Restarting Your Computer
When you are experiencing computer problems or after you install a new program, you may need to reboot your computer system.  Once again, don't just hit the power button.  Click on the Start button and choose "Shut Down."  You will be asked if you want to Shut Down or Restart your computer.  Choose Restart.  Your computer will properly shut itself down and restart itself.  You won't have to touch the power button at all.  

Virus Scanning
You have an internet connection, so if you receive e-mail, if you use messaging programs, or if you use your connection to download any type of file online, you are putting your system at risk for computer viruses.  There is an almost unlimited number of viruses spreading in-the-wild at all times.  Contrary to popular belief, not all of these viruses will destroy your computer system.  Many infected users don't even realize they have viruses until they've spread them to numerous other machines.  Some viruses are written to over-load e-mail and internet traffic, causing e-mail and internet servers to crash.  Some viruses are written to gain access to usernames, passwords and other personal information (including credit card numbers and bank account information).  Some viruses are written to damage or destroy certain computer components.  All viruses have one thing in common:  they spread to other computers.  The most common method of virus contraction is through e-mail, especially e-mail attachments.  Attachments can mask virus-infected files which, once opened, infect your computer.  Once your system is infected, the virus will automatically send itself to everyone in your e-mail address book and/or everyone you've e-mailed in the past 90 days, even if they are not listed in your address book.  Because the files automatically send themselves, viruses often come from "trusted" sources, like family, friends and business associates.  The best defense against computer viruses is a good anti-virus software program.  We recommend Trend Micro's PC-Cillin 2002.  This program can be downloaded directly from the internet, or purchased at our office, and automatically updates itself when upgrades are made available.  It runs constantly and not only scans all incoming e-mail, but also scans web pages for malicious code.  We recommend that you try the 30 day free trial of this product to see it's many benefits for yourself.  You can download the trial from this site:  http://www.antivirus.com/pc-cillin/download/form.asp.
You may also run a free online virus-scan to check for viruses already present in your computer system.  If you would like to use this feature, visit this page: http://housecall.antivirus.com/pc_housecall/.  (This is NOT an anti-virus software program.  It will not protect your computer from viruses.  It will only detect viruses which have already infected your system.)

Operating System Update
Keeping your computer's operating system up-to-date is an important (and easy) way to avoid problems.  What's an operating system?  For most of you, it's a Windows product- Windows XP, Windows ME, Windows 98, etc.  Many people never update their OS software, even though free updates are made available on a regular basis.  These updates are created by the manufacturer as bugs are found in the original programming and as additional security features are created.  To update your Windows-based operating system, visit www.microsoft.com.  From the top of the Microsoft home page, place your mouse cursor over "Downloads" then click "Windows Update."  If a system scan is not ran automatically, click on "Scan for Updates."  You should download all the Critical Update files available to you.  You will usually be given several other non-critical update options as well and you may choose to download any of these files that are necessary to you, according to your computer habits.

Scan Disk
Scan Disk is exactly that.  It's a program that scans the hard disk for errors.  This program automatically runs itself upon starting your computer if the computer wasn't properly shut down prior to being turned off.  Computers do this because turning them off without shutting them down can damage the disk,  which is why it's important to learn how to properly shut down your computer.
You can initiate your own Scan Disk without damaging your computer by turning it off improperly.  To run the Scan Disk program, click the Start button, choose "Programs," "Accessories" and then "System Tools."  From the System Tools menu, select "Scan Disk."  The Scan Disk window will open.  Select the "Thorough" Scan Disk which automatically repairs any errors it finds. 
Depending on how much of your computer's memory is in use and the last time a thorough Scan Disk was ran, the time it will take to complete a Scan Disk can be anywhere from a couple of minutes to an hour or more.  
For optimal computer performance, a thorough Scan Disk should be ran at least once a month.  

Disk Defragmenter
The files in your computer are a lot like unsorted mail at a post office.  In order for the mail to be delivered efficiently, it is sorted into zip codes and then into proper delivery routes.  As you create files within your computer system, they are stored in the first empty space the computer finds for them, in no particular order, much like unsorted mail that is delivered to the post office.  
The Disk Defragmenter sorts your files and places like-files in the same area of your computer.  This sorting, or defragmenting, keeps your computer running at optimal speeds because the computer doesn't have to search the entire disk drive when you open a file.  Viewing your computer as a post office, the difference between the computer finding a file on a fragmented disk, as opposed to a defragmented disk, is the difference in searching for a letter from a stack of  mail which has been sorted into the correct zip codes and delivery routes and trying to find a letter from all the unsorted mail that's just been delivered to the post office.   The fewer files the computer has to search through, the faster it can find the correct file.
To run your Disk Defragmenter, click on the Start button, choose "Programs," "Accessories" and then "System Tools."  Select Disk Defragment and then run the program.   The time it will take to run this program depends on the last time you defragmented and the amount of memory in use on your computer system.  To  keep your computer running optimally, the Disk Defragmenter should be ran about once a month.

