Microsoft Windows Vista

Click the Start button, then click Computer.

The Computer window will appear.

Right-click the hard drive you wish to work with, and click Properties.

Click the Tools tab.

Under Error-checking, click Check Now....

Accept the prompt for an administrator password or provide the confirmation requested if the User Account Control window appears.

To check for file errors, ensure that “Automatically fix file system errors” is checked.

To check for disk errors, ensure that “Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors” is checked.

Click Start.

Check Disk will then scan your files and/or disk for errors.

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.

Click the Start button, then click Computer.

The Computer window will appear.

Right-click the hard drive you wish to work with, and click Properties.

Click the Tools tab.

Under Defragmentation, click Defragment Now....

Accept the prompt for an administrator password or provide the confirmation requested if the User Account Control window appears.

In Windows Vista, 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.

If you would like to defragmenter your disks now, click on the Defragment now button.

Click the Start button, then click Computer.

The Computer window will appear.

Right-click the hard drive you wish to work with, and click Properties.

Click the Tools tab

Under Backup, click Backup Now....

Accept the prompt for an administrator password or provide the confirmation requested if the User Account Control window appears.

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".

On the Where do you want to save your backup? window, choose either your DVD or portable USB drive. Click Next.

On the Where files types do you want to backup? window, back up all the file types suggested. Click Next.

Click the Start button. Click Next.

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.

Windows will create a new, full backup.

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!)

Files can be restored by clicking on Restore Files and choosing Advanced restore or Restore files and following the wizard.

Click Start. In the search box, type Disk Cleanup.

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.

Accept the prompt for an administrator password or provide the confirmation requested if the User Account Control window appears.

In the Drive Selection window, select the drive you want to clean up. Click OK.

Disk Cleanup will then calculate how much space you will be able to free on the drive.

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.)

You will be asked to confirm if you want to permanently delete these files, if you are sure click Delete Files, otherwise click Cancel.

Disk Cleanup will then clean up the unnecessary files from your computer.

Click Start. In the search box, type Windows Defender.

Windows Defender will open and bring you to the status screen.

Click the Scan button (located on the top of the window) to start a Quick Scan, which checks the places spyware is most likely to infect.

To do a Full Scan or a Custom Scan, click the arrow next to the Scan button and the appropriate item. A Full Scan checks all files on your hard disk and currently running programs, but may make your computer slow to use. A Custom Scan allows you to check in places you wish to.
Please note: If you suspect you have a spyware infection, run a Full Scan.

Windows Defender will then scan your computer for spyware. Once the scan is complete, a summary will be displayed, letting you know how much unwanted or harmful software were found.

Should any unwanted or harmful software, a list of spyware found on your computer will be listed.

Select the checkboxes of spyware that you wish to remove (I suggest removing all of them for privacy's sake!) and click Next >.

A message box will appear confirming to remove the objects from your system. Click OK.

You're done! You are finished using Windows Defender to remove your spyware.