"Corbin, Shelley"
On Fri, 26 Apr 2002 17:02:28 -0400, you wrote:

"does anyone have any tips on preventative
maintenance of hardware or software they would
like to share?"

I am forwarding the following, compliments of a
local computer club.

Irene Moore


 ----- Original Message -----
 From: "Murray Dobbs"
 To: [log in to unmask]
 Sent: Wednesday, December 06, 2000 9:22 AM
 Subject: [pcct] Windows maintenance lists


 > TIP # 1- monthly procedures:
>
>
>
>
> ----- An Ounce of Prevention (For Win9x) ------
>
> Maintain your hard drive by performing these steps at least
> monthly, in this order:
>
> 1.) Delete all files and folders with dates older than one
> week from C:\WINDOWS\TEMP.
>
> 2.) Purge your Web browser's history and Internet cache files.
>
> 3.) Run ScanDisk. Select the Standard radio button and enable
> Automatically Fix Errors. Click on Advanced and, under Log File,
> pick Replace Log; for Cross-Linked Files, select Delete; click
> Free under Lost File Fragments; under Check Files For, check
> "Invalid dates and times;" and disable "Check host drive first,
> " unless you've compressed your hard drive.
>
> 4.) Empty the Recycle Bin.
>
>
>
>
> TIP #2 - program uninstalls:
>
> --- Fix Windows (For Win98/Me) ---
>
> If you're like me, you often check out demo programs or games.
> When you're done with them, you uninstall them; thinking that the
> uninstall routine will remove them completely. Unfortunately, this is
> NOT the case and may cause problems down the line. Here are my
> tips to cleaning up after a program uninstalls. The programs I refer
> to are only available in Win98, 98SE, Me versions.
>
> A) Check the file folder that contained the original program. Often
> saved games or character files remain on the computer EVEN AFTER THE
> UNINSTALL. Simply delete the offending folder and regain mucho disk
> space.
>
> B) Check your startup folder using msconfig.exe. Many programs will
> leave "stubs" in this folder, even after they're removed. Unchecking
> the startup program in msconfig will regain system resources and you
> may find all manner of useless stuff that can be easily shutoff
> without having to resort to editing your registery.
>
> C) Use System File Checker (sfc.exe) and Version Checker (vcmui.exe)
> to assure that your system files have not been corrupted, deleted or
> changed by an install/uninstall routine. Games are notorious for
> installing old versions of DirectX over the new one you downloaded
> last week.  This can cause video, sound and joystick problems that can
> be easily cured by checking for and restoring the files with the most
> recent file version number and or date. Don't pay too much attention
> to file dates as they sometimes are erroneously saved as the date they
> were installed, not the create date.
>
> D) Run dxdiag.exe if you have problems that you know are related to
> DirectX. You can see if your drivers are up to date, check to see if
> they are working properly and change some default DX settings for
> compatibilty.
> If DXDiag say the driver is uncertified, don't worry too much unless
> you know the driver is the problem; "certified drivers" are not usually
> the most recent or best for your games.
>
> These simple tasks will improve the load speed of Windows 98 and
> help to mitigate problems from poorly designed uninstallers. I have
> found and fixed many issues using these programs and I hope you
> can too!
>
>
>
>
> TIP # 3 - date of installs
>
> SOFTWARE SECRET: THE WINDOWS HISTORIAN
> --------------------------------------
>
> PROBLEM: You need to find out what date a particular device was
> added to your Windows PC.
>
> SOLUTION: The free Microsoft System Information tool (which
> ships with Windows) has an obscure but potentially very useful
> History feature. You can use it to review driver and device
> changes (including first-time installs) across the life of
> your system. To access the feature, select Start, Programs,
> Accessories, System Tools, and choose System Information (or
> just run MSinfo32.exe). Click once to expand Components in
> the tree, then click on History. The default option is Complete
> History, but you can also choose the Last Seven Days option.
>
>
>
>
> TIP # 4 - housekeeping
>
> THE PC WORKOUT
> (Source: PCWorld.com) Does your PC run as if it's over the hill?
> Follow these three steps to get it sprinting again.
> <<http://www.idg.net/go.cgi?id=320245>>
>
>
>
>
