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Get your computer in order. We repeat the trick on the PC desktop. Constantly maintaining a certain order

The computer is noisy, slow and refuses to do the simplest things. BSOD often appears, and the speed of operation leaves much to be desired. Sound familiar? Even if this no longer happens to your car, your friends and relatives are probably calling you to help. Let's look at typical steps that will help you deal with problems and speed up even an old PC.

Many people believe that the cure for all diseases is reinstalling Windows. Forty minutes of sticking into progress bars - and you're done! New system, without glitches and problems. Of course, this is an attractive way: it is always more pleasant to get a stable clean system than clearing mountains broken files and libraries. But not everyone can afford this: it’s one thing to have your own computer, where you can demolish the system to your heart’s content, and another thing to have someone else’s PC. It may already have important software, drivers, which you will then have to look for, saved and forgotten passwords or - on a corporate machine - different policies and network settings.

In general, when you are dealing with some computer from the accounting department, where they can be stored in the registry important keys, existing in a single copy, it is better not to start with demolishing everything and practice a softer and more creative approach.

Formulation of the problem

In order not to describe the repair of an imaginary computer, I will give an example of a real task. There is a computer with a processor on the LGA775 socket, 2 GB of RAM, a 500 GB hard drive and an integrated video card. The complaints about it are as follows: it takes a long time to load, it slows down when working with office applications, slow Internet, turns off spontaneously at least once a day and the fans make noise all the time.

Step one: prepare the tools

When another bad system software hits my desk, I start with it complete disassembly. This may not be necessary and the problem may end up being a software issue, but it never hurts to vacuum and clean your computer. If it comes down to it, tinkering with a clean interior will be more pleasant, and the life of the computer can significantly extend. In addition, when disassembling you can see a lot of interesting things. For example, swollen capacitors or completely dried out paste on the processor.

Of the tools you will need, of course, a Phillips screwdriver, and I also recommend purchasing a brush. In my experience, a makeup brush works best.

It is best to take the softest and fluffiest one, but so that it does not shed hairs. Such brushes cost very differently - from 150 rubles to several thousand. But since applying blush or powder is most likely not part of your plans, you can simply ask for an old and unnecessary one from someone from the female part of the family.

When cleaning, the main thing is not to overdo it, otherwise a hard brush can damage the boards. Another useful thing would be a can of compressed air, for example, this one for 440 rubles.


They can blow dust out of the most difficult to reach places without even disassembling the computer. By the way, many are not very good repair services This is exactly what they do: they blow out laptop fans without even getting inside, and they charge money for complete disassembly.

Well, to replace thermal paste we need the actual paste. The most common brands are KPT-8 and Alsil. The arguments about which one is better do not subside, and there will also be fans of other brands - they will say that all this is nonsense and will offer something else.


Step two: go through the system unit

The tools are laid out, you can start general cleaning of the computer. The first step, of course, is to turn off the power, open it up and you can start vacuuming, carefully shaking off the dust with a brush.

When the first stage is completed, disconnect the wires, unscrew the expansion cards, remove the disks and drives, and then unscrew the motherboard from the back wall of the case. After that, you can go through the vacuum cleaner again.

In our case, the following spare parts were on the table: motherboard, a processor and a cooler for it, two 1 GB memory sticks, a hard drive and a power supply. I also removed the fan from the case, which had clearly outlived its usefulness. We throw it away and install a new one.

The motherboard needs to be inspected to see if there are any swollen or leaking capacitors, and also thoroughly vacuumed.


From swollen capacitors Any nasty thing can be expected. Various freezes, blue screen death, spontaneous shutdown and reboot. If resoldering the capacitors on the power supply, in principle, is not difficult, then with motherboard Great difficulties may arise. The problem is that the motherboard is a rather thick board, and also double-sided (that is, it has tracks on both sides). You need to desolder the elements using a hair dryer, and without proper experience it is unlikely that anything will work out: there is a real chance of blowing small SMD elements off the board.

Some craftsmen solder capacitors with a needle screwed to a powerful soldering iron. But if you've never done this, then the best way out will hand over the motherboard to a service center or ask a handy friend to help.

Before repairs, it doesn’t hurt to understand why the capacitors deteriorated. Bloating or electrolyte leakage may result from: internal problems, and external. If the reason is external (too heat in the case), then you need to solve it first, otherwise new capacitors will soon face the same fate. If the problem is with voltage, then it also needs to be solved separately - for example, by repairing or replacing the power supply. And of course, if the motherboard is old, then there is nothing to be surprised at - both electrolytic and polymer capacitors can fail over time.


