A computer starts to slow down with regard to speed and performance when it needs maintenance performed on it. Ideally, this maintenance should be done on a monthly basis. The maintenance involves clearing the event logs, running disk cleanup and disk defragmenter. The steps to perform this maintenance are simple whether you use “Category” or “Classic” Start menus available in Windows XP.

N.B. All programs need to be shut down before performing this maintenance on your computer.

1. Clearing the events log
The first part of the maintenance is clearing the events logs.

When using the Category Start menu:

• Click “Start”
• Click “Control Panel”
• Click “Performance & Maintenance”
• Click “Administrative Tools”
• Click “Event Viewer”
• Right click “Application”
• Click “Clear All Events” (when asked if you wish to save it, click “No”)
• Right click “System”
• Click “Clear All Events” (when asked if you wish to save it, click “No”)
• Right click ACEEventLog
• Click “Clear All Events” (when asked if you wish to save it, click “No”)
• Close “Event Viewer”

• Go to “Setting”
• Click “Control Panel”
• Click “Administrative Tools”
• Click “Event Viewer”
• Right click “Application”
• Click “Clear All Events” (when asked if you wish to save it, click “No”)
• Right click “System”
• Click “Clear All Events” (when asked if you wish to save it, click “No”)
• Right click ACEEventLog
• Click “Clear All Events” (when asked if you wish to save it, click “No”)
• Close “Event Viewer”

When using the Category Start menu:

• Click “Start”
• Click “All Programs”
• Go to “Accessories”
• Go To “System Tools”
• Click “Disk Cleanup” The program will take a few minutes to scan the disk. Then a list of files you can cleanup is shown.
• Check “Downloaded Program Files”, “Temporary Internet Files”, ”Microsoft Error Reporting Temporary Files”, “Temporary Files” and “Temporary Offline Files” .
• Click “OK”
• Once the program is finished, close “Disk Cleanup”

• Click “Start”
• Go to “Programs”
• Go to “Accessories”
• Go To “System Tools”
• Click “Disk Cleanup” The program will take a few minutes to scan the disk. Then a list of files you can cleanup is shown. Check “Downloaded Program Files”, “Temporary Internet Files”, ”Microsoft Error Reporting Temporary Files”, “Temporary Files” and “Temporary Offline Files” .
• Click “OK”
• Once the program is finished, close “Disk Cleanup”

When using the Category Start menu:

• Click “Start”
• Click “All Programs”
• Go to “Accessories”
• Go To “System Tools”
• Click “Disk Defragmenter”
• Click “Analyze”
• Click “Defragment”
• Once the program has finished, close “Disk Defragmenter”

• Click “Start”
• Go to “Programs”
• Go to “Accessories”
• Go To “System Tools”
• Click “Disk Defragmenter”
• Click “Analyze”
• Click “Defragment”
• Once the program has finished, close “Disk Defragmenter”

Please email me if you have any questions or problems performing this maintenance. My email address is mbeveridge2@ssafara.net.

TIPS

Produced twice monthly by Laurent Butre for SpouseConnect.