The first thing you should do is to actually clean inside your PC box. Your PC components heat up while they are powered up. Excessive heat can cause failure to these components, so they have to be kept cool. That is why all computers have a fan in the back of them. As the fan draws the cool air into the PC, it also brings in dust.

If you feel comfortable with opening up your PC, instructions follow on how to remove this dust yourself. You will need canned air that can be purchased from most computer stores for under $5. If you are not comfortable with opening up your PC, unplug the processor and take it in to your computer repair shop to be cleaned.

To dust your PC, power down your PC (but leave it plugged in to ground it) and remove the case. Remember that an electrical shock can be dangerous to your PC so if you are going to physically touch any components in your PC, touch the metal casing you removed before you touch anything. Also, be careful of any static electricity that you might get from working on carpets. Hold the canned air about six inches away from the computer's insides and blow the dust off. Get as much out of your system as possible. Let it blow out onto your floor or desk, where you can vacuum it or use a dust cloth to clean it up.

Do not use a vacuum inside of your PC. A vacuum can damage your PC's delicate components, doing more harm than the dust actually would have.

You can now put the case back on your computer and power your system back up.

• Power down your PC (leave plugged in to ground)
  
  
• Remove the case
  
  
• Hold the canned air about 6 inches away from the computer's insides and blow the dust off
  
  
• Vacuum the dust off the floor or desk, but DO NOT VACUUM INSIDE YOUR PC!
  
  
• Put the case back on your PC and power it back up

Restart your PC before beginning any of the rest of the housekeeping tasks. Rebooting will put your PC in as clean of a state as possible.

• Close any programs that are open
  
  
• Click on Start \ Shut Down \ Restart the Computer? \ Yes or Start \ Turn Off Computer \ Restart
  
  
• On restart, if any programs open automatically, close them

Running a ScanDisk is an important housekeeping task because it detects and fixes errors in your PC's filing system. These errors, if left undetected for too long, could contribute to software installation problems, possible malfunctioning of your existing hardware, and eventually, potential data corruption.

Additionally, when it is run in thorough mode, a ScanDisk can alert you ahead of time of impending serious problems with your hard disk, the type of problems that could lead to total failure of the hard disk and, thus, complete loss of data.

When the "ScanDisk" results window appears, look in the second line for "Bytes in bad sectors." If it shows anything other than 0 bytes, then you need to start thinking about replacing your hard drive since this is a sign of impending hard disk failure where you will lose all your programs and data.

Running a Standard ScanDisk is a quick scan which fixes file system problems. A Thorough ScanDisk looks for actual defects on your Hard Drive Disks and can therefore give you advance warning of total hard disk failure which would mean total data loss!

• Click on Start \ Explorer or Start \ Programs \ Windows Explorer or Start \ Programs \ Accessories \ Windows Explorer
  
  
• On the left hand side of the Explorer screen, do a right-click on your C: Drive icon (in "My Computer")
  
  
• Select Properties from the shortcut menu that appears
  
  
• Position yourself on the Tools tab of the "Properties" window that comes up
  
  
• Click on Check Now
  
  
• You will be prompted with the "ScanDisk" dialogue box - make sure that: the Standard (and every three months Thorough) option is bulleted and the Automatically fix errors box is selected (Windows XP users will get Check Disk options - check mark both boxes - Automatically fix file system errors and Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors
  
  
• Click on the Advanced button (Windows XP users should skip this step). Customize the "ScanDisk Advanced Options" dialogue box as follows: Display summary - Always, Log file - Replace log, Cross-linked files - Make copies, Lost file fragments - Free, Check files for - Invalid file names, and Check host drive first should be checked. Now click on OK
  
  
• Start ScanDisk by clicking on the Start button
  
  
• Windows XP users will be prompted that ScanDisk cannot run until you restart your computer - Restart your computer now
  
  
• A Standard ScanDisk will run for about 1 to 10 minutes depending on the size of your Hard Disk Drive and the number of files it holds. A Thorough ScanDisk will run for at least 20 minutes. ScanDisk will stop and you will be shown a "ScanDisk" results window. The results window will either state that it found errors and fixed them all, or that it did not find any errors.
  
  
• Once you have read the ScanDisk results screen, click on Close
  
  
• Exit from the "Properties" dialogue box by clicking on OK
  
  
• Close Explorer by clicking on the X in the top right-hand corner
  
  
• BE SURE TO RUN A SCANDISK ON EVERY HARD DRIVE INSTALLED ON YOUR PC, IF YOU HAVE MORE THAN ONE!

You should delete all unwanted temporary files because all they do is take up unnecessary space. Temporary files are files that are created by software programs while you are using them that do not get deleted after you have closed the program you were using. These files never get reused again. All they do is take up valuable space on your hard disk.

