Optimizing Performance and Reliability through Periodic Operating System Maintenance
An intricate relationship exists between computer hardware, software and the operating systems which is responsible for brokering the complex relationship between the two. This article will cover Windows and file system maintenance and the importance of doing so.
Often programs that aren’t being used will be running in the background of the machine taking up valuable resources and working on nothing else than slowing down the machine. Whenever a new program is being installed, care should be taken during the installation process in order to avoid any unwanted software that is often bundled with the original program from being installed. In addition, take the time to remove software that is not ever used, this will free up hard drive space and more importantly remove any unnecessary programs and services running in the background. If something happens to be accidentally removed, odds are that it is available online to download.
After cleaning up unneeded programs, temporary files are left behind which often do not get cleaned up properly. Most of these can be safely removed. Regular day-to-day use of a computer will create new files, modify existing files and remove ones that are no longer needed. This will slowly degrade the machine’s file system and is referred to as fragmentation. In addition, the records and attributes which provide detail on what the file is and where it is stored may become inconsistent and corrupt. Over time, as the amount of fragmentation rises, it will begin to hinder performance and reliability of the machine.
Listed below are a few of the tools that are built into the Windows Vista and Windows XP operating systems that will assist with performing the tasks illustrated above.
Microsoft Windows
- Verify that Automatic Updates are turned on from Control Panel -> Windows Update
- Install Microsoft Windows Service Packs (after testing)
- Install all Critical and Security updates (after testing)
File System Maintenance
- From My Computer, right click on the desired disk drive and select Properties. Click on the Tools tab and then select Check Now…
- You also use chkdsk.exe c: /V /F to find and fix errors on the volume. If /R is specified, the scan will be more thorough by locating and attempting to recover information from any bad sectors on the drive.
- Clean up unnecessary files using cleanmgr.exe
- Defragment your Hard Drive using dfrgui.exe / dfrg.msc
- Remove Unused Programs via Control Panel -> Add/Remove Programs or Programs and Features
- Disable Startup Programs and Services by using msconfig.exe
For more information on Windows Vista performance tuning, please see the Microsoft Overview Series: Windows Vista® Performance and Tuning: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=ab377598-a637-432c-a3c8-1607ab629201&displaylang=en