Disk fragmentation slows the overall performance of your system. When files are fragmented, the computer must search the hard disk when the file is opened to piece it back together. The response time can be significantly longer.
Disk Defragmenter is a Windows utility that consolidates fragmented files and folders on your computer’s hard disk so that each occupies a single space on the disk. With your files stored neatly end-to-end, without fragmentation, reading and writing to the disk speeds up.
When to run Disk Defragmenter
In addition to running Disk Defragmenter at regular intervals—monthly is optimal—there are other times you should run it too, such as when:
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You add a large number of files.
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Your free disk space totals 15 percent or less.
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You install new programs or a new version of Windows.
As you use your hard drive, it can develop bad sectors. Bad sectors slow down hard disk performance and sometimes make data writing (such as file saving) difficult, or even impossible. The Error Checking utility scans the hard drive for bad sectors, and scans for file system errors to see whether certain files or folders are misplaced.
If you use your computer daily, you should run this utility once a week to help prevent data loss.
To run the Error Checking utility:
1.
Close all open files.
2.
Click Start, and then click My Computer.
3.
In the My Computer window, right-click the hard disk you want to search for bad sectors, and then click Properties.
4.
In the Properties dialog box, click the Tools tab.
5.
Click the Check Now button.
6.
In the Check Disk dialog box, select the Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors check box, and then click Start.
7.
If bad sectors are found, choose to fix them.
Tip: Only select the “Automatically fix file system errors” check box if you think that your disk contains bad sectors.
By freeing disk space, you can improve the performance of your computer. The Disk Cleanup tool helps you free up space on your hard disk. The utility identifies files that you can safely delete, and then enables you to choose whether you want to delete some or all of the identified files.
Use Disk Cleanup to:
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Remove temporary Internet files.
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Remove downloaded program files (such as Microsoft ActiveX controls and Java applets).
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Empty the Recycle Bin.
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Remove Windows temporary files.
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Remove optional Windows components that you don’t use.
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Remove installed programs that you no longer use.
Tip: Typically, temporary Internet files take the most amount of space because the browser caches each page you visitfor faster access later.
1. Create a Standard User account and use it every day! - When setting up a system, you should make only the first user account an Administrator account, even on a child’s machine. Be sure to choose a good password to protect the Administrator account. By default, this first account had approval mode enabled, meaning it can be used to configure Parental Controls and manage any setting on the system.
2. Make everyone enter a password – even Administrators! - You can also increase security by requiring the Administrator account to ‘Prompt for Credentials’ rather than simply use the Consent prompt. Making this change will help ensure fewer mistakes are made when logged in using the Administrator account.
In addition to “Good Practice” you might consider also requiring the special Control-Alt-Delete key sequence for consent to complete administrative tasks. Control-Alt-Delete is a special key sequence that places the computer in a very secure mode of operation and makes entering Administrator credentials far more secure.
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