Post by jeromy on May 27, 2006 23:53:15 GMT -5
Using ScanDisk and Disk Defragmenter
If your system is running slower than usual or you are getting Windows error messages, you might need to run these built-in Windows utilities: ScanDisk and Disk Defragmenter. ScanDisk checks your hard drive for errors and fixes them if it finds any; Disk Defragmenter arranges file data so that it can be efficiently accessed when you need it.
Before you run these utilities, do the following:
1. Close AOL, PowerTools, and any other open applications.
2. During defragmentation, disk Defragmenter must restart each time other programs write to the disk. Therefore, be sure that no programs are running. Press CTRL + ALT + DEL one time to bring up the Windows Task List. Highlight each "Task" on the Applications tab and click End Task. (These programs will automatically be reloaded when you reboot your computer.)
3. Empty your Recycle Bin.
4. While ScanDisk and Defrag are running, leave your computer alone; don't try to run programs or open files, etc, which can interfere with the scandisk and defrag process. Go have a sandwich and coffee, or simply watch your computer at work.
ScanDisk
Run ScanDisk anytime your computer goes down improperly (like a power outage), when you are thrown offline, when you get GPF or IPF error messages, and when you accidentally shut down your computer without closing programs. Running ScanDisk immediately after such crashes can locate and repair problems and may prevent severe damage to programs and data later on. Because errors like crosslinked files can grow in magnitude, early corrective action is best. Always run ScanDisk before you run the Disk Defragmenter.
Scandisk/Error Checking for Windows XP
1. Double click on My Computer on your Windows Desktop
2. Highlight and right click on (C:), click Properties, then click Tools tab.
3. Under "Error-Checking" click the Check Now button, put a check in the Automatically Fix Errors box.
Note: You will receive an error message stating: "The disk check could not be performed because the disk check utility needs exclusive access to some Windows files on the disk. These files can be accessed only by restarting Windows. Do you want to schedule this disk check utility to occur the next time you restart the computer?"
Click the YES button and restart your computer. When restarting do not press any keys and allow the Error-Check to continue.
You should run a ScanDisk every time you get error messages that force you to close AOL and PowerTools.
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Scandisk/Error Checking for Windows 9x/ME/2000
1. On your Taskbar, click the START button, then click Programs > Accessories > System Tools > ScanDisk icon.
2. Select the drive you want to scan, usually (C:). If you are running programs on other drives, you may need to scan more than one drive. For Type of Test, select Standard, and put a check in the Automatically Fix Errors box.
3. Click Start and wait for the process to end.
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Defragmenter, Windows 9x, ME, 2000, XP
Defragmenter will put files and folders back into continuous units. This will improve hard disk performance. Even if your system does an automatic defrag using the Scheduler, we recommend a manual defragmentation at least once or twice a week. When Disk Defragmenter is run on the Scheduler, Windows samples the drive first, and only runs if fragmentation is high on that sample (which may not accurately reflect how fragmented the rest of the drive is). Running Defrag manually will remove all fragmentation without relying on a sample, thus ensuring a proper defrag.
Note: Before running this utility be certain to close all running programs.
1. On your Taskbar, click the START button, then click All Programs , then Accessories, then System Tools, then Disk Defragmenter icon.
2. Under the category "Volume" select your C: drive, then click on Defragment.
When Defragmenter is complete, reboot your computer.
When you are online a lot, you should run the Disk Defragmenter every 2-3 days. This will not harm your computer in any way.
If your system is running slower than usual or you are getting Windows error messages, you might need to run these built-in Windows utilities: ScanDisk and Disk Defragmenter. ScanDisk checks your hard drive for errors and fixes them if it finds any; Disk Defragmenter arranges file data so that it can be efficiently accessed when you need it.
Before you run these utilities, do the following:
1. Close AOL, PowerTools, and any other open applications.
2. During defragmentation, disk Defragmenter must restart each time other programs write to the disk. Therefore, be sure that no programs are running. Press CTRL + ALT + DEL one time to bring up the Windows Task List. Highlight each "Task" on the Applications tab and click End Task. (These programs will automatically be reloaded when you reboot your computer.)
3. Empty your Recycle Bin.
4. While ScanDisk and Defrag are running, leave your computer alone; don't try to run programs or open files, etc, which can interfere with the scandisk and defrag process. Go have a sandwich and coffee, or simply watch your computer at work.
ScanDisk
Run ScanDisk anytime your computer goes down improperly (like a power outage), when you are thrown offline, when you get GPF or IPF error messages, and when you accidentally shut down your computer without closing programs. Running ScanDisk immediately after such crashes can locate and repair problems and may prevent severe damage to programs and data later on. Because errors like crosslinked files can grow in magnitude, early corrective action is best. Always run ScanDisk before you run the Disk Defragmenter.
Scandisk/Error Checking for Windows XP
1. Double click on My Computer on your Windows Desktop
2. Highlight and right click on (C:), click Properties, then click Tools tab.
3. Under "Error-Checking" click the Check Now button, put a check in the Automatically Fix Errors box.
Note: You will receive an error message stating: "The disk check could not be performed because the disk check utility needs exclusive access to some Windows files on the disk. These files can be accessed only by restarting Windows. Do you want to schedule this disk check utility to occur the next time you restart the computer?"
Click the YES button and restart your computer. When restarting do not press any keys and allow the Error-Check to continue.
You should run a ScanDisk every time you get error messages that force you to close AOL and PowerTools.
-----------
Scandisk/Error Checking for Windows 9x/ME/2000
1. On your Taskbar, click the START button, then click Programs > Accessories > System Tools > ScanDisk icon.
2. Select the drive you want to scan, usually (C:). If you are running programs on other drives, you may need to scan more than one drive. For Type of Test, select Standard, and put a check in the Automatically Fix Errors box.
3. Click Start and wait for the process to end.
-----------
Defragmenter, Windows 9x, ME, 2000, XP
Defragmenter will put files and folders back into continuous units. This will improve hard disk performance. Even if your system does an automatic defrag using the Scheduler, we recommend a manual defragmentation at least once or twice a week. When Disk Defragmenter is run on the Scheduler, Windows samples the drive first, and only runs if fragmentation is high on that sample (which may not accurately reflect how fragmented the rest of the drive is). Running Defrag manually will remove all fragmentation without relying on a sample, thus ensuring a proper defrag.
Note: Before running this utility be certain to close all running programs.
1. On your Taskbar, click the START button, then click All Programs , then Accessories, then System Tools, then Disk Defragmenter icon.
2. Under the category "Volume" select your C: drive, then click on Defragment.
When Defragmenter is complete, reboot your computer.
When you are online a lot, you should run the Disk Defragmenter every 2-3 days. This will not harm your computer in any way.