Windows reports smaller capacity in the Windows Explorer tool and in the My Computer window because it shows information about one partition on the hard disk drive at a time. The first partition contains the System Recovery information.

Recommended Maintenance Schedule

 

 

 

 

 

Quarterly

Daily

Weekly

Monthly

(seasonally)

 

 

 

 

Manage e-mail

Protect against viruses, adware, and

Use Windows Update

Set new

•

Delete e-mail from

spyware

• Check for updates

passwords

 

unknown sources.

• Update definition files or schedule a weekly

or schedule a monthly

(See the Getting

•

Do not open

 

automatic update.

automatic update.

Started guide for

 

untrusted

• Run a full virus, adware, and spyware scan

(See the Getting Started

details.)

 

attachments.

 

or schedule a weekly automatic scan.

guide for details.)

 

•

File e-mail.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Optimize performance

Review the Start menu

Clean the PC,

 

 

• Run Disk Cleanup. (See “Running the Disk

• Set to launch only needed

monitor,

 

 

 

Cleanup Program” on page 1.)

applications.

keyboard, and

 

 

 

mouse

 

 

• Check for disk errors. (See “Checking for

 

 

 

 

• For detailed

 

 

 

Hard Disk Drive Errors” on page 2.)

 

 

 

 

 

cleaning

 

 

• Run Disk Defragmenter. (See “Running the

 

 

 

 

instructions, go to

 

 

 

Disk Defragmenter Program” on page 2.)

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Optimize your browser

Clean up the desktop

hp.com/

 

 

•

Delete cookies.

• Delete or uninstall

support, select

 

 

your country/

 

 

•

Delete cache.

unneeded icons

 

 

region and

 

 

•

Delete history files.

and applications.

 

 

language, search

 

 

(See “Removing Unused

 

 

 

 

on your PC model

 

 

 

 

Programs” on page 1.)

 

 

 

 

number, and then

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Empty the Recycle Bin

Maintain overall

search on the

 

 

• This, and other cleanup tasks, can be

condition

keyword cleaning.

 

 

 

performed with the Disk Cleanup program.

• Check cleanliness.

 

 

 

 

(See “Running the Disk Cleanup Program”

• Make sure ventilation is

 

 

 

 

on page 1.)

unobstructed.

 

 

 

 

 

• Secure all connections

 

 

 

 

 

and cabling.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Back up important files to CD or DVD

Create a restore point

 

 

 

(See “Creating Data Backup Discs” on

in the Microsoft System

 

 

 

page 1.)

Restore program

 

 

 

 

 

For information, double-click

 

 

 

 

 

the Help and Support

 

 

 

 

 

icon on the desktop to open

 

 

 

 

 

the Help and Support

 

 

 

 

 

Center, type system restore

 

 

 

 

 

into the Search box, and

 

 

 

 

 

then click Search.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PC Troubleshooting and Maintenance Guide 3