HP Provantage F3F15UA#ABA Maintaining your computer, Improving performance, Using Disk Cleanup

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7 Maintaining your computer

It is important to perform regular maintenance to keep your computer in optimal condition. This chapter provides information about improving the performance of your computer by running tools such as Disk Defragmenter and Disk Cleanup. It also provides information about updating your programs and drivers, instructions for cleaning your computer, and tips for traveling with your computer.

Improving performance

Everyone wants a fast computer and by performing regular maintenance tasks, using tools such as Disk Defragmenter and Disk Cleanup, you can drastically improve the performance of your computer. Also, as your computer gets older, you might consider installing larger drives and adding more memory.

Using Disk Defragmenter

As you use your computer over time, the files on the hard drive become fragmented. A fragmented drive means data on your drive is not contiguous (sequential) and, because of this, the hard drive works harder to locate files, thus slowing down the computer. Disk Defragmenter consolidates (or physically reorganizes) the fragmented files and folders on the hard drive so that the system can run more efficiently.

NOTE: It is not necessary to run Disk Defragmenter on solid-state drives.

After you start Disk Defragmenter, it works without supervision. However, depending on the size of your hard drive and the number of fragmented files, Disk Defragmenter may take more than an hour to complete.

HP recommends defragmenting your hard drive at least once a month. You may set Disk Defragmenter to run on a monthly schedule, but you can defragment your computer manually at any time.

To run Disk Defragmenter:

1.Connect the computer to AC power.

2.From the Start screen, type disk.

3.Follow the on-screen instructions.

For additional information, access the Disk Defragmenter software Help.

Using Disk Cleanup

Disk Cleanup searches the hard drive for unnecessary files that you can safely delete to free up disk space and help the computer run more efficiently.

To run Disk Cleanup:

1.From the Start screen, type disk, in the search box. Select Uninstall apps to free up disk space.

2.Follow the on-screen instructions.

44 Chapter 7 Maintaining your computer

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Contents User Guide Product notice Safety warning notice Iv Safety warning notice Table of contents Connecting to a local area network LAN Managing power Input power Operating environment Starting right Revert to the familiar Start screen select models onlyVisit the HP Apps Store select models only Best practicesFun things to do Resource Contents More HP resourcesStarting right Getting to know your computer Finding your hardware and software informationLocating hardware Locating softwareRight side Component DescriptionLeft side Display Top TouchPadLights Buttons Keys Fn keyBottom LabelsComponent Connecting to a network Connecting to a wireless networkUsing the wireless controls Using the wireless buttonUsing a Wlan Sharing data and drives and accessing softwareUsing an Internet service provider Configuring a wireless router Setting up a WlanProtecting your Wlan Using Bluetooth wireless devices select models only Connecting to a WlanConnecting to a wired network Connecting to a local area network LANEnjoying entertainment features Multimedia featuresUsing the webcam Managing your audio and video files select models onlyUsing audio Using video Connecting video devices by using an Hdmi cableSetting up Hdmi audio Page Using TouchPad gestures Using the TouchPadNavigating the screen Tapping ScrollingPinching/zooming Finger clickRight-edge swipe Edge swipesTop-edge swipe select models only One-finger slide Using touch screen gestures select models onlyLeft-edge swipe Tapping Scrolling Rotating select models only Top-edge swipe and bottom-edge swipe Using the keys Using the keyboard and mouseUsing the action keys Using Microsoft Windows shortcut keys Initiating Sleep and Hibernation Managing powerManually initiating and exiting Sleep Running on battery power Using the power meter and power settingsSetting password protection on wakeup Removing a user-replaceable battery Finding battery informationIdentifying low battery levels Conserving battery powerResolving a low battery level Running on external AC power Storing a user-replaceable batteryDisposing of a user-replaceable battery Replacing a user-replaceable batteryTroubleshooting power problems Shutting down turning off the computerPage Using Disk Defragmenter Using Disk CleanupMaintaining your computer Improving performanceCleaning your computer Cleaning proceduresCleaning the display All-in-Ones or Notebooks Updating programs and driversCleaning the TouchPad, keyboard, or mouse Cleaning the sides or coverTraveling with or shipping your computer Page Using passwords Securing your computer and informationSetting Windows passwords Using Internet security softwareSetting Setup Utility Bios passwords Installing software updates Using antivirus softwareUsing firewall software Installing critical security updatesUsing an optional security cable lock Securing your wireless networkBacking up your software applications and information Updating the Bios Starting Setup Utility BiosDetermining the Bios version Using HP PC Hardware Diagnostics Uefi Downloading a Bios updateDownloading HP PC Hardware Diagnostics Uefi to a USB device Diagnostic section, click HP Uefi Support EnvironmentCreating recovery media and backups Backing up, restoring, and recoveringCreating HP Recovery media Restore and recovery Using the HP Recovery partition select models only Recovering using HP Recovery ManagerWhat you need to know Using HP Recovery media to recover Removing the HP Recovery partitionChanging the computer boot order Specifications Input powerOperating environment Electrostatic Discharge Bios IndexJacks