND BEFORE doing it!!! = "MAKE SURE Screen Saver is temporarily TURNED OFF" (= "None" ) !!! *** *** ALSO Turn Screen saver to NONE when installing programs !!! *** -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3.*** TRY NOT to open/close 2 Microsoft programs together or Corruption WILL eventually Happen! (Like - Internet Explorer and Outlook = Try to Wait for one too fully open, then, open the other) {Outlook is (a known) weakest, open/close it first!} (TRY! to shut down Outlook before turning PC OFF!} 4.*** Computer Hanging UP!!! = Press/hold Ctrl, Alt & Delete; then end 1 task at a time and check if better = You’ll know what’s doing it. 5.*** Installing a New Registerable Program = TURN OFF Virus protection!!! 5a.** BY THE BOOKS (NON Bootleg) program Install = TURN OFF all NOT needed background running programs beforehand!!!; (Use - Ctrl/Alt/Delete) {"absolute minimum" = Explorer & Systray = If missing = Computer Lock-UP!} 6.*** Need PROBLEMS? = NO! = DO NOT install 2 - different brands of Virus checkers or IE & Netscape or 2 PC Doctors!!! (You get the Idea!) 7.*** You MUST Uninstall ANY earlier versions of Internet Explorer BEFORE Installing IE4 or 5 !!! ***AS ALWAYS! = ANYONE who would like to add to any of or Hints = PLEASE! Do So! and Add your Name and Date next to the Shmuck below. Karl Sirgedas 5/6/2000 Have A NICE Day!!! AAAAaaae!!! rev. 6/18/2000