> TIP # 6 - a long to do list
>
>From TechRepublic: <http://www.techrepublic.com/>
>
> The Ultimate Preventive Maintenance Checklist
>
> What's the support pro of 1999 and beyond to do for preventive
> maintenance on user machines? TechRepublic readers contributed
> to this checklist of 29 things you can do to try to keep your users
> happy and online.
>
> 1. E-mail your computer users. Let your clients know in advance what
> will be happening on the preventive maintenance visit. Users get
> attached to their system and seeing something change can be upsetting
> to them. In the e-mail ask them if anything strange is going on with their
> system or if they have any questions for you. Often a user may be
> hesitant to let you know something is wrong, thinking it's no big deal or
> afraid of having a finger pointed at them for being the problem. One of
> the most common complaints you 'll receive is the computer is getting
> slower. More often than not, the user is becoming a power user,
> becoming more familiar with the software they are using. This may be
> a good time to upgrade the computer to realize productivity gains from
> the user.
>
> 2. Empty the Recycle Bin. Some users need to be reminded to
> periodically empty the Recycle Bin.
>
> 3. Delete .tmp files. Before running ScanDisk and Defragmenter, delete
> all *.tmp files that have been created prior to the current day. It will
> surprise most people to learn how much hard drive space has been used
> by .tmp files.
>
> 4. Delete files that begin with a tilde. When cleaning the system of
> garbage files, readers might like to also check for any files beginning
> with a tilde(~). Make sure that all your application programs are closed
> first such as word-processing, spreadsheet and graphics programs as
> sometimes the temporary file you are currently viewing sometimes use a
> tilde. If the above are closed the tilde files can be deleted. Some users
> may find they have a lot of these on their systems!
>
> 5. Delete old .zip files. Users tend to unzip the files but then leave
> the zipped file on their computer as well when they don't need it.
>
> 6. Delete .chk files, and switch the swap file. For those with
> permanent swap files, it is sometimes a good idea to set the swap file
> back to temporary and then permanent again. This cleans out any
> garbage (and therefore possible corruption).
>
> 7. Run ScanDisk and defrag the drive as needed. If your Windows 95
> users aren't running these utilities themselves, it doesn't hurt to check
> the disk and make sure the number of disk errors and the percentage
> of fragmentation are within acceptable limits.  For Windows 98 clients,
> use the Task Scheduler to automate ScanDisk.
>
> 8. Check browser history and cache files. Check that the user history
> files and Internet cache settings are set properly (cache size).
> Recommend you delete the cache files and history files then reset the
> history files to no more than three days unless the user specifically
> needs to store that information longer. By freeing up the cache,
> downloads from the Web actually speed up as there is more space
> available to store the temporary files.
>
> 9. Clean out Windows temporary Internet files. If the browser is
> Microsoft's Internet Explorer, clean out the c:\Windows\Temporary
> Internet files folder.
>
> 10. Confirm that backups are being done. Do you have a network
> solution for automatically backing up user files to a server?  If not--
> and if you're relying on end users to back up their own files--ask
> users when the last backups were done.  Make sure they're rotating
> their disks. Drag their MyDocuments folder onto a server drive for
> them. Remind them to verify the backups by trying to restore a sample
> file or folder.
>
> 11. Update drivers as needed. Make sure you've installed the latest
> drivers for printers, modems, sound cards, video cards, and other
> devices.
>
> 12. Create or update the boot disk. Every Windows user should have a
> boot disk and every NT client should have an emergency repair disk.
> While you're making your rounds, poll your users and make sure they
> have the disks they'd need in case of emergency. NT clients need to
> have their emergency repair disks upgraded with the RDISK/S
> command every time there's a change in the network setup, such as
> the addition of new users or new devices.
>
> 13. Check the operating system and applications. Update your OS and
