1. 1 Performance and Maintenance Tips for Your PC Getting the Most Work from that Expensive Tool called a Computer

2. 2 Several Factors Affecting Computer Performance Performance Status – What are the available operating resources? Performance Status – What are the available operating resources? Hard Disk Space – How much available? Hard Disk Space – How much available? Malware (Viruses, Spyware and Adware) – Are any present on your computer? Malware (Viruses, Spyware and Adware) – Are any present on your computer?

3. 3 Performance Status Random Access Memory (RAM) Memory that can be read from or written to by a computer or other devices. Information stored in RAM is lost when the computer is turned off. Look at how much RAM is available on your computer. If RAM is low the computer will slow down. Look at how much RAM is available on your computer. If RAM is low the computer will slow down.

4. 4 Using Windows Task Manager Windows Task Manager provides information about computer performance and displays details about programs and processes running on your computer. Windows Task Manager provides information about computer performance and displays details about programs and processes running on your computer. Using Windows Task Manager, you can also end programs or processes, start programs, and view a dynamic display of your computer's performance. Using Windows Task Manager, you can also end programs or processes, start programs, and view a dynamic display of your computer's performance. To open Windows Task Manager, right- click an empty space on the taskbar, and then click Start Task Manager or use Ctrl-Alt-Delete. To open Windows Task Manager, right- click an empty space on the taskbar, and then click Start Task Manager or use Ctrl-Alt-Delete.

5. 5 Performance Status Open the Task Manager and select the Performance tab Open the Task Manager and select the Performance tab Look at two factors: Look at two factors: Physical Memory (K): The total physical memory, also called RAM, installed on your computer. Available represents the amount of free memory that is available for use.Physical Memory (K): The total physical memory, also called RAM, installed on your computer. Available represents the amount of free memory that is available for use.Physical Memory (K)RAMPhysical Memory (K)RAM CPU Usage: A graph indicating the percentage of time the processor is working. This counter is a primary indicator of processor activity. If your computer seems to be running slowly, this graph could display a higher percentage.CPU Usage: A graph indicating the percentage of time the processor is working. This counter is a primary indicator of processor activity. If your computer seems to be running slowly, this graph could display a higher percentage.CPU UsageCPU Usage

6. 6 Hard Disk Space Check available hard disk space: Too little hard disk space available will slow down your computer.

7. 7 Tips for Improving Computer Performance 1. Restart your computer. Computer memory (RAM) “leaks” or decreases over time; Restarting restores the lost memory.

8. 8 Tips for Improving Computer Performance 2. Take out the trash; Empty the Recycle Bin – - As a safety feature, when you delete files/folders/etc. from your computer they first go to the recycle bin so you can recover it. - This means that everything you delete continues to tie up hard disk space until you empty the recycle bin. - Emptying the recycle bin allows the computer to write over that space on the hard disk.

9. 9 Tips for Improving Computer Performance 3. Delete old e-mail messages. Only important for email programs that download to your computer, like Outlook.

10. 10 File Extensions File extensions are the three- or four-letter code at the end of a file name, preceded by a period, that tells the computer what program to use to open a file or what kind of file that file is..TMP files are temporary files. Using a * in a file name tells the computer to find all files with the rest of the filename. So *.tmp will find all files/folders with the.TMP extension. What would the computer find if you typed in *.*?

11. 11 Tips for Improving Computer Performance 4. Delete Temporary Files Windows creates temporary files to run two or more programs at the same time. They are normally deleted when you exit the programs. Sometimes they do not get deleted so over time they can accumulate on your hard disk. Remove them by finding and deleting all files with a.tmp or.TMP file extension.

12. 12 Tips for Improving Computer Performance 5. Run Disk Clean-up Disk Clean-up will eliminate temporary Internet files, temporary files and empty the recycle bin as well as other tasks that help maximize space on your hard disk. Disk Clean-up will eliminate temporary Internet files, temporary files and empty the recycle bin as well as other tasks that help maximize space on your hard disk. To open Disk Cleanup, click Start, point to All Programs, click on Accessories, click on System Tools, and then click Disk Cleanup. To open Disk Cleanup, click Start, point to All Programs, click on Accessories, click on System Tools, and then click Disk Cleanup.

13. 13 Tips for Improving Computer Performance 6. Delete files you no longer need If you never use them, but can’t bear to part with them anyway, save them to a CD or flash drive or other external storage device before deleting them.

14. 14 Tips for Improving Computer Performance 7. Remove programs you no longer need. DO NOT DELETE PROGRAMS Uninstall them as follows: a. Use the program’s uninstall utility b. Use Window’s Add/Remove Programs Utility found in the Control Panel c. Use a third-party uninstaller such as Norton Cleansweep

15. 15 Tips for Improving Computer Performance 8. Reduce unnecessary Start-up routines. When you start your computer, some programs start automatically whether you use them or not. If you are not using them they unnecessarily drain your system resources and you may want to stop these automatic startups.

16. 16 Questions Which performance tips will free up space on the hard disk? Which performance tips will free up space on the hard disk? Which performance tips will increase the system resources % or available RAM? Which performance tips will increase the system resources % or available RAM?

17. 17 “Protecting Your Work” Tips 1. Save, Save, Save Never work longer than 5-10 minutes without saving.

