Scandisk – How To Do Your Own PC Maintenance

Computers have come a long way in recent years and are much more stable and reliable than they used to be. This however, doesn’t mean that they no longer need to be well cared for and a regular maintenance schedule is still necessary to keep your system performing well. Maintenance should be carried out frequently, at least once a week. Below are four recommended tasks you should perform to keep your PC in tip top condition.

1. Defragment Your Hard Drive

The hard drive is the principle storage device on any computer. As data gets removed and replaced, the files end up scattered all over the hard disk. This results in a poorer performance by your computer as it must locate all the information from the various segments of the hard drive. Defragmenting your hard drive will speed up the retrieving of this data, thereby making your system perform faster. This involves rearranging the files on the hard drive so that they can be retrieved easily.

Your Windows Operating System comes with a built in defragment application. Before using this, it is a good idea to run a scandisk check first which will test the drive for any errors. To perform a scandisk follow the steps below.

For Windows 95, 98, ME Users: Go to Start – Programs – Accessories – System Tools – Scandisk.

For Windows NT, 2000, XP Users: Right click on My Computer – Select Properties – Tools – Error Checking – Check Now. Select both options and press start to begin the scan.

For Windows Vista Users:

Hit the "Start" button, and in the "Start Search" box, type "scan disk". This should give you the menu option for the ScanDisk.

Once you have run a scandisk check, you may now run a disk defragment. To start this, go to Start – Programs – Accessories – System Tools – Defragmenter. Choose which drive you wish to defrag and the scan will run automatically.

Always close down any other running applications before doing a disk defrag as this will interfere with its operation.

2. Back Up Your Data

It’s likely that most computer users will experience a system crash at some time or another. Unless you have a back up made of any important files, valuable data could be lost forever. Always back up your files.

3. Keep Security Software Updated

Any antivirus or spyware applications installed on your PC need to be kept up to date with the latest definitions. New threats are released to the Internet daily so it is vital to download the latest updates to prevent breaches of security. Set up your security software to update automatically and you will always keep abreast of the most recent threats.

4. Delete Any Unnecessary Files

Clear out your temporary folders regularly to free up space on your hard drive and keep your computer clean and tidy. On your Internet Explorer browser open the Tools tab – Internet Options – General. Choose which files you want to delete.

Perform these four general maintenance tasks regularly to keep your hard drive free from unnecessary information and free up space. This will result in your PC performing in a fast and efficient manner.

Tags: scan disk, scandisk