Cleaning the processor from old paste wet wipes and let the alcohol with which they were soaked dry for a couple of minutes. CPU cooler you can send it to the same place as the case fan. If it worked without any particular complaints, just blow it with compressed air, vacuum it and also wipe it with a damp cloth.

If the cooler begins to make noise, only replacing it will help get rid of the sound. No lubricants will help here: they give only a short-term effect, which is only enough to wait for the delivery of a new copy.

So, is the old one ready to return to service, or have you just unboxed a new one? Time to apply thermal paste! It is most convenient to apply it with a special brush if it comes with a paste. If you don't have a brush, you can smear the old substance plastic card or, for example, a metro pass. The main thing is that the layer is uniform. Excess paste will be squeezed out on its own when installing the cooler.


I usually go over the memory dies with a soft eraser to clean the contacts. The main thing is not to grab the tracks with your fingers. Memory, like many other electronics, really does not like static electricity.


Now it's time to disassemble the power supply. Needless to say, it also needs to be vacuumed? Clean or replace the fan if necessary, and carefully inspect the board to see if there are any leaks or broken elements. It is best to disassemble the case completely, including the front cover. Often you can find another fan there that works for air intake. It also needs to be cleaned and replaced if necessary. And how much dust usually accumulates under the front plastic cover!

How to determine whether the power supply is alive and whether it is worth changing it

If the computer does not turn on at all, then most likely the power supply is to blame. If the second one is not at hand, then you can test this theory in the following way. First of all, you need to understand whether it turns on. To do this, disconnect it from the system unit and close the green and black wires on the connector that connects to the motherboard with a paper clip. Now turn on the power supply and see if the fans spin up. If yes, then this good sign- Most likely, the patient is alive. Now connect the load - for example, a hard drive, a floppy drive and a 12 V fan. Start again and, armed with a multimeter, measure the voltage on the branches. The reference voltage value for black and pink wires is 3.3 V, black and red - 5 V, black and yellow - 12 V. The deviation of the specified values ​​is ±5%. So where there should be 3.3V there could be 3.14 to 3.47V; where there is 5 V, it is from 4.75 to 5.25 V. Instead of 12 V, it can be from 11.4 to 12.6 V. If the deviations are greater, then it is best to replace the power supply before something fails something else.

The hard drive does not require special care - remove dust from it and wipe with a napkin. After this, the computer can be reassembled.


Once started, you can measure the voltage along the lines with a multimeter (this is always done under full load, so connect everything you have). Yes, you can see the voltage through special software or in the BIOS, but personally I trust the multimeter more. Of course, he will not be able to construct a voltage dip curve, but the accuracy of his measurements is always higher.

What to do when your computer won't turn on

If the power supply and motherboard are working properly and you did not forget to connect the PC speaker, then further fault detection is simplified. Having started, the BIOS activates the self-test procedure (power-on self test) and when malfunctions are detected, it gives sound signals. Their lists for BIOS chips different manufacturers you will find it at this link.

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Vladimir Pavlovich is the owner of a modest business producing earplugs, but looking at the desktop of his laptop, you could mistake him for some kind of secret agent. The entire screen is literally covered with a multitude of files and shortcuts - a real control center for undercover operatives. Behind the huge accumulation of icons, it’s not easy to guess the outlines of a blue BMW, but finding something you need among this pile of information is real torture. One glance at the screen is enough to raise your blood pressure. But Vladimir Pavlovich is not an agent at all. It's just that his computer is a real funnel of entropy.

Is there a connection between professional activity Vladimir Pavlovich and the disorder on his computer desktop, it’s impossible to say for sure, because from time to time each of us accumulates a lot of junk or simply materials that are not properly sorted on the screen. Meanwhile, such an environment does not bode well for you: you may not notice it, but according to research, a cluttered computer has a negative impact on your productivity, preventing normal distribution time to complete certain tasks and reduce your concentration.

One day, Vladimir Pavlovich decided that enough was enough, and if he wanted his business to prosper, he would have to clean up the mess in his computer and develop principles that would not allow this madness to happen again.

Read today's article about the dangers of desk clutter and how you can deal with it.

The price of disorder

Having a computer cluttered with information is an expensive pleasure. Of course, we're talking about about mental costs. Researchers from Princeton University have empirically proven that people whose desks are cluttered perform much worse on cognitive tasks than those who have everything necessary files arranged systematically, in a certain order.