Regular system housekeeping can keep you from the catastrophe of running out of hard disk space. More recent PCs equipped with 20+Gb hard disks don't usually have a problem running out of hard disk space. This can be a very real issue for computers made before the year 2000 that have a couple gigabytes of hard disk space or less.

Another good reason for deleting temporary files is that files in the C:\TEMP and specifically the C:\WINDOWS\TEMP folder can hold confidential data which you thought was held securely on your network. The reason for this is that a significant number of email programs use the C:\WINDOWS\TEMP folder to unzip attachments before presenting them to you on the screen and then they do not delete them from the hard disk after you have closed them. This means that anyone browsing through your C:\WINDOWS\TEMP folder would be able to access any attachment you viewed or printed directly from within an email.

• Click on Start \ Find (or Search for Windows ME and XP) \ For Files or Folders
  
  
• For Windows XP, when the search box comes up, search for All files and folders
  
  
• In the Named: box, type *.TMP and make sure your C: drive is selected in the Look in: box
  
  
• Make sure that you have checked the boxes to search for hidden and system files and subfolders under the advanced options in Windows XP
  
  
• Click on the Find Now or Search button
  
  
• Once the search has finished, if you have any *.TMP files, you will see them appear in the results window. On your keyboard, press Ctrl+A to select all and then press the Delete key.
  
  
• When prompted to confirm the deletions, click on Yes
  
  
• Repeat the process above, searching for the following files in the Named: field and then deleting them: ~*.*, *.CHK, and MSCREATE.DIR
  
  
• Close the "Find..." dialogue box
  
  
• If you have a C:\TEMP folder, delete all the files in it. (As a general rule, never save any files in this folder that you want to keep.)
  
  
• Delete all files in your C:\WINDOWS\TEMP folder, but do not delete any subdirectories. (Again, as a general rule, do not save any files in this folder.)
  
  
• If you have either a C:\WINDOWS\TEMP\GWPRINT or C:\WINDOWS\TEMP\GWVIEWER folder present, delete all of the files in them
  
  
• Clear the Temporary Internet Files folder (the default cache folder for Microsoft Internet Explorer) and the History folder
  
  - Click on Start \ Settings \ Control Panel \ Internet Options or Start \ Settings \ Control Panel \ Network and Internet Connections \ Internet Options
  - Under the "Temporary Internet Files" heading, click on Delete Files
  - Put a check mark in the Delete all offline content box
  - Click on OK
  - If you are prompted to confirm the deletion, click on Yes
  - Under the "History" heading, click on Clear History
  - Confirm the deletion by clicking on Yes
  - Close the "Internet Properties" dialogue box by clicking on OK
  - Close the "Control Panel" by clicking on the X in the top right hand corner
  
  
• If you have Netscape installed on your PC, start it up and clear the Memory Cache and Disk Cache
  
  - Click on Edit \ Preferences to open the "Preferences" dialogue box
  - Under the Advanced \ Cache option in the left pane, click on the Clear Memory Cache and the Clear Disk Cache buttons
  - Click OK
  - Close Netscape
  
  
• Last, but not least, empty the Windows Recycle Bin
  
  - Go to the Windows Desktop
  - Right-click on the Recycle Bin icon
  - Select Empty Recycle Bin from the shortcut menu that appears
  - When you are prompted to confirm the deletion, click on Yes
  
  
• You can also take care of all of most of these deletions by going through the "Disk Cleanup" utility. Every once in a while though, you should manually delete these files to make sure that you have cleared everything. To use the Disk Cleanup:
  
  - On the left-hand side of the Explorer screen, right-click on the C: Drive icon (under My Computer) and select Properties from the shortcut menu that appears
  - Click on the Disk Cleanup button
  - Make sure there is a check mark next to all the items and click OK
  - When you are prompted to confirm, click Yes
  - Click OK and then exit
  
  
• If you are using Windows XP, there is one more type of temporary file to delete: the Fastboot files.
  
  - In Windows Explorer open the C:\WINDOWS\PreFetch folder
  - Highlight all the files in this folder and delete by pressing Ctrl+A to select all and then pressing the Delete key

It is also a good idea to make sure that you keep your email client folders uncluttered and organized. You should delete unnecessary emails and make sure that you empty the deleted items folder on occasion. Some email clients, like Windows Messaging and Outlook give you options to Compact the Message Database and Run the Inbox Repair Tool. These tasks should be done on a regular basis also. Refer to your email client's help files for instructions on these tasks.

• Delete unnecessary email messages from your various folders
  
  
• Empty the Deleted Items Folder
  
  
• Compact the Message Database
  
  
• Run the Inbox Repair Tool

If you ever download things off the internet, then you may have a lot of unused programs wasting disk space. Programs you have downloaded that you only used for a while, dislike or that just plain don't work should be removed. Some of these programs only take up a few MBs, but others can take up tens and hundreds of MBs of space.

