Cleaning Your Electronic House
Windows XP

1. Error Checking
   
   Windows 2000 no longer includes the ScanDisk tool, however "Error Checking" performs the same function.  For optimum performance, you should run Error Checking periodically to check the integrity of your hard disk and automatically repair any bad sectors.
    

2. Perform Disk Cleanup
   
   This tool helps clear space on the hard disk drive. Disk Cleanup searches the drive, and then shows the temporary files, Internet cache files, and unnecessary program files that you can safely delete. You can direct Disk Cleanup to delete some or all of those files.
    

3. Defrag Hard Drive
   
   This tool rearranges files, programs, and unused space on the hard disk so that programs run faster and files open more quickly.
    

4. Update Anti-virus Software
   
   Updating your anti-virus software is vital to maintaining a virus-free hard drive.  If you received a new laptop in 2002 (or later), your anti-virus software periodically updates itself through a program called BackWeb.  If your computer is not running BackWeb, you should see the HUB about upgrading your anti-virus program.
    

5. Make a Backup of Data Files on Network or ZIP/JAZ/CDR Disk
   Windows 2000 includes a backup system tool which permits you to back up your entire hard drive or selected files in expanded or compressed format to a designated location.   Each faculty member has file storage space on the Alpha server which can be used for storing backup files.  Also, ZIP(100 or 250 MB)/JAZ (1 or 2 GB) disks or CD-ROMs (650 MB) can be used to store your backup files.
    

6. Run Ad-aware  
   Ad-aware is a free program that scans your computer for "adware" (programs that generate popup advertisements when you surf the internet) and "spyware" (programs that send information about you and your computer usage to companies via the internet) and removes these programs when they are found.
    

Error Checking

1. NOTE:  You must be logged into your computer as "Administrator" to use this tool.  You may need to get help from the HUB in order to log in as "Administrator".
    

2. Double click the My Computer icon your desktop.
   
   
    

3. Right click on the C drive and choose "Properties".
   
   
    

4. On the "Tools" tab, under the section labeled "Error Checking", click "Check Now".
   
   
    

5. A dialog box will appear.  Make sure that both checkboxes are selected and click "Start".
   
   
    

6. If you get an error message saying that Windows was unable to obtain exclusive access to the hard drive, just click "Yes" to run the scan the next time the computer is started.
   
   

 

Disk Cleanup

1. Click on Disk Cleanup under System Tools on the Accessories menu under Programs on the Start menu.
   
   
     

2. A dialog box will appear telling you that Disk Cleanup is calculating how much space you will be able to free up.  This may take several minutes.  Sometimes the progress bar does not appear to be moving, but if you wait, it will progress.
   
   
    

3. Once the Disk Cleanup tool has scanned your drive for files that can be deleted, select or deselect the file(s) that you want to delete by clicking in the corresponding checkbox(es),.
   
   
    

4. You can click on the More Options tab to uninstall programs and Windows components you don't use, but you should only do this if your hard drive is low on space.  To remove unused Windows Components, click on the Clean up button under Windows components.
    

5. Select the checkboxes corresponding to the unused Windows components that you wish to remove, then click OK and wait while the components are removed from your system.  Note:  If you decide to add components that have been previously removed, you will need a Windows 2000 CD which is available in the HUB.
    

6. To remove programs you no longer need, click on the Clean up button under Installed programs.  Again, you shouldn't worry about this unless you are low on disk space.
    

7. Click on the unused program(s) that you wish to remove, then click on the Add/Remove button.
    

8. When prompted to confirm file deletion, click on the Yes button.
    

9. If prompted to remove a shared file that is not in use by any other application, click on the Yes button unless it is a system file. When in doubt, click on the No button.
    

10. When prompted to remove the shared file, click on the Yes button.
     

11. A progress bar indicating the status of removing the program will be displayed.  After the uninstall has completed, click OK.
     

12. Click OK.
     

13. When prompted to delete the files, click Yes.
    
    

Disk Defragmenter

1. Click on Disk Defragmenter under System Tools on the Accessories menu under Programs on the Start menu.
   
   

2. Select the drive that you want to defrag from the list, then click on the Defragment button.
   
   
    

3. A progress bar indicating the defrag status will be displayed.   Note:  This process may take several hours depending on length of time since your last defragging.
   
   
    

4. When the defragmentation is complete, a message will be displayed.  Click the Close button.

Temporary Internet Files

1. Although temporary Internet files can be deleted in Disk Cleanup, you may remove them directly. Open Internet Explorer then click on Internet Options under the Tools menu.

2. Click on the Delete Files button.

3. Click OK and wait for the files to be removed.

Updating Anti-virus Software

1. If you received a new laptop in 2002 (or later), your computer should be running a program called BackWeb which periodically updates your anti-virus software.
   
   

2. To find out whether you've got BackWeb, check your system tray (the lower right corner of your screen, where the clock is).  If BackWeb is running, it's icon will appear there.  If not, you should visit the Hub immediately to have your anti-virus software upgraded.

Backing Up Files to the Network or ZIP/JAZ Disk

1. Click on Backup under System Tools on the Accessories menu under Programs on the Start menu.
   
   

2. Click Next.
   
   

3. Select Back up files and settings, then click on the Next button.
   
   

4. Select the items which you want to back up, then click on the Next button.
   
   

5. Under choose a place to save your backup, click on the Browse button and select the location where you want the backup stored.  Note:  To back up your files to the Alpha server, you must be logged into the network on campus.
   
   

6. Locate your personal folder on the Alpha server (double click on Network Neighborhood, double click on the Alpha server, double click on the Users folder, then double click on your folder) or the desired folder on your ZIP/JAZ disk..  Rename the file, if desired, then click on the Save button.

8. Click on the Next button.
    
   

9. To specify additional options, click on Advanced.  Otherwise, click Finish.
   
   
    

10. The progress window will notify you when the backup is complete.  Click Close to exit the Backup utility.
    
    

Restoring Backup Files to Your Hard Drive

1. Click on Backup under System Tools on the Accessories menu under Programs on the Start menu.
   
   
    

2. Click Next.
   
   

3. Select Restore files and settings, then click on the Next button.
   
   
    

4. Click on the plus (+) sign to expand the directory until you see the file you wish to restore, then place a check in the box and click Next.
   
   

5. Click Advanced to modify the restore settings or Finish to complete the wizard.  The file(s) will be restored to their original location on your hard drive.
   
   
   

6. The Restore Progress window will notify you when the restore is complete.  Click Close.
   
   

 

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