Windows XP Maintenance
Windows XP Maintenance

Before attempting either Disk Cleanup or Defrag, you should backup all your data.

Disk Cleanup - Manual Process

1. Click Start, and then click Run. Type cleanmgr, and then click OK.

2. Select the drive-letter for the current Windows installation and then click OK

3. This process can be used to complete any of the following tasks : (Select the tasks you wish to complete.)

* Remove temporary Internet files.
* Remove downloaded program files .
* Empty the Recycle Bin.
* Remove Windows temporary files.
* Remove optional Windows components that you are not using.

4. Uncheck all the other entries and click OK

5. Click Yes to confirm deletion

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Disk Cleanup - Automated Process

You can just run the tool by clicking it as above and following the prompts, however you need to remember to do this on a regular basis and its much easier if we autoimate the process. This is how to automate it so it will run while you're not at from your PC:

1. Click Run from the Start Menu.

2. In the Open box, type cleanmgr /sageset:1

3. Click OK.

Disk Cleanup then opens with a list of the possible files to be deleted. Select a file type to display a description. Check the boxes for the files you want removed, and click OK.

Next, you can schedule Disk Cleanup to run when you want it to.

1. Click Control Panel, then click System and Maintenance, and then click Scheduled Tasks.

2. Double–click Add Scheduled Task to start the Scheduled Task Wizard. In the list of applications you want Windows to run, click Disk Cleanup, and then click Next.

3. Select a frequency for the task—weekly is ideal—and click Next.

4. Select a day of the week and time for the task to run, overnight whilst the machine is not being used is a good idea.

5. Enter the name and password of a user. The program will be run as if that user started it. Check the box to open Advanced Settings when you're done.

6. In the Run box, add the following to the end of the path: /sagerun: 1 and then click OK.

Task Scheduler will automatically run Disk Cleanup with the settings you selected at the time you selected. (Remember to leave your computer on!)

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Disk Defragmenter - Manual Process

1. To defragment your hard drive in Windows XP, open My Computer and right-click on the C: drive. Select Properties, then click on the Tools tab and select Defragment Now...

2. The Windows Disk Defragmenter program will open and all drives are listed in the top window pane. Since the program is going to be arranging files on your hard drive, it is important that no files are being accessed during the process, or the program won't be able to move them. Close all open programs.

3. The C: drive is where operating system files and programs are installed by default, so make sure that it is selected, then click Defragment. While the program is running, it is recommend that you not use your computer. The time is takes to run the defragmenting process is dependent on the size of your hard drive and amount of fragmentation.

While the program is running you will see a graphical representation of the blocks of files on your hard drive being moved and the fragmented segments joined together. Usually the less gaps of free space between the contiguous segments the better, but as long as the fragmented files are put together into contiguous segments, it will help your computer's performance.

4. Once the process is complete, the graphic should display most of the contiguous files on the left and the majority of the free space on the right. Close the Disk Defragmenter window and resume using your computer.

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Disk Defragmenter - Automated Process

You can also automatically defragment your hard disk, although it doesn't need to be done as frequently as cleaning up your hard disk. Open Scheduled Tasks, and double–click Add Scheduled Tasks to start the Scheduled Task Wizard. When you get to the list of applications, click Browse, and navigate to windows\system32\defrag.exe, and click Open.

Again, select the frequency for the program to run—monthly is usually enough. To defragment a disk, you'll need to supply the name and password for an account with administrative privileges. The definition of administrator varies slightly from Windows XP Professional to Windows XP Home Edition, but essentially it means a user who has control over the computer, can install software, and can change user passwords. Check the box to open Advanced Settings when you're done.

In the Run box, add the letter of the drive to defragment so it looks like C:\windows\system32\defrag.exe c:

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