1. Empty your RECYCLE BIN regularly.

Double click on the recycle bin icon on your desktop screen.
Click on “edit” and “select all” items in the bin.
Click on “file” after all items have been selected and click on “delete”.
The system will prompt you “Are you sure you want to delete these items?”
Click on “yes”.

2. On a WEEKLY basis - perform a Scan Disk
(this is the same feature that automatically runs if your system is shut down improperly).

First you have to disable your screen saver - if the screen saver runs it will interrupt the scan disk and cause it to start over each time - in other words it will never complete the process.

To disable the screen saver:
Click on “start”.
Move to “settings”.
Click on “control panel”.
Double click on “display”.
Click on “screen saver” tab.
Click on “screen saver” and move it to “none”.
Click on OK.
Close the “control panel” screen that is open by clicking on “file” the “close” or by clicking on the X in the upper right corner - whatever is most familiar.

To begin the scan disk process:
Click on “Start” then move up to “programs”.
Move to “Accessories”.
Move to “System Tools”.
Move and click on “Scan Disk”.
Be sure that the drive chosen is “C”.
At “type of test” click on “thorough”.
Be sure that the option “automatically fix errors” is selected.
Click on start.
The scandisk will take about 15 minutes to complete.

3. On a MONTHLY basis - perform a system defragmentation

First you have to disable your screen saver - if the screen saver runs it will interrupt the scan disk and cause it to start over each time - in other words it will never complete the process.

To disable the screen saver:
Click on “start”.
Move to “settings”.
Click on “control panel”.
Double click on “display”.
Click on “screen saver” tab.
Click on “screen saver” and move it to “none”.
Click on OK.
Close the “control panel” screen that is open by clicking on “file” the “close” or by clicking on the X in the upper right corner - whatever is most familiar.

To begin the “disk defrag” program:
Click on “start”
Click on “programs”
Click on ‘accessories”
Click on “system Tools”
Click on “disk defragmentation”
Be sure that you are telling it to defrag “c” then begin the process. This could take as long as 30 minutes so be prepared to wait. Even if the system prompts that you are “0%” fragmented go ahead with the process.

When the system indicates that the process is complete click on “OK” to exit the defrag area.

4. Delete “temp” files from your system.
“Temp” files are junk or trash files that just take up space - let’s get rid of them!
Click on “start”.
Move to “find”.
Click on “files or folders”.
Check to see that you are finding the files on “C”
Type *.tmp in the “named” area on the screen then click on “find now”.

The system will perform a search for all files that have the .tmp ending and tag them.
Once the Scan process has completed - click on “edit” .
Click on “select all”.
Click on “File” - then click on “delete”. The system will prompt you for confirmation that you want to send the files to the recycle bin - click on “yes”.

REMEMBER to empty your recycle bin

5. Delete “.bif” files from you system.
These files are know to cause stall problems and malfunctions in WordPerfect and Word.
Click on “start”.
Move to “find”.
Click on “files or folders”.
Check to see that you are finding the files on “C”
Type *.bif in the “named” area on the screen then click on “find now”.

The system will perform a search for all files that have the .tmp ending and tag them.
Once the Scan process has completed - click on “edit” .
Click on “select all”.
Click on “File” - then click on “delete”. The system will prompt you for confirmation that you want to send the files to the recycle bin - click on “yes”.

REMEMBER to empty your recycle bin

6. Empty your temporary internet files in Microsoft Explorer:

Open Internet Explorer
Click on “tools”
Click on “Internet Options”
In the section titled “Temporary Internet Files” click on “delete files”
Click “OK” when it prompts you about deleting temporary files.

You also need to clear the history folder occasionally:
Click on “Clear History” and answer OK to deleting those history files.

7. Empty your temporary internet files in Netscape:

Right click on “Start”
Left click on “Explore”
On your c: scroll down to the folder named “Program Files”
Double click on “Program Files”
Double click on “Netscape” folder on the right hand side of the screen
Double click on “Users”
Double click on “your name” (ex. “dkeasler”)
Double click on “Cache” - you will see a list of temporary files that can all be deleted.
You do not want to delete the fat.db file - so here’s what to do:
Click on “edit” at the top tool bar - then click on “select all”
You will see that all files - even the fat.db file are selected - hold down your Ctrl key and click on the fat.db

file to deselect it - the remaining files will stay selected
Next - click on “File” and click on “delete” and all those temp files will be dumped into the recycle bin

REMEMBER to empty your recycle bin

OTHER HELPFUL TIPS
Place the “disk cleanup” icon on your desktop and make a habit of utilizing it to keep your system organized and functioning smoothly.

Here’s How:
Left click on “start”
Left click on “programs”
Left click on “accessories”
Left click on “system tools”
Right click on “disk cleanup” and another popup menu will appear – right click on “sent to” desktop to create icon

Click “OK” to select the c:
Check all boxes that apply on the next screen.
Click “OK” to delete the trash files.

Note: There are other options available on this tab. Use descretion as to what you change and choose to delete!

Deleting “COOKIES” in Internet Explorer Broswer:

Navigate to “Windows Explorer” either through “start” and “Programs” or by clicking on the icon on your desktop (if there is on there).

Double click on “Windows” on the left hand side of the screen
Double click on “temporary Internet” files
Click on “edit” and “select all” to select all the temporary internet files (better known as “cookies”)
Click on “file” and click on “delete”
Click on “Temp”
Click on “edit” and “select all” to select all the temp files
Click on “file” and “delete” to dump them into the recycle bin

EMPTY YOUR RECYCLE BIN OR ACTIVATE THE DISK CLEANUP ICON (see instructions above).

Emptying the Netscape cache:

Navigate to Windows Explorer

Double click on “program files” on the c:
On the right hand side of the Windows Explorer screen: double click on “Netscape”
On the same right hand side: double click on “Users” then “User” or it may have your name listed

Then double click on “cache” – this will display all the garbage generated by web browsing with Netscape

Click once on the first file AFTER the fat.db file – hold down the “shift” key and then click on the last file in the list

Release the shift key and all the temp files should be left highlighted

Click on “File” and then click on “delete” and all the garbage will be dumped into the recycle bin on your desktop.

EMPTY YOUR RECYCLE BIN OR ACTIVATE THE DISK CLEANUP ICON (see instructions above).

Copyright 2001: University of South Alabama and Diane S. Keasler http://www.southalabama.edu/nursing/keasler.html
Please feel free to share this information with your friends and family - just be sure and reference the copyright.