Computer Technology Tip

Recommended Computer Maintenance
Including Outlook Express and Windows Mail

Last month's article covered basic computer maintenance. This month I'll bump it up a notch and improve on the level of cleaning and maintenance of the computer.

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. For one, I recommend downloading and installing CCleaner. This program is free. Open Internet Explorer and go to www.filehippo.com. CCleaner will be found under "Most Popular Downloads". Click it and in the next window click the big green arrow on the right. If you see an Information Bar pop-up, click Close then click on the light yellow bar under Internet Explorer's buttons. You should see a drop down menu and 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. Double click to install. Follow the screen prompts and be sure to remove the check next to adding the Yahoo Toolbar during the setup. Click the Install button to complete and click Finish. After installation you may delete the CCleaner download file (ccsetupxxx).

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 that will be erased. Then click the Run Cleaner button. Follow the screen prompt to rid your system of more unwanted 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. However, click Yes if you do. 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 CCleaner the proper order for cleanup and tune-up is to run Microsoft's Disk Cleanup located in System Tools first, CCleaner second, Disk Defragmenter, also in System Tools, third. Refer to the October 2008 issue of the TV-Guide's Technology Tips for more information regarding Microsoft's Disk Cleanup and Disk Defragmenter or go online to www.hersheysmill.org and click on Tech Tips.

Another recommended cleanup routine involves users of Outlook Express. Outlook Express is not meant to store hundreds of emails. It can become unstable. To avoid difficulties empty your Inbox, Outbox, Sent Items, Drafts, and Deleted Items frequently. Highlight (click it) the first email to be deleted, then hold down the Shift key and move the mouse to the last email you want to delete and click. The items to be deleted should now be highlighted. Then click the Delete button. Remember all highlighted items will be deleted when you click the Delete button. This works on all the folders (Inbox, Outbox, etc.). Start with the Inbox and end with the Deleted Items. Another technique is to highlight the first email, then hold down the Ctrl key and press the "A" key. This highlights all the items and is especially useful when emptying the Deleted Items. After emptying the preceding folders, click File in the Main window, move to Folders, and click Compact All Folders. Wait until the process completes. Normally compacting is done automatically after 100 runs in Outlook express. If you see a message that says, "To free up disk space, Outlook Express can compact messages. This may take up to a few minutes", click OK and allow the process to continue without interruption. However, I would recommend that compacting be done manually 2-3 times a month especially for heavy email use. For Vista computers, using Windows Mail, you will also see a message after every 100 runs of Windows Mail that says "Windows mail can compact the message store". Make sure to OK it and don't interrupt the process! Windows Mail does not have a manual method of compacting.

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 Winfield Hall.
Don Trauger

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 Winfield Hall.

On this website Calendar has a week's view of activities and events similar to the month's guide.