®® Microsoft Windows 7 for Power Users Tutorial 6 Optimizing Your Hard Disk

XP Objectives Remove unneeded files with the Disk Cleanup utility Use the Error-Checking Tool and Check Disk utility Examine the problems posed by lost clusters and cross-linked files Examine file and free space fragmentation Use Disk Defragmenter to analyze a hard disk drive Schedule tasks with Task Scheduler Windows 7 for Power Users Tutorial 62

XP Optimizing Disks Windows 7 for Power Users Tutorial 63

XP The Importance of Optimizing Your Computer Search for and remove unneeded files Identify and correct file system and hard disk errors Optimize the storage of programs, folders, and files Schedule preventative maintenance tasks Windows 7 for Power Users Tutorial 64

XP Using the Disk Cleanup Utility Searches for and removes the following types of files and components: – Downloaded Program Files ActiveX control – Temporary Internet Files Internet cache – Offline Webpages – Recycle Bin – Temporary files Windows 7 for Power Users Tutorial 65

XP Using the Disk Cleanup Utility – Thumbnails – Setup Log files – Old Chkdsk files – Microsoft Office Temporary Files – System error memory dump files and System error minidump files – Debug Dump Files 6Windows 7 for Power Users Tutorial 6

XP Using the Disk Cleanup Utility – Per user archived Windows Error Reporting Files – Per user queued Windows Error Reporting Files – System archived Windows Error Reporting Files – System queued Windows Error Reporting Files – Temporary Windows installation files – Windows upgrade log files – Files discarded by Windows upgrade – Game Statistics Files Windows 7 for Power Users Tutorial 67

XP Using the Disk Cleanup Utility Windows 7 for Power Users Tutorial 68

XP Using the Check Disk Utility Checks for errors to the file system or the hard disk – Command-line or GUI version Use the Check Disk utility and Error-Checking tool the following ways: – Perform a diagnostic check Diagnostic Mode Read-Only Mode – Check and repair file system errors – Check and repair file system errors and bad sectors Windows 7 for Power Users Tutorial 69

XP Using the Check Disk Utility Performs three types of checks on an NTFS volume: – File verification File record segment (FRS) – Index verification NTFS directories Orphaned file – Security descriptor verification Repair switch (/R) Windows 7 for Power Users Tutorial 610

XP Using the Check Disk Utility Windows 7 for Power Users Tutorial 611

XP Using the Check Disk Utility Windows 7 for Power Users Tutorial 612

XP Using the Error-Checking Tool on FAT Volumes Check for lost clusters – Contains data that once belonged to a file Windows 7 for Power Users Tutorial 613

XP Using the Error-Checking Tool on FAT Volumes Check for cross-linked files – At least one cluster belongs to or shared by more files Windows 7 for Power Users Tutorial 614

XP Using the Command-Line Check Disk Utility Open a command-line window by using Command Prompt on the Accessories menu – Elevated Mode Windows 7 for Power Users Tutorial 615

XP Using the Command-Line Check Disk Utility Windows 7 for Power Users Tutorial 616

XP Scheduled Tasks Windows 7 for Power Users Tutorial 617

XP Understanding File Fragmentation Windows attempts to store different parts of each file in contiguous clusters, but is not always successful – Fragmented file Windows 7 for Power Users Tutorial 618

XP Understanding File Fragmentation From the Start menu, point to All Programs, click Accessories, click System Tools, and then click Disk Defragmenter Windows 7 for Power Users Tutorial 619

XP Understanding File Fragmentation Using the command-line Defrag utility, you can: – Defragment a specific volume, all volumes, or all volumes except those specified – Perform a fragmentation analysis of a specific volume – Consolidate free space – Specify normal or low priority – Force defragmentation of a volume when the free space is low Windows 7 for Power Users Tutorial 620

XP Understanding File Fragmentation Defragmentation analysis report – Volume information – Fragmentation – Files – Folders – Free space – Master File table (MFT) Windows 7 for Power Users Tutorial 621

XP Understanding File Fragmentation Windows 7 for Power Users Tutorial 622

XP Creating a Scheduled Task The Task Scheduler automates tasks on a computer – The Disk Cleanup utility can run at a scheduled time each week Windows 7 for Power Users Tutorial 623

XP Creating a Scheduled Task Windows 7 for Power Users Tutorial 624

XP Creating a Scheduled Task Specify details for a task – Name – Description – Trigger – Action Windows 7 for Power Users Tutorial 625

XP Creating a Scheduled Task Windows 7 for Power Users Tutorial 626