Removing Unused Files 
All computers have a finite amount of available space.  The more memory and disk space you are using to store information, the slower the computer will function.  Occasionally you should do some "house cleaning" of your computer to get rid of unused files and programs.  Freeing up this space will not only help your computer's speed, it will also allow you to create new files and install new programs without maxing out your computer's capabilities.
The best place to start when cleaning out your computer is your Temporary files.  These are files the computer creates automatically as you are using your computer.  You don't have to create "documents" for your computer to create temporary files;  simply using any program on your computer creates these files automatically.  
To find your temporary files, click the Start button, click Search (or Find) and choose Files or Folders.  A window will open asking you to type the name of the file you are searching for.  Inside this textbox type *.tmp  Make sure the drive you are searching is the appropriate drive (usually the C drive), and that there is a check in the box "include subfolders."  Click the Search (or Find) button.
The computer will then find all of the temporary files stored in your computer system.     
To delete all of these files, click Edit at the top of the search window and choose "Select All."    All of the files will then be highlighted.   Press the Delete button on your keyboard.   You will be asked if you are sure you want to send these items to the Recycle Bin.  Click yes.  You may get a message saying that a certain file is "read only" and asking if you want to send it to the Recycle Bin.  Do not send read-only files to the Recycle Bin.  Click No.  You may get this message more than once, continue clicking no until all unnecessary temporary files have been deleted.  
If you are a web "surfer" and you visit lots of internet sites only once or twice or very infrequently, you may wish to clean out your internet cookies file as well.  If your internet connection is primarily used to connect to only certain sites which you visit frequently, this probably isn't the best option for you as it will take a longer time for those sites to load on your next visit.  
If you wish to clean out your internet cookies file, open Internet Explorer and click on Tools at the top of the window.  Click "Internet Options."  The window which opens now will have Home Page information, Temporary Internet File information and Internet History information.  In the Temporary Internet File section (usually the middle of the window) click "Settings."  Next, click the "View Files" button.  Your internet cookies and other temporary internet files are located in this folder.  To remove all of them, click the Edit button at the top of the page and choose "Select All."  This will highlight all of the files.  Press the Delete key on your keyboard.   You will be asked if you want to delete the selected cookies.  Click yes.

Once you have deleted these files, you will need to right-click the Recycle Bin icon on your regular desktop screen and choose "Empty Recycle Bin."  Click "Yes" when asked if you want to delete the files.    Congratulations!   You've just done some computer "house cleaning."  
You will want to remove these files occasionally to free-up space in your computer.  

To remove other unused files in your computer, a good idea is to double-click the "My Computer" icon and look through such folders as "My Documents," "My Pictures," "My Music," "My Downloads" and "My Briefcase" for files which may be old and unused.  Always open these files by double-clicking them to see what they are before deleting them.  You don't want to delete important files you may have forgotten about!   
 
Never delete files that you are unsure about.  When searching through your computer for unused files, you will probably find lots of folders and files that you don't recognize.  These files could contain vital system information.  If you find folders and files that you didn't create, don't delete them.   One of the best ways to cause MAJOR computer problems requiring professional repair is to delete files.  Make sure you know what the files and folders are before you remove them.  
NEVER DELETE FILES FROM THE "PROGRAM FILES" FOLDER!!!
If you open your Program Files folder searching for unused files, you will find it full of all kinds of folders and files that you won't recognize.  Do NOT delete these folders and files, even if they are empty.  They are there for a reason.  Deleting these files WILL cause problems.  
Never delete files when you are given a prompt saying "deletion of this file could cause some programs to function differently" or "deletion of this file could result in......"  
Some folders and files contain information which is crucial to one or more programs you are running.  Deleting these files can cause all kinds of computer program malfunctions and sometimes complete system failures.  

Uninstalling Unused Programs and Games
Programs and games can take up a lot of space in your computer system.  If you have programs and/or games that you don't use anymore, you can uninstall these programs to free up space.  
To uninstall programs and games, click the Start button, choose "Settings" and then click "Control Panel."   Click the "Add/Remove Programs" icon and follow the directions for removal of the unused programs.  Remember, once you remove a program or game if you decide you want it on your computer again, you will have to install it the same way you originally installed it whether that's from a CD or by download.   

For more information on computer maintenance, please contact your computer distributor.  Micro Wise also provides computer maintenance service.  Contact us for more information.