The conclusion is that our brain takes longer to find necessary files, if they are disconnected, is actually not at all surprising.

Moreover, the additional distractions that probably abound on your desktop act as triggers that force us to solve unimportant tasks - which leads to poor concentration and unnecessary loss of time.

Every icon, browser tab left open, and program minimized to the toolbar is like an annoying reminder of unfinished business and unresolved tasks. As a result, this merciless onslaught of triggers easily leads to the fact that instead of solving the current problem, you are moving in a completely “different direction”.

This kind of jumping from problem area to another, according to Sophie Leroy, a researcher at the University of Minnesota, causes irreparable harm to our productivity, since any problem grabs a piece of our attention, making it difficult to return to the point where , in fact, a distraction occurred.

Removing unnecessary triggers frees up our minds and allows us to focus all of our power on the tasks at hand. Whereas loss of concentration and chaotic surroundings put heavy psychological pressure on us and prevent us from solving problems in the best possible way.

If you need additional arguments in favor of order, keep in mind that in addition to additional cognitive waste and unnecessary waste of time, you also lose in computer performance. Each open tab is an additional load on the processor and RAM. Of course, now there are technologies that allow automatic mode stop the consumption of resources to maintain unused programs and processes, but these, speaking in metaphors, are those drugs that eliminate the symptoms, but not the disease itself.

Removing triggers

So, the first thing you can do to somehow relieve your working space- create a folder and move into it all the files that are in currently are on the desktop. Of course, this will not solve the entire problem, because you will simply move the mess from one place to another, but it will still stop being an eyesore.

“Search” (or Spotlight - the built-in search function in Mac OS) will help you quickly find this or that file, so it makes sense to use it, and files that you access every day (for example, a shortcut Word editor), can be easily found in the tab " Recent Documents" (or place it on the taskbar).

You can listen to Vladimir Pavlovich’s advice and change background image desktop with some plain wallpaper. If you are the owner Apple products, you can also use Bartender program 2 to accommodate everything running applications at the top of the screen. After all the procedures done, you will start every day with a “clean slate”.

To keep your attention on current tasks and not get distracted, you can turn off all notifications (alerts) from programs:

Caption: “Turn off notifications”

Use the Do Not Disturb feature. Set the time interval from 7.00 to 6.59 am (day):

Once you've turned off all those annoying notifications and tidied up your desktop, you'll need to deal with the biggest enemy of your productivity: your browser.

The first problem is what to do with all the open tabs? First, they need to be divided into several categories. For example, it might look like this:

  • tabs related to what you are currently doing;
  • articles you plan to read later;
  • sites you may need in the future;
  • communication tools (social networks, etc.).

Sorting tabs will help you quickly bring order to your browser. For example, the URLs of sites that you use daily can be entered into a special sheet, a kind of database. If necessary, you open this sheet (for example, a document on Google Drive) and select the resource you need.

Next, what to do with the articles? The truth is that articles you put aside for later are usually never read. But now we are not talking about this, but trying to figure out where to save all these materials. To protect yourself from clutter, you can use the services

Pocket was created in 2007 by Nate Weiner to help people save interesting articles, videos and more from the web and enjoy them later. After registration, your browser will appear active button, when clicked current page will be saved in your account:

This is how this button will be displayed in the Yandex browser

Evernote's web clipper also offers more advanced functionality. By clicking on the icon in the top sidebar of your browser, you can choose in what format you will save the page: completely, as a snapshot, as an article, etc.:

If it seems to you that all these tools are nothing more than a way to transfer information noise from one place to another, but not solve the very cause of this noise, know that the abundance of information today is not a problem at all. The challenge is to organize the incoming material so that it does not affect your productivity and clarity of thought, and at the same time is easily accessible when needed.

Another source of chaos in your head and computer is email and social media. These guys are constantly trying to grab a piece of your time and attention, so the best way to deal with them is to turn off all notifications and not keep the pages with these services open while you are doing something that requires strong concentration. Social media like jelly - try it once and get stuck in it for a long time, reading an endless series of posts from news feed. You will think that you are busy, although in reality it is just an illusion of activity.

You can also use tools like StayFocusd or Freedom to block yourself from visiting certain resources while you're busy.

Once you've put everything in order on all possible fronts, it's time to set aside time in your schedule to "take out the trash" from your computer and browser and not let the abundance of information overwhelm you. Just 15 minutes a week will be enough. If you do it right, you will experience an increase in efficiency and mental clarity.

