Computer Technology Tip

Monthly Computer Maintenance         Don Trauger - Kennett

Microsoft's Disk Cleanup utility manages to do the required cleanup. However, there are other utility programs that are designed to improve upon what Microsoft offers. I recommend downloading and installing CCleaner. This program is free. Open Internet Explorer and go to www.filehippo.com. CCleaner will be found under "Popular Software". Click it and in the next window click the big green arrow on the right. If you see a yellow Information bar pop up under the Toolbar, click it, then click on "Download File" in the menu. Click "Save" and direct the download to your Desktop. Do this by clicking the down arrow in the Save in: field. Select Desktop and when the Save in: field shows Desktop, click the "Save" button. When the download completes, click the "Close" button, then close Internet Explorer. The CCleaner download should now be on your Desktop. Look for an icon that says ccsetupxxx.exe. Double click it then click the "Run" button to install CCleaner. Vista and Windows 7 users will see an additional security prompt. Answer Yes to continue. Follow the screen prompts and be sure to remove any checks, if you see any, opting to add toolbars to Internet Explorer during the installation. At the last window click the "Finish" button. CCleaner should start automatically. After installation delete the CCleaner download file (ccsetupxxx.exe). The x's represent any number.

If CCleaner doesn't start, click the new CCleaner icon on the Desktop to open the program. The program comes properly configured so there is no need to make further changes. When the program opens click the "Analyze" button. This will indicate the number of MB's of unneeded junk files that can be safely erased. Then click the "Run Cleaner" button. Follow the screen prompt to rid your system of the junk files. Next click the "Registry" button. Click the "Scan for Issues" button. After the screen says 100% click the "Fix selected issues" button. The next pop-up window asks to backup the changes. I find it's not necessary so you can click No. Then click "Fix all selected issues" click OK then Close. For best results click the "Registry" button again to run it a second time then close CCleaner.

Now that you have installed and have run CCleaner, the next tool to run is Microsoft's Disk Cleanup located in System Tools. Click the "Start" button, move the mouse to All Programs, then Accessories, then System Tools, and click Disk Cleanup. Click the OK button and wait for the scan to complete. Then, place a check next to all the listed items. You may have to scroll down to see the complete list. Click OK and answer Yes to the next prompt asking if you want to perform these actions. Wait for the cleanup to complete. To finish the maintenance, click Disk Defragmenter, also in System Tools. For Windows XP users highlight your hard drive (C:) and click the "Defragment" button. This will take time. For Vista users, uncheck "Run on a schedule" then click the "Defragment now" button. Choose the (C:) drive, OK the window, and wait until it completes. For Windows 7 users click "Configure Schedule" and remove the check next to "Run on a schedule" and OK the window. Choose the (C:) drive then click "Defragment disk".

It's best to do all maintenance manually so you can verify it's been completed properly. Most importantly, this maintenance must be done at least on a monthly basis to maintain your computer. If you don't do this maintenance then you can expect have a slow computer and one that is prone to crashes.

Help in maintaining your computer is available at the PC Club meetings. We meet the second Tuesday of every month at 7:00 PM upstairs in the Ardmore room of the Community Center.

To get answers to your questions about computers, please come to the PC Club meeting. The computer club meets the second Tuesday of each month at 7:00 PM in Hershey's Mill Community Center.