Basic PC Maintenance (Step-by-Step)

1. Basic PC Maintenance(Step-by-Step)

2. Basic PC Maintenance(Step-by-Step) • How to use MSCONFIG • Starting Windows Xp in Safe Mode • System Restore • Registry Editor • Backing up the registry • Recommendations! • Backing up your system • Repairing the Registry

3. How to use MSCONFIG Designed to help you troubleshoot problems with your computer, MSCONFIG can also be used to ensure that your computer boots faster and crashes less.

4. How to use MSCONFIG • The more programs you have running on your computer at once, the more likely it is that your computer will either run slowly or even crash. • Every time you boot your computer "hidden" programs load in the background. • Some of these hidden programs are essential, but most aren't. • Turning off some of these hidden programs can significantly increase your computer's performance and reliability. • Here is how to use MSCONFIG on Windows 98, ME, and XP to disable some of the unnecessary programs that automatically load on start-up.

5. How to use MSCONFIG • Go to Start " Run Win 98 Win Xp

6. How to use MSCONFIG • Type MSCONFIG in the "Open:" box and then either press enter on your keyboard or click on the OK button. • This launches Microsoft's System Configuration Utility.

7. How to use MSCONFIG • Click on the Startup tab (the tab at the far right). If you use Windows XP, you'll notice that the Microsoft System Configuration Utility screen looks a little different than the one in Windows 98, 98 SE, or ME. But it still works the same (the tab at the far right). Win 98 Win Xp

8. How to use MSCONFIG • This takes you to a page with a list of "startup items.“ Startup items are programs that are automatically loaded every time you turn on your computer. Some startup programs are absolutely necessary, others are simply a waste of RAM. • The only startup items you absolutely need are: • ScanRegistry • TaskMonitor • SystemTray • LoadPowerProfile • Your antivirus program (You won't have a hard time figuring out which one is your antivirus program. It is pretty obvious.)

9. How to use MSCONFIG • Since you need these startup items to be running all the time in order for your computer to work properly, make sure there is always a check mark next to all of these startup items. • If you don't see one or two of these items in your list of startup items, that's O.K. For example, some people may not have a LoadPowerProfile while others may have two. The most important thing to remember is… you don't want to uncheck any of these files if you have them. • The rest of the startup items are completely optional. Whether you leave these startup items on or turn them off is completely up to you. • Disable only those programs that you recognize and don't need to have running all the time. When in doubt, leave it on. Or, better still, check out Paul "PacMan" Collins' huge "Startup Applications" list at http://www.sysinfo.org/startuplist.php

10. How to use MSCONFIG • On my Xp computer I have a W98 version of WinFax that runs in compatibility mode. For some reason or other, WinFax will not let me alter the setup stating that I do not have sufficient privileges even though I log on as the Administrator. • To prevent WinFax from automatically starting every time I boot my computer, I ran MSCONFIG and unchecked the startup com-ponents. That's it. • Remember, disable only those programs that you recognize and don't need to have running all the time. When in doubt, leave it on.

11. How to use MSCONFIG Win 98 Win XP

12. How to use MSCONFIG • Windows XP is a little different. In Windows XP, all of Windows essential programs are loaded through something called "Windows Services.“ • This means that most of the startup items you see in XP are completely optional and can be turned off. • Still, the rule of thumb applies: Disable only those programs that you recognize and don't need to have running all the time. When in doubt… leave it on!

13. How to use MSCONFIG • Click on the OK button.

14. How to use MSCONFIG • A message will pop up telling you that you must restart your computer before these changes will take effect. Click on "Yes" and your computer will automatically reboot.

15. How to use MSCONFIG • That's it! Your computer should now boot faster and crash less. • And if you ever want to turn on any of the startup items you disabled with MSCONFIG, just run MSCONFIG again.

16. Starting Windows Xp in Safe Mode using MSCONFIG • Safe mode lets you turn off unnecessary computer programs so that you can find the cause of a problem. When you are done, you can turn on the programs again. • Sometimes repeatedly pressing the F8 function key during startup to boot into safe mode is not successful! • Click on the Boot.ini tab and you will see some checkboxes at the bottom under Boot Options.

17. Starting Windows Xp in Safe Mode using MSCONFIG • Click the checkbox next to /SAFEBOOT and select Minimal (if you really need network access while you are in SafeMode you can select Network instead)

18. Starting Windows Xp in Safe Mode using MSCONFIG • The next time you restart your system, Windows will boot into SafeMode. • Remember to uncheck the SAFEBOOT option before you restart your computer.

19. !Recommendations! • Backing up your system: • Disk Imaging • Create • Restore • Explore • Unplug • New Disk Deployment • Disk Clone • Add New Disk

20. !Recommendations! • Repairing the registry:

21. Windows Vista Features • Vista is a 64 bit operating system • It is a multi-processing O/S, i.e. it will handle two micro- processors simultaneously (Xp is a multi-task O/S). • The file structure will be hierarchical like the Mac in logical blocks (small header with binary trees instead of a File Allocation Table (FAT) – no more defragging! • Search and Organization will be much faster! • Speech Recognition – you will be able to talk to your computer and it will answer you back! • Remote Assistance will allow a support professional in a remote location to share control of your computer and help you resolve issues. • Vista will be considerably more secure!!!! • Vista will be more useful for graphics artists than Email and surfing the net!