Computer Cleaning

I believe there is more to cleaning your computer than the standard soap and water. Which on some I’ve seen should be used more often!! It seems, other than today, my computer is cleaner than my house!

Are you ready to start?

First go to Internet Explorer – Click on Tools – Click on Internet Options – When you get there this is what you’ll see.

Click on Delete Cookies – Click on Delete Files, be sure to check the box that says ‘Delete All Offline Content’ – Click on Clear History. This procedure gets rid of a lot of the junk.

Second go to Windows Explorer not Internet Explorer, the browser. Windows Explorer usually is found when you click – Start – All Programs – Accessories, it should be in the menu that drops from Accessories.

When you open Windows Explorer on the left you’ll click on the + in front of My Computer – Click on the + in front of Local Disk C: - When Local Disk C opens you’ll see + Documents & Settings once again click on the +. This is what you should see.

Now click on the + in front of your name or the name Windows has given your files and folders.

First, as you go down the list check to make sure all the cookies have been deleted.

Then click on the + in front of Local Settings. This is where the majority of ‘stuff’ you don’t need is kept.  

All of these files can be deleted except the 2 that are made when you turn the computer on that day. The computer will tell you that you can’t delete these files. So not to worry the computer doesn’t let you delete something you shouldn’t. You may delete something you wish you hadn’t so be careful. However if you discover you have just look in the recycle bin it may be there.

Now onward and upward! Click on the file Temporary Internet Files. It’s full isn’t it!! Just delete them and start over fresh!

You may also go to + Windows – to Prefetch to delete those files also. There are quite a few there and they replace themselves as you use your computer.

Now I’d run Disk Cleanup with all the boxes checked.

Don’t forget to run Disk Defragmentation and Scan Disk once in awhile. It doesn’t have to be every week. Defragment keeps all your files to your programs together to make your computer run faster. Scan Disk checks your hard drive for errors. Be sure to click the boxes to fix the errors. To find these processes click on C drive – click on Properties and then Tools.

If you have questions email me I’m glad to help.