August 16, 2004
Renew Your Hard Drive
Simple and Easy Ways to Clean Your Hard Drive
by Steven Presar
Running regularly scheduled, simple maintenance programs can help keep your computer in top form. There are plenty of third-party programs to help you keep your computer at its peak performance.
However, Microsoft Windows provides you with a solid toolbox of built-in programs to help you keep your computer running smooth. Click Start -> Programs -> Accessories -> System Tools -- and you will see a number of hard drive helpers.
Backing Up Your Computer's Files
One of the most important System Tools is the Backup program. Backup may not be part of your default Windows installation. If Backup is not installed on your system, read this article for installation instructions on Windows XP Home systemss.
Backing up your computer's data on a regular basis ... including bookmarks, e-mail folders and personal documents, is an important task if you want peace of mind about the integrity of your personal files.
Once you start the Backup program, either select the individual files you wish to backup, or select the option to backup all your files -- and then designate where to save the files.
Your files can be backed up by a variety of devices... - An external tape
- Read/Write CDs
- Another hard drive
- Removable cartridge drives like the Iomega Peerless
Regardless of the device you use to backup your files, backing up the files that matter most can save you aggravation or despair in the event something bad happens to your computer's hard drive. If you lose a file, you are able to restore it utilizing the Backup program.
Although it is unable to recover personal files like email or spreadsheets, the Microsoft Windows "System Restore" tool can restore files for individuals who have accidentally deleted vital system files or tinker so much that their computers fail to operate properly. System Restore creates a series of backup points at regular intervals that the user can roll back to in the event the system stops running properly.
Cleaning Your Computer's Hard Drive(s)
Once you have backed up your important system files, you should delete files or programs that you no longer use.
Windows users can remove old unused software with the Add/Remove Programs function in the Control Panel(Start -> Settings -> Control Panel).
Or you can utilize 3rd party commercial software to safely remove software you don't intend to use anymore. These 3rd party bundles can also clean other clutter inside your hard drive, such as temporary files, bits of previously viewed web pages (commonly referred to as cache), disconnected shortcuts, browser history files, and other digital debris hogging space that can be safely reclaimed.
Scanning the Hard Drive's Integrity
If you have ever suffered a crash while working in Windows, you are probably acquainted with the "ScanDisk" utility. ScanDisk usually runs after “unscheduled” computer crashes. It checks the hard drive for file errors, cross-linked files, and other hard drive problems. And, ScanDisk can do more to help improve the hard drive's performance. It can seek out, find, and identify bad spots on the drive where data cannot be safely stored. If the system uses the damaged area of the hard drive, you could lose vital data.
ScanDisk is loaded with all recent Microsoft Windows operating systems, and will attempt to run automatically after a system crash. If you have Windows XP you can run ScanDisk by clicking the "My Computer" icon on the Desktop, pointing and clicking on the hard drive you wish to check, then point on the "File" menu option, and selecting "Properties". Under the "Tools" tab you can find the error-checking utility.
ScanDisk provides two testing modes: Standard and Thorough. "Standard" checks for file and folder errors, "Thorough" checks both the hard drive's surface and integrity of the files and folders. If you check the "Automatically Fix Errors" option, you may want to find something else to do while ScanDisk performs its duties. It
could take an hour or more for ScanDisk to finish the job.
Optimizing the Hard Drive
Windows has a built-in "Defragmentation" program on the "System Tools" menu. After the hard drive has been checked with ScanDisk, a good defragging session will tune it up further. Files tend to become fragmented and are scattered across the hard drive as they are used, resulting in slower overall performance. Why? Because the system is forced to look in myriad locations across the hard drive (instead of one) to locate those file's components. In essence, defragmentation puts the files and folders back together again.
It is necessary to disable the Screen Saver when defragging. If your system keeps starting the process over and over again (and it may at first -- don't be too concerned about this initially), reboot your computer into “Safe Mode”, and restart the Defragmentation process. Safe Mode loads only the system's most vital functions, and the Defragmentation process will run cleanly.
You can easily go into Safe Mode if you are running Windows XP, by clicking Start -> Run, typing “msconfig” (without the asterisks) into the "Run" dialog box, and then click on the "OK" button. The System Configuration Utility appears and either check the "/Safeboot" option or "Diagnostic Startup - load basic devices and services only" (depending on which XP update you have installed in your system), and click on that "OK" button.
The time needed to perform these system checks and cleanup procedures will vary, depending on the size of your hard drive and the amount of data stored on it. Each task could take as little as 10 minutes or so, but it is not unusual for it to take several hours to complete. If you would rather be sleeping or playing softball, you can automate many of the cleaning chores with the Maintenance Wizard or, in some later versions of Windows, the Scheduled Tasks function. Both features are found in the System Tools area.
Here are three most important steps that you must do to protect your valuable computer files:
Regularly Backup Key Files
Save valuable computer data on a separate drive, CD, or disk, such as a Zip(R) disk. After files are backed up, remove the disks from the computer and store them in a safe place away from your computer.
Install and Update Anti-Virus Software Regularly
Make sure any anti-virus program loads on Windows boot, can be run from the Start menu, and updates virus data files weekly ... or when immediate threats are discovered.
Virus Software Should Review All Email Attachments
The best rule of thumb is, don't open any email attachments unless you know the source, and be suspicious of those you do receive (even from friends). To minimize the potential threat of an email attachment to your hard drive, you might consider transfering attachments to a CD or Zip disk before opening them.Taking care of your computer with just a little regular maintenance will pay comfort dividends as well as ensure faster, smoother, optimal operation of your system's hard drive.
About the Author
Steven Presar is a recognized small business technology coach, Internet publisher, author, speaker, and trainer. He provides personal, home, and computer security solutions at ProtectionConnect.com. He provides business software reviews at www.OnlineSoftwareGuide.com. In addition, he publishes articles for starting and running a small business at Agora-Business-Center.com. Be sure to sign-up for the SOHO newsletter at this site. 
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