Computer Hardware:
     • Tools, Static & Cleaning
     • Form Factor
     • PC Case & Fans
     • Motherboard
     • Processor (CPU)
     • Power Supply Unit
     • RAM
     • Hard Drive
     • Solid State Drive
     • Optical Drive
     • Floppy Disk Drive
     • Graphics Card
     • Sound Card
     • Network Card
     • Computer Monitor
     • Keyboard & Mouse
     • Laptop / Netbook
     • Building a Computer
     • Overclocking

Operating System & Backup:
     • Operating System
     • Drivers
     • Windows Tools
     • User Accounts
     • Backup
     • Windows 10

Internet & Network:
     • Internet
     • Wi-fi or Cable
     • Improve Broadband Speed
     • Network Computers

Computer Peripherals:
     • Printer
     • Scanner
     • External Hard Drive
     • USB Flash Drive

Computer Security:
     • Anti-virus
     • Anti-Spyware
     • Phishing
     • Firewall

Common PC Problems:
     • Slow Computer
     • Hardware Failure
     • Software Failure
     • Printing Problems

Miscellaneous:
     • Windows Shortcuts
     • Glossary of Terms
     • HTML Colour Picker
     • Number Base Converter

Disk Cleanup & Disk Defragmenter

Microsoft Windows includes some useful tools to help you maintain or fix your Operating System.I will list some of these tools and explain how they all work.

Disk Cleanup:

The Disk Cleanup utility can be used to remove unwanted temporary files from your computer.

Disk Cleanup on Windows 7.

You can get to the Disk Cleanup utility by clicking the 'Start button', clicking 'All Programs', clicking 'Accessories', clicking 'System Tools', and selecting 'Disk Cleanup'. Alternatively you can click the 'Start Button' and type 'Disk Cleanup' in the search box and press 'Enter' on the keyboard.

This utility will delete the Recycle Bin, Temporary Internet Files, as well as other temporary files and will free up space on your Hard Drive. Disk Cleanup should be run before Defragmenting a Hard Disk Drive.

There are also some third-party utilities that can be downloaded which can do a more comprehensive and thorough job.


Disk Defragmenter:

Running the Disk Defragmenter utility can speed up disk access on your computer.

Disk Defragmenter on Windows 7.

Files on your Hard Drive become fragmented over time which means a certain file may be broken up and scattered on the disk. When you load this file the mechanical heads of your Hard Drive have to move to locate and read each part of the fragmented file which takes much longer than if the complete file was in just one contiguous place on the disk.

If you run the Disk Defragmenter utility it will reorganise the files on your Hard Drive so that all the files are contiguous and loading times are much quicker.

You can get to the Disk Defragmenter utility by clicking the 'Start button', clicking 'All Programs', clicking 'Accessories', clicking 'System Tools', and selecting 'Disk Defragmenter'. Alternatively you can click the 'Start Button' and type 'Disk Defragmenter' in the search box and press 'Enter' on the keyboard.

Note that while 'Disk Defragmenter' works well on a Hard Disk Drive (HDD), it should not be used on a Solid State Drive (SSD). This is because an SSD has no moving parts and so it will not matter if the files are fragmented and also because frequent writing to an SSD will shorten its life. More information can be found about Solid State Drives here.

There are also some third-party utilities that can be downloaded which operate quicker than 'Disk Defragmenter'.