Don
Trauger
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 the Community Center.