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Help Desk
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Exclusive for CyberGuru Newsletter subscribers!
Microsoft Windows
7
This how-to guide covers the features in Windows 7,
including disk error-checking (formerly Chkdsk),
Disk Defragmenter, Backup and Restore Centre, Disk Cleanup and more.
The schedule of activities has moved into its own how-to
guide, the
Important Computer House-Keeping Duties Schedule,
also available
from the CyberGuru website.
Error-Checking (formerly Chkdsk):
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Click the Start button, then click Computer. |
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The Computer window will appear. |
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Right-click the hard drive you wish to work with, and
click Properties. |
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Click the Tools tab. |
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Under Error-checking, click Check Now.... |
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Accept the prompt for an administrator password or
provide the confirmation requested if the User Account Control
window appears. |
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To check for file errors, ensure that “Automatically
fix file system errors” is checked. |
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To check for disk errors, ensure that “Scan for and
attempt recovery of bad sectors” is checked. |
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Click Start. |
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Check Disk will then scan your
files and/or disk for errors. |
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Once the disk has been scanned,
it will provide you with a result of the scan. If any errors are
found, you will need to reschedule them for next time you restart
your computer. |
Disk Defragmenter:
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Click the Start button, then click Computer. |
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The Computer window will appear. |
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Right-click the hard drive you wish to work with, and
click Properties. |
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Click the Tools tab. |
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Under Defragmentation, click Defragment Now.... |
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Accept the prompt for an administrator password or
provide the confirmation requested if the User Account Control
window appears. |
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In Windows 7, it is recommended that Disk
Defragmenter run on a schedule. By default it runs at 1:00AM every
Wednesday, however you can change the schedule by clicking on the
Modify schedule... button. |
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If you
would like to defragmenter your disks now, click on the
Defragment now button. |
Backup and Restore Center:
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Click the Start button, then click Computer. |
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The Computer window will appear. |
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Right-click the hard drive you wish to work with, and
click Properties. |
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Click the Tools tab |
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Under Backup, click Backup Now.... |
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Accept the prompt for an administrator password or
provide the confirmation requested if the User Account Control
window appears. |
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If this is the first time you have started Backup,
Windows will request you set up an automatic file backup to make a
copy of the files on your computer to a location of your choice.
Please note:
CyberGuru recommends these files be stored away from your computer,
such as a DVD or portable USB drive. Click "Set up automatic file
backup". |
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On the Where do you want to save your backup?
window, choose either your DVD or portable USB drive. Click
Next. |
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On the Where files types do you want to backup?
window, back up all the file types suggested. Click
Next. |
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Click the Start button. Click Next. |
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On the How often do you want to create a backup?
window, select how often, what day and what time. Click Save
settings and start backup. |
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Windows will create a new, full
backup. |
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Future backups will be created automatically, but can
be run by running Backup, click Back Up Files and then click
Back up now. The backup settings can be changed by clicking
Change backup settings, and automatic backup can be turned on and
off as needed.
Please note:
System files, executable files, temporary files and other will not
be backed up. You can use Complete PC Backup to create a backup of
these. System settings can be backed up using System Restore (For
more information, please see our upcoming how-to on this feature!) |
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Files can be restored by clicking on Restore Files
and choosing Advanced restore or Restore files and
following the wizard. |
Disk Cleanup:
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Click Start. In the search box, type
Disk
Cleanup. |
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In the Disk Cleanup Options window, you will
be asked to choose which files to clean up. On a personal computer,
click My files only, if a shared computer, click Files
from all users on this computer. |
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Accept the prompt for an administrator password or
provide the confirmation requested if the User Account Control
window appears. |
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In the Drive Selection window, select the
drive you want to clean up. Click OK. |
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Disk Cleanup will then calculate
how much space you will be able to free on the drive. |
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Check each checkbox on each type of file you world
like to delete (Downloaded Program Files, Temporary Internet Files,
Offline Webpages, Hibernation File Cleaner, Microsoft Office
Temporary Files, Office Setup Files, Recycle Bin, Setup Log Files,
and so on. Review the description of each and decide whether you
wish to keep these files or not.) |
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You will be asked to confirm if you want to
permanently delete these files, if you are sure click Delete Files,
otherwise click Cancel. |
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Disk Cleanup will then clean up
the unnecessary files from your computer. |
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