A good article from Microsoft at Home that describes how to keep your computer running in tip top shape. I routinely do what they suggest, and believe me, it does help… a lot. And automating is just one more way you can “set it and forget it”. An excerpt is below, but I suggest you take a look at the whole article as it will walk you through step-by-step on how to do this in Windows.
Create a preventive maintenance plan for your computer
When people notice their computer's performance slowing, the most common reason is the hard disk. Your computer's hard disk is a non-removable area that holds all the information available from your computer. Over time, hard disks begin to lose their ability to store data efficiently.
The Windows operating system provides three great tools to help keep your hard drive humming smoothly. These tools are Disk Cleanup, Disk Defragmenter, and Check Disk. Find more information about using these tools to optimize your PC.
Ideally, you should run these tools on the following schedule.
| Preventive Maintenance Activity |
Recommended Frequency |
| Clean up the hard disk of temporary files |
Weekly |
| Rearrange (defragment) the hard disk |
Monthly |
| Check the hard disk for errors |
Weekly |
Of course, who has the time (or the desire) to keep up with this schedule? The best solution is to let Windows do all of the work.
The Windows Scheduler Task Wizard allows you to set up and automate these tasks, so you never have to worry about them again.
Click on over to the site for more information
Put your PC maintenance routine on autopilot