Hmm, you are doing just great Shaddy. Good stuff.+

Disk cleanup. If you feel uncomfortable selecting things in the disk cleanup program why not install and run Ccleaner? You can download it by clicking here. This is the slim version without the Yahoo toolbar attached which is great. Remember where you download it to then go there and double click on the file to install it. Once installed just run at the default settings, there is no need to alter anything.

Do your defrag after the disk cleanup or run Ccleaner. That way all the junk has been removed and you are only sorting the good stuff.

Right now I would not attempt to remove items from the start menu. Wait till you are really comfortable with XP. Your choice of course.

Trend MicroÂs Housecall and Superantispyware are good and you can run those at any time you feel the need. Superantispyware perhaps every week to 10 days. I generally do mine about every 14 days.

To turn off the screensaver RIGHT click on the desktop, click Properties, click the Screensaver tab and select None. Click Apply then OK. Done. However  while you are in the Screensaver window you could click on Power, near the bottom. Another window will open and you can set the monitor to go off after so many minutes of no activity and the hard drive to stop spinning too for so many minutes. I set mine to either 10 or 15 minutes but you choose whatever you feel is good. Leave System Standy at Never.

To turn off the screen saver go to Control Panel,Display,Screensaver Tab. Click the little menu button and choose None. Then Click OK! Task Manager will tell you what programs are running in the background. You just choose the program and click end this program choice. Hope this helps.

A humble thank you is in order to you both. i am good working with my hands, in other words, a blue collar worker, and as for machines, well, I would rather let someone else do that part. Now, I will write this all down in sequence, and see to it that it is done regularly.
Also ccleaner, I thought I had it, turns out it was a registry cleaner, and I sure don't want anything to do with that! Believe that would make me in way over my head.
I have enuf problems without sweating the bigger stuff.
Thanks both of you, this has been a large ego builder, to know that I can do this, just need some pushing, and a list to follow, just like a recipe, which I am also good at!!!!

It sure does seem many users forget about disk error checking as part of a maintenance protocol.

After the Disk Cleanup or the use of another utility such as CCleaner, and before Defragmenting, a disk Error Check is a wise choice.

To complete the task:

My Computer>right click on the C:/ drive>Select Properties on the appearing drop down menu>Select the Tool tab>Click on Check Now>Check the two options in the appearing window>Click Yes>Reboot.

During the reboot a DOS like screen will appear and the error checking will take place in five steps. Some steps are quick others will take awhile so don't plan on watching the operation. You will not be able to use your system as the task is accomplished.

When completed the system will continue to boot as normal.

DA

I never understood what Error Checking does. I've never run it all these years and I have 4 computers - one machine is 6 yrs old. I always worried that it presented some sort of risk which might require reformatting.

DA, do you recommend doing a ckdisk even if the computers are running smoothly? I'm tempted but the thought makes me nervous.

Jane

Jane the link below explains what chkdsk does. Like you I never use it, perhaps 3 times in the last 10 years is all if that. It would not suggest any reformatting be done, it simply checks the surface of the hard drive.

That is not to say it is not a valuable tool, each of us decides our level of acceptance on computer issues. Some do way more than really needed while those at the other end of the spectrum can leave all the contacts in their address book vulnerable. Hopefully most of us are somewhere in the middle enjoying but not being afraid of our computers.

Here is a link that might be useful: chkdsk explained

Jane,

Maintenance protocols are established on an individual basis being determined on user comfort, the system itself, and the demand placed on the system. It is not a necessity before defragging as Scandisk was on Win98. It is not intrusive and does not hurt anything. On a system having never been checked several of the steps could take a long time.

On my personal systems I just do it when I think of it. Do I think it is imperative? No. However, I do think it should be considered. If I were to set a parameter I guess I would suggest 2-3 times a year with basic system use. If a user wanted to do it more frequently no harm would be done,

At work several of my work stations are audio and video intensive besides the usual Internet and data tasking. I do a full maintenace monthly including error checking. The IT ogres don't do it so I took it unpon myself to keep them up and running properly.

So all and all, 2 Win2000, 2 XP systems and a Vista system that I maintain haven't had a O/S burp in what seems like forever.

DA