Shaddy it is never a pain for anyone here to give another person an answer if they know the answer. That is how we all learn, there are no stupid questions when it comes to computers.

Regarding cleaning the computer I no longer use the Disk cleanup feature that comes with the computer, I use Ccleaner, linked below. This I run very erratically, every 2 or 3 months and sometimes longer and leave it at the default settings. It works great for me. After that if I am going to leave the computer I will set it to defrag.

Regarding scandisk I never use that at all. On very rare occasions I will run checkdisk. To do so
click Start
click Run
type 'chkdsk' without the quotes
You will see a window saying something that it will run when you next boot up your computer, agree with that and you are set. As checkdisk can take a while to run do the reboot when you are leaving for a coffee or lunch or whatever.

Here is a link that might be useful: Ccleaner - slim version

If you run chkdsk, make sure you run it with the /f parameter so that it fixes errors it finds. Otherwise, it will only report that errors were found and do nothing about them.

As far as the order goes, I think it works best to do the scandisk/checkdisk before the defrag.

In Win2000, XP and Vista Scandisk is called Error-checking. I have never read a consensus opinion regarding the use of the utility.

My personal opinion, and regular recommendation, is to incorporate Error-checking in a user's normal maintenance protocol with a minimum time frame of once a month. Sooner, later, or not-at-all cannot hurt anything. My thought is maintenance is maintenance.

Regarding CCleaner, I have to strongly support Owbist's recommendation to use the application in default settings only.

DA

* Posted by bpgreen (My Page) on
Sat, Jan 10, 09 at 12:46

If you run chkdsk, make sure you run it with the /f parameter so that it fixes errors it finds. Otherwise, it will only report that errors were found and do nothing about them.

As far as the order goes, I think it works best to do the scandisk/checkdisk before the defrag.

Hi,

Question: I noticed that when I (used to) run 'chkdsk /f' (space between the 'k' and the '/'), the computer would only check in 3 stages. But if I go to My Computer > Properties > Tools > Error-Checking, then click "check now'" and tick the two boxes there, then when the computer does its scan at re-boot it will go through 5 stages. Would that make this latter method better ? Or is there a way to enter the information in the 'run' window to put it through all 5 stages ?

Btw, I use XP.

Thanks !

Scott

I think that Microsoft considers the second method to be a better approach. The help for chkdsk gives options to do less checking, but I don't see one to do more checking.

THANK YOU, one and all, I need affirmation sometimes to be sure that I am doing it right, and this was it.
So much knowledge here, and when it is shared, so much more is gained.
Thanks for your patience, that is especially appreciated!