> applications with the latest service packs or updates. Save your
> company some money; don't try to support multiple versions of the same
> application.
>
> 14. Check the connections. Users love to move their equipment around.
> Make sure all the plugs are snug in their connections. And make sure
> your users are using surge protectors and not a string of extension cords
> to power their machines. While the computer is open, re-seat all
> connections including, expansion cards, CPU, memory, data cables
> and power connections.
> You'd be surprised how often an expansion card isn't seated all the
> way, especially AGP video cards and PCI cards.
>
> 15. Take inventory. Update your master inventory of computer assets.
> Verify serial numbers, CPU speed, hard drive space, memory, etc.
>
> 16. Make sure the hardware works. Many computers haven't seen a floppy
> or CD inserted in years as most upgrades and new installations are done
> from the server. Clean or replace floppy disk and CD drives as needed.
>
> 17. Clean the screens. Do your users a favor and bring the appropriate
> screen-cleaning cloth or solution with you on the preventive
> maintenance visit.
>
> 18. Change passwords. Unless you can enforce a "change your password
> every X days" policy via your network software, use the preventive
> maintenance visit to remind your users to change their system passwords.
>
> 19. Check the printers. Print a test page on your users' printers.  Make
> sure the printers are producing clean copies, and that the toner
> cartridges aren't about to run out.
>
> 20. Update the anti-virus software. Make sure your users know how to
> update their anti-virus software. While you're there, update it for them.
>
> 21. Reboot the system. In some shops, the workstations are left on all
> the time. While you're there, reboot the system to force a memory reset
> and to make sure the machine will boot when you're not there in person.
>
> 22. Bring that can of air! It's still a good idea to blow the dust and
> debris out of keyboards every now and then. And make sure there isn't
> dust accumulating on the back of the machine or wherever the air fan is
> located.It's amazing how much dust can collect in a computer over time.
> Blowing out the inside of the computer has a couple of pitfalls that must
> be addressed. First, since the pressure is much higher than with canned
> air, don't direct the air at an unsecured fan. Try using a pencil erasure
> to hold the fan from turning while you clean out the power supply and
> CPU. Blow out the power supply from the inside out first, or you will
> get tons of dust blown into the computer. Take each computer to a
> place that doesn't mind the dust, outdoors preferably.
>
> 23. Clean the keyboard. With power off, tip or turn the keyboard
> upside down and carefully use the palm of your hand to strike the
> keyboard several times. You'll be surprised how much junk will fall
> out.
>
> 24. Clean the CD-ROM drive. Clean the laser. Many programs are
> installed corrupted from a dirty CD reader.
>
> 25. Clean the floppy drive. In addition to using canned air for the
> floppy drive, use a 3.5" floppy drive cleaning kit. It consists of a
> cleaning diskette and a bottle of solution that you apply to the diskette.
> First, apply the solution to the cleaning diskette. Second, insert the
> cleaning diskette into the floppy drive. Third, type: DIR A:
> (or DIR B:), which willspin the diskette (repeat this three times).
> > In some locations, PCs are located in areas where the floppy drive,
> a.k.a. air intake manifold, collects quite a lot of dust and grime, so
> canned air alone does not remedy this problem. 26. Clean the mouse.
> It never hurts to make sure the mouse is free of dust and grime.
>
> 27. Check the power sources. Make sure systems are plugged into
> protected outlets or power strips, if not uninterruptible power supplies.
>
> 28. Check the fan. Remember to check that the CPU's cooling fan is
> working and that the airflow isn't impeded by dust.
>
> 29. Check the network hardware. It is also necessary to check and
> reboot hubs, routers, switches, and print servers from time to time.
> They contain memory that needs to be flushed and have connections
> that can work loose.
> Most networks have a server reboot schedule but forget about the
> other, just as vital, network kit.
>
>
>
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