Clean Up Your Act

It is a new year - a great time to get your computer in top shape. January is National Clean Up Your Computer Month, and whether you are running a business, or constantly on Facebook, you probably spend at least part of your day online. Nothing is more frustrating than a computer that does not work properly, and over time your computer will slow down due to unnecessary programs, disorganized files or viruses. Tech expert (and twin dad) Daniel Gauthier offers the following tips to clean up your act:

1. Run Add/Remove programs and uninstall any program you no longer need or use. The less programs you have, the less chances of compatibility issues causing sporadic issues and slowness of the computer.
2. Delete temporary files: In Windows XP delete files in C:\Windows\Temp and C:\Documents and Settings\YOUR-ACCOUNT-NAME\Local Settings\Temp. In Vista and Windows 7 delete files in C:\Windows\Temp and C:\Users\YOUR-ACCOUNT-NAME\App Data\Local\Temp. (If you don’t see those files – you need to make the folders visible). To make the folders visible, open the computer window and go in your C drive: In Windows XP click Tools and Options. Under the “View” tab, click on to show hidden files. In Vista and Windows 7 click Organize folder and search options. Under the view tab, click show hidden files.
3. Disk Defragmentation: After you’ve removed unnecessary programs and deleted temporary files, do a disk defrag. In Vista and Windows 7 it is supposed to be done automatically by default on a schedule. If Windows XP is your Operating System, go through start-Programs-Accessories-System Tools-Disk defragmenter.

Daniel Gauthier is the owner/operator of Twinbytes Inc., a computer service company based in Onatrio, Canada. He is also the author of Tech-Knowledgy, a self-help guide that levels the playing field between techies and non-techies. Find him on Facebook and Twitter.

Photo credit (Elegant Property Services)