18. 18 “Protecting Your Work” Tips 2. Save Automatically Only works with a few programs (including Word) and should not replace Tip #1. This may need to be turned on (Look for it under Tools, Options, Save)

19. 19 “Protecting Your Work” Tips 3. Back Up Back up key files and data every time you change or update them.Back up key files and data every time you change or update them. Right click on the file icon and use “Send To” to send a copy of the file to an external storage device (flash drive, external hard drive, etc.)Right click on the file icon and use “Send To” to send a copy of the file to an external storage device (flash drive, external hard drive, etc.) Store vital back-ups away from the computer in case of fire or other disaster.Store vital back-ups away from the computer in case of fire or other disaster. Storing important info in the cloud might be a good option.Storing important info in the cloud might be a good option.

20. 20 “Protecting Your Computer” Tips 1. Purchase and Install Anti- Virus Software The two best known are Norton and McAfee but there are others available.

21. 21 “Protecting Your Computer” Tips 2. Keep Anti-Virus Software Up- to-Date. If you go online it is important to update your virus definitions frequently so that your Anti-Virus program will be able to detect new viruses. Anti-virus/Security programs should be set to update automatically.

22. 22 “Protecting Your Computer” Tips 3. Protect your computer from viruses by: Using your Anti-virus software to scan all downloaded files and borrowed disks before opening them.Using your Anti-virus software to scan all downloaded files and borrowed disks before opening them. Never opening an e-mail attachment without being sure who sent it or scanning it for viruses (check with the sender before opening because some viruses use address books to send themselves).Never opening an e-mail attachment without being sure who sent it or scanning it for viruses (check with the sender before opening because some viruses use address books to send themselves).

23. 23 “Protecting Your Computer” Tips 4. Make sure your computer has a firewall before you go online. An Internet firewall is a piece of software or hardware that helps screen out hackers, viruses, and worms that try to reach your computer over the Internet.

24. 24 “Protecting Your Computer” Tips 5. If you use the Internet frequently, download and install anti-spyware/adware protection software. *Microsoft Windows Defender *Spybot Search & Destroy (www.download.com) www.download.com *Lavasoft’s Ad-aware (www.lavasoft.com) www.lavasoft.com *Norton’s and McAfee’s Security Suites

25. 25 Sometimes even though you run security software adware still gets on to your computer. It can cause popups that try to sell you something or worse can cause major problems with the operation of your computer (interfere with startup, disable System restore, disable Windows update, block the download of programs, etc.) Sometimes even though you run security software adware still gets on to your computer. It can cause popups that try to sell you something or worse can cause major problems with the operation of your computer (interfere with startup, disable System restore, disable Windows update, block the download of programs, etc.) “Protecting Your Computer” Tips

26. 26 Possible solutions: Download and run the free software from Malwarebytes.org Download and run the free software from Malwarebytes.org PCLive Security (www.pclive.com) – also free PCLive Security (www.pclive.com) – also freewww.pclive.com There are also similar programs that you can pay for. There are also similar programs that you can pay for. “Protecting Your Computer” Tips

27. 27 Maintenance Tips 1. Run your Virus Scan Regularly (once a week). If possible schedule virus scan to run automatically at the same time each week, making sure it is a time that the computer is running. Some newer versions run automatically during computer downtimes.

28. 28 Maintenance Tips 2. Use Disk Defragmenter periodically The hard disk is like a big jigsaw puzzle (with millions of pieces) and over time the pieces break (fragment) into smaller pieces and get scattered so that the computer must search for all the related pieces in order to open and run a program. Disk defragmenter puts the related pieces back together. As a result, your system can gain access to your files and folders and save new ones more efficiently.

29. 29 Using Disk Defragmenter To open Disk Defragmenter, click Start, click All Programs, click Accessories, click System Tools, and then click Disk Defragmenter. Turn off your screen saver prior to running disk defragmenter. You can analyze the hard disk first to see whether it need to be defragmented.

30. 30 Maintenance Tips 3. Use Error-checking to detect disk errors. You can use the Error-checking tool to check for file system errors and bad sectors on your hard disk. Over time sections of the hard disk can become damaged. Error checking searches for errors and repairs them when possible.

31. 31 Detecting and repairing disk errors Open Computer, and then right-click the local disk you want to check and choose Properties. Open Computer, and then right-click the local disk you want to check and choose Properties. On the Tools tab, under Error-checking, click Check Now. On the Tools tab, under Error-checking, click Check Now. Under Check disk options, select the Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors check box. Under Check disk options, select the Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors check box. All files must be closed for this process to run so you can’t use your computer while it is running. All files must be closed for this process to run so you can’t use your computer while it is running.

32. 32 4. Keep your computer clean and cool Heat and dust are a computer’s worst enemies. They can significantly decrease a computer’s performance or even damage or ruin components. Maintenance Tips

33. 33 What do you do when you get an error message? If you get an error message try clicking on Ignore. This may solve the problem. If it does, it is best to save all your work immediately, exit the program and restart the computer. If you must close the program it is best to restart the computer before restarting the program.

34. 34 What if the program freezes? Use Ctrl-Atl-Delete to open the the Windows Task Manager and try to end task the program, then restart the computer. If all else fails, press and hold the on button until the computer shuts off.

35. 35 If your Computer is really messed up For example: something vital like a driver was accidentally lost or when installing a program something went wrong and you can’t remove or fix it Use System Restore A tool that tracks changes to your computer and creates a restore point when it detects the beginning of a change. You can use the System Restore Wizard to select a restore point to restore your computer to an earlier state when your computer was functioning the way you like. A tool that tracks changes to your computer and creates a restore point when it detects the beginning of a change. You can use the System Restore Wizard to select a restore point to restore your computer to an earlier state when your computer was functioning the way you like.