PC Tune Up: Using Defrag And ScanDisk

An important tune up to perform on your computer is to use defragmentation every once in awhile. Basically, "defragging" will put all of your information and files into order. When it is finished, each file will be stored in one location on your disk, instead of scattered. It will also update the FAT to show the new changes to the computer. Defragging your computer is the perfect solution to helping your computer get back up to speed and get rid of scattered bits and pieces pf files.

If you have Windows or DOS, you have a built in defrag program, already! Just run the program (found by typing in "defrag" into the DOS prompt). You will want to completely optimize the defragging program, so choose the options that will allow you to do so. If you have never performed a defragmentation, or it has been awhile since you have, then you may want to grab a snack, because it will probably take a little time to complete the process.

Once the program has done it's job, then it will give you a screen that asks if you want to perform the process on another drive. If you have one, now is a good time to defrag it, also. When the program is finished it will display a dialog offering you a choice of working on another drive or exiting. If you have another drive you may as well defrag that one also. Note: the defrag process is not available on a CDROM.

You should probably run the defrag program about once a month. If you are on your computer all the time, like if you work on it or something, you may want to think about using defrag even more often than that. You will need to use your judgment because you are the only one that knows how much material your computer probably has on it. Running defrag will help to keep your system up and running as quickly as possible and it won't to run it every day, if you choose to do so.

It's also a good idea to run a program called ScanDisk to delete any unwanted files. This program can also detect and surface defects that can be found on your personal computer's hard disk drive. ScanDisk checks for chains and clusters on your hard disk. It can search them out and remove them, should you tell it to do so it can also detect any physical defects on your hard drive. The physical defects can actually cause future storing files for your files. ScanDisk will make a not of the problem areas and prevent your computer from attempting to store files in those areas any longer.

It's very easy to run the ScanDisk program. Just follow the options and you shouldn't have any problems. You'll want to save files you want later onto a disk. You will probably also want to ignore the option that tells you to create an undo disk. Other than those suggestions, installing the program is pretty self-explanatory. For the most part, you will not need any of the information that will be erased by ScanDisk, but if there is anything you want, be sure to save it before you run the program.

When it has finished scanning for problems, ScanDisk will repair the problems. It will also draw up a report that will inform you as to the problems encountered and what actions were used to repair the problems. At this point, the program will also want to know if you want it to save any unusual information it encountered. You will most likely need to choose the "delete" option at this point.

Next, you will want to instruct ScanDisk to see if there are any surface defects on your hard drive. This is something that should be done fairly regularly. If this is your first time using ScanDisk, or you haven't used it for awhile, then it's a good idea to go ahead and let the program run the surface check After the initial ScanDisk installation and after its first use, you really only need to use it every couple of months.

There are many areas that encompass a personal computer's tune up, including defragmentation of files and using ScanDisk. It is important that you take the time, now, to tune up your computer. If you put it off, or don't do it regularly, then you will find that eventually, you will regret it. It will cost a lot more time and money if you let your computer go for a long time with no regular maintenance.