G
Guest
Regular Maintenance, before install MSAS
Daily, weekly, monthly chores.
Back Up Every Day
You don't have to back up your entire hard drive, just
your data files. If you're using Windows XP or 2000,
they're all probably inside C:\Documents and Settings. But
if you use Windows 98 or Me, you'll need to back up each
of these folders:
c:\my documents
c:\windows\all users
c:\windows\application data
c:\windows\desktop
c:\windows\favorites
c:\windows\local settings
c:\windows\profiles
c:\windows\sendto
c:\windows\start menu
And where should you copy those files to? CD-RWs and DVD-
RWs work great, but a second hard drive is the best
possible choice, especially if it's an external model that
you can detach from the PC.
Weekly Scans and Updates
Antivirus software is useless if you don't keep it up to
date. It's likely that your antivirus software can update
itself automatically whenever you're connected to the
Internet. But if it doesn't, do it yourself once a week.
Of course, not all online evildoers use viruses; some
exploit security holes that Microsoft left in Windows.
Like the proverbial Dutch boy, you need to keep plugging
those holes. Luckily, Microsoft supplies the cement in the
form of regular, downloadable patches. To see if there's
one you need--and to download it if there is--just connect
to the Internet and click the Windows Update icon that's
near the top of the Start menu.
After you've fended off viruses and plugged holes in
Windows, there's one more weekly job you should do: Scan
your hard drive for errors. In Windows XP and 2000, open
My Computer, right-click your hard drive, and select
Properties. Click the Tools tab, then the Check Now
button. In Windows 98 or Me, select Start, Programs,
Accessories, System Tools, ScanDisk.
The Monthly Defrag
Once a month, you should defragment your hard drive.
When everything is working well, this fragmentation
doesn't do any harm. There was a time when file
fragmentation slowed down computers, but today's fast and
intelligent drives overcome that issue. But should
disaster befall your drive, your chances of recovering a
fragmented file are a lot worse than your chances of
recovering a contiguous one.
In Windows XP and 2000, open My Computer, right-click your
hard drive, and select Properties. Click the Tools tab,
then the Defragment Now button. In Windows 98 or Me,
select Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Disk
Defragmenter.
After all this, then install MSAS.
Happy hunting!!!!!!!
Daily, weekly, monthly chores.
Back Up Every Day
You don't have to back up your entire hard drive, just
your data files. If you're using Windows XP or 2000,
they're all probably inside C:\Documents and Settings. But
if you use Windows 98 or Me, you'll need to back up each
of these folders:
c:\my documents
c:\windows\all users
c:\windows\application data
c:\windows\desktop
c:\windows\favorites
c:\windows\local settings
c:\windows\profiles
c:\windows\sendto
c:\windows\start menu
And where should you copy those files to? CD-RWs and DVD-
RWs work great, but a second hard drive is the best
possible choice, especially if it's an external model that
you can detach from the PC.
Weekly Scans and Updates
Antivirus software is useless if you don't keep it up to
date. It's likely that your antivirus software can update
itself automatically whenever you're connected to the
Internet. But if it doesn't, do it yourself once a week.
Of course, not all online evildoers use viruses; some
exploit security holes that Microsoft left in Windows.
Like the proverbial Dutch boy, you need to keep plugging
those holes. Luckily, Microsoft supplies the cement in the
form of regular, downloadable patches. To see if there's
one you need--and to download it if there is--just connect
to the Internet and click the Windows Update icon that's
near the top of the Start menu.
After you've fended off viruses and plugged holes in
Windows, there's one more weekly job you should do: Scan
your hard drive for errors. In Windows XP and 2000, open
My Computer, right-click your hard drive, and select
Properties. Click the Tools tab, then the Check Now
button. In Windows 98 or Me, select Start, Programs,
Accessories, System Tools, ScanDisk.
The Monthly Defrag
Once a month, you should defragment your hard drive.
When everything is working well, this fragmentation
doesn't do any harm. There was a time when file
fragmentation slowed down computers, but today's fast and
intelligent drives overcome that issue. But should
disaster befall your drive, your chances of recovering a
fragmented file are a lot worse than your chances of
recovering a contiguous one.
In Windows XP and 2000, open My Computer, right-click your
hard drive, and select Properties. Click the Tools tab,
then the Defragment Now button. In Windows 98 or Me,
select Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Disk
Defragmenter.
After all this, then install MSAS.
Happy hunting!!!!!!!