• Click on Start \ Settings \ Control Panel \ Add/Remove Programs or Start \ Control Panel \ Add/Remove Programs
  
  
• Browse the list of programs and delete what is no longer wanted
  
  
• If you are not sure what a program is, it is safest to leave the program installed on your computer
  
  
• Click Change/Remove or Add/Removeto delete
  
  
• Confirm removal by saying Yes
  
  
• When you are finished removing all unused programs, Close the "Add/Remove Programs" dialogue box and Exit Control Panel

Viruses are unwelcome guests. They infest your system, impair its functionality, and can destroy your data. Your PC isn't safe unless it's protected. Norton and McAfee are probably the two most commonly used virus scanners.

One of the most important parts of the use of anti-virus software is to make sure you update the virus definitions. New viruses appear daily. Your virus scanner will not do you much good if it is not equipped with information about the latest viruses. Most users will want to set up their anti-virus software to automatically get the virus updates.

Run a complete system scan on your PC at least once a month. Make sure you have your anti-virus software set for auto protect so it scans all files and emails for continuous protection from viruses.

• Set up your anti-virus software for Automatic Updates or manually go into your anti-virus software and check for updates at least once a week
  
  
• Make sure the Auto Protect on your anti-virus software is set
  
  
• Run a full system scan on your PC once a week

Defrag or Defragment is the Windows hard disk drive defragmentation tool. Defragmenting your drive optimizes the way in which files are stored on your hard disk and often results in speeding up your PC when it accesses files on your hard disk drive. A defragmented drive has files scattered all over the drive. The defrag utility helps you rearrange files, programs, and unused space on your hard drive so that programs run faster and files open more quickly. Another benefit of regularly defragmenting your hard disk drive is that it can significantly extend its life. A hard disk drive with an optimized filing system requires fewer head movements to access files and as a result suffers less long term wear and tear.

Be aware that defragmentation of a hard disk can take anywhere from 10 minutes to 30 minutes in Windows 95, Windows ME or Windows XP. It can take anywhere from 40 minutes to 4 or more hours to defragment a hard disk in Windows 98, so be sure to run a defrag when you are not in a hurry to use your PC.

Sometimes when you are defragging your drive, the defrag continuously starts over and over again. This is because of hard disk activity. If this happens, boot into Safe Mode, perform the defrag, and reboot into normal Windows mode. To boot into Safe Mode, reboot the machine, then either hold down the Ctrl key on your keyboard during the reboot process until you see a menu, OR watch the screen for the words "Starting Windows" and push the F8 function key as soon as you see it to get the boot menu. From the menu, select the option for Safe Mode.

• Open Windows Explorer
  
  
• On the left-hand side of the Explorer screen, right-click on the C: Drive icon (under "My Computer" and select Properties from the shortcut menu that appears
  
  
• Position yourself on the Tools tab, and click on Defragment Now
  
  
• Click on Advanced and configure the "Advanced Options" dialogue box to: Full defragmentation (both files and free space), Check drive for errors, and Save these options and use them everytime
  
  
• In Windows XP, click on Analyze. You will be told whether you need to defragment your drive or not. If yes, click the Defragment button. If no, click Close
  
  
• Click OK
  
  
• Click on Start \ Show Details and wait until the defrag finishes (as mentioned, average completion time is 20 minutes for Windows 95, ME and XP and 90+ minutes for Windows 98)
  
  
• Once the defrag has finished, you will be asked if you wish to quit defrag. If you have only one hard disk drive, click on Yes. If you have more than one hard disk drive, click on No, and run a defrag on every other hard disk drive installed on your PC

If you have Windows 98, ME or XP, you can schedule some of these tasks to run automatically. You can schedule tasks to be performed at night when your computer is idle. You need to make sure that you leave your PC running during the time that you schedule this maintenance though.

You can schedule ScanDisk, Disk Cleanup and Defrag to run automatically at regular intervals. You can also set up your Anti-Virus Software to scan your system. It is best to set these up to run once a week, such as every Monday at midnight. This way you can get into the habit of leaving your computer powered up on Monday evenings, since these scheduled tasks will not work if the computer is not turned on. If you forget every once in a while, you should still hopefully have these maintenance tasks run at least once a month.

• Go to Start\Programs\Accessories\System Tools\Scheduled Tasks or go to Start\Programs\Accessories\System Tools\Maintenance Wizard
  
  
• In the "Maintenance Wizard" follow the steps to add Disk Defragment, Disk Cleanup, ScanDisk, and your Anti-Virus Software
  
  
• In "Scheduled Tasks", click Add Scheduled Tasks to get the "Scheduled Task Wizard" to start
  
  
• Follow the instructions in the Wizards and then close
  
  
• If you are prompted to "Run the tasks at this time", say no if you have just performed all these tasks.