Cleanup

When a Windows system starts to SSSLLLLOOOOWWWW DDDDOOOOWWWWNNNN, you can download CCleaner or try these steps:

1. Clear Your Cache

If you are using the internet, you are "caching" ALL the websites you visit. Your computer is setup to save a certain amount. Unfortunately, once you have seen the website, you never re-use the cached copy; every time you return to a site, you cache another copy! The cache is only for the computer to use if you click the BACK button on your browser. The next time you run the browser, it ignores all previous cached copies.

To clear the cache if you are running Internet Explorer (all versions):

Open your control panels (either via the "Settings" in your START menu or through the "My Computer" icon on your desktop) and select "Internet Options" or "Internet Controls" or "Internet" (whichever it is). On the first tab (GENERAL), there is a section titled "Temporary Internet Files" with a button to "Delete Files". Click there, click the checkmark option to "Delete all offline content" and click OK.

To clear the cache if you are running Netscape Communicator (all versions from 4.x - 8.x):

Open Netscape, click on the "Edit" menu and select "Preferences". Click on the "+" next to "Advanced" and select "Cache" out of the sub-menu. Select "Clear Disk Cache" and click OK.

To clear the cache if you are running FireFox or Mozilla:

Open FireFox or Mozilla, click on the "Tools" menu and select "Options". Under the Privacy icon on the left, select the Clear button for each category (or all preferably).

2. Flush Temp files

When you install or run applications, they create a slew of temporary files that may or may not get deleted when the install/run is complete. Make sure you are not running anything (RESTART if you want to make absolutely sure). Then:

	Double-click "My Computer"
	Double-click the "Windows" folder
	Double-click the "Temp" folder
	From the "Edit" menu, choose "Select All", tap the "Delete" key on your keyboard, and click OK. You may be prompted about some individual files ("This is an application..." is the biggie), but just keep selecting "Yes to all" until the task is complete. If for some reason it cannot delete a file or two, don't panic. It is getting rid of the majority that matters.

Also, you can perform a Search and delete the following from your computer without messing anything up:

	C:\scandisk.log
	C:\file????.chk (where ???? is some series of numbers)
	Every file in C:\Windows\Cookies except INDEX.DAT (the system won't let you remove that file)
	All "mscreate.dir" files anywhere

If you are running Windows 2000 or XP, temp files also exist for each user:

	Double-click "My Computer"
	Double-click the "Documents and Settings" folder
	Double-click the user folder (there may be multiple users, so check EACH one)
	Double-click the "Cookies" folder
	Delete every file except INDEX.DAT (the system won't let you remove that file)
	Go back one folder (or close the Cookies folder window)
	Double-click the "Local Settings" folder If you don't see it, copy the following into the address bar: c:\documents and settings\user\local settings (changing user to whatever the name really is)
	Double-click the "Temp" folder
	From the "Edit" menu, choose "Select All", tap the "Delete" key on your keyboard, and click OK. You may be prompted about some individual files ("This is an application..." is the biggie), but just keep selecting "Yes to all" until the task is complete. If for some reason it cannot delete a file or two, don't panic. It is getting rid of the majority that matters.
	Go back one folder (or close the Temp folder window)
	Double-click the "Temporary Internet Folder"
	From the "Edit" menu, choose "Select All", tap the "Delete" key on your keyboard, and click OK. You may be prompted about some individual files ("This is an application..." is the biggie), but just keep selecting "Yes to all" until the task is complete. If for some reason it cannot delete a file or two, don't panic. It is getting rid of the majority that matters.
	Go back one folder (or close the Temporary Internet Folder window)
	Double-click the "UserData" folder.
	Delete every file and folder except INDEX.DAT (the system won't let you remove that file)

3. Empty the Recycle Bin

Right-click the Recycle Bin and select the Empty Recycle Bin option. If prompted to confirm, click Yes.

4. Scandisk/Disk Defragment

These two nifty utilities cleanup your system, fix any errors, and make it run faster. In Windows 9x/ME, both can be found in "System Tools" under "Accessories" in the "Programs" area of the Start Menu. In Windows 2000/XP, it is best to right-click the hard drive icon (C:) in My Computer, select Properties, and click on the Tools tab; Error Checking is "scandisk".

Run Scandisk first and make sure the "Fix Automatically" option is check before your start. When you run Disk Defragment, it may tell you that there is no need to run it at this time... run it anyway!

It is further recommended that you install PageDefrag from System Internals on your Windows systems to automatically defrag your page files and registry hives on boot. They also have a tool for defragging individual files.

If you want to automate defragging of your whole hard drive, here are some FREE tools:

Win98: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/q179306/
Win2K: http://sourceforge.net/projects/autodefrag/
WinXP: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;555098
Win2K3: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/scriptcenter/topics/win2003/defrag.mspx

So, now you have some tasks to try yourself. If afterwards you do not notice any increase in speed, e-mail me back and I'll give you some other things to try. Also, I do some consulting work after hours if you would like to hire me to give your computer a check-up.