Conclusion

You may not think much of it, but chaos in your environment means chaos in your head. Clean up your surroundings and you will feel energized and increase your productivity. The main conclusions of the article are below:

  • clean your desktop by dumping all files into one folder (or better yet, sort the ones you need and delete unused shortcuts);
  • turn off all notifications from applications installed on your computer and social networking services;
  • leaving too much open tabs in a web browser, you slow down the speed of your computer and create many additional incentives for yourself to be distracted;
  • use these useful utilities, such as Evernote's web clipper, Pocket service or similar applications;
  • Every week, dedicate at least 15 minutes to clearing away all the garbage that has accumulated over the past 7 days.

Greetings to readers of the blog YOUR DECISION!

In this article, I will share an algorithm for how to put things in order in files and folders on your computer, which will help every reader become organized and make your work with information more efficient. And following just seven steps will save many hours of your time.

So, are you ready to organize your files and folders? Great! Then go ahead!

1. Create a clear file structure

The main task for this step- invent and create your own file structure. This process is purely individual and does not contain the only correct solution. However, we can highlight the main points that will greatly facilitate the process of creating your own file system.

  • The most natural way to organize file storage on a computer is to create folders, each of which must correspond to a specific category. For example, the folder “Video”, “Games”, “Music”, Photos”, “Work”, “Downloads” and so on.
  • If there are several computer users, you can use a system based on storing files by computer user (“My Files,” “Spouse Files,” “Son Files,” etc.).
  • Create as many levels of folder nesting as needed. Notice and use the opportunity to group into separate folder kit related files. For example, combine songs from one artist, photos from one event, documents received from one client into subfolders
  • When creating your folder structure, follow simple logic:
    - “parent” folders sort files according to criteria that are more important to you;
    - “children” (nested) – according to less important ones.
  • Whatever organization system you create, get into the habit of creating new catalogs all the time.

    Every document on your computer must have its own home, just like things in a closet must have their own place.

  • We create folders not on the “C” drive, but on the “D” drive, if you have one and there is enough space there.
    And remember that drive C is intended only for system documents and for installing programs! The rest - photos, videos, work and personal documents, maps, books, and so on should be stored either on a removable hard drive or on drive D. This approach significantly speeds up the computer, it slows down and freezes less.

    Drive “C” ONLY for the operating system and programs! Store all your documents, photos, music and movies on drive “D”

2. Audit and sorting of “old” files

Create an “Archive” folder on drive D. Transfer all files that are stored on your computer to the created “Archive” folder
Then go through each of your files by hand and arrange them into your new structure using three rules:

  • if you have nowhere to put it new file– create a folder suitable for the topic;
  • if a file “asks” for two (three, etc.) folders at once, save the most suitable thematic folder, and delete the rest, having first transferred everything valuable to other folders;
  • Don't store unnecessary files.

Sorting files, due to its routine nature, can be done in parts and divided into 15 minutes. Set aside 15 minutes every day to sort through “old” files and gradually put everything back into place. Then the Archive folder can be deleted.

3.Create an Inbox

Create an Inbox folder on your file system. This folder is for recently created or downloaded files that you have yet to sort or process. You can name this folder differently, for example, “INBOX”, “Downloads” or “Downloads”.

Once you create your inbox, don't use any other folder to store your unsorted and working files. When creating or receiving a new file, immediately place it in your Inbox, then your computer will always be clean and tidy.

There should be one Inbox folder on your computer. Two tips to avoid creating duplicate inboxes:

  • set the default Inbox to save files in all programs;
  • Set your default download inbox in all browsers.

Don't let your inbox become overcrowded. For this:

  • Check your inbox regularly (at least 1-3 times a day)
  • Immediately place files that are finished in the designated folder.
    If you notice a file located there in your Inbox, long time, admit that you probably don’t actually need it and put it in the Trash

4. Create correct file names

Create filename templates

When the number of files in one folder exceeds several dozen, difficulties arise with searching the required document. Often the file name does not convey information about what is inside the document. In this regard, I propose a simple way to facilitate the process of creating an “information” file name - to create a file name template for each of your information streams.

When constructing a name template, follow these rules:

  • reflect the essence of the document in the file name
  • use the date in the file name
    — at the beginning of the file name, if the relevance of the document depends on the time of its creation;
    - at the end of the file name, if the information and contents of the file are more important than the date of its creation.
  • Arrange the elements of the file name from the general to the specific (from date, subject, address, etc. - to the contents of the file)
  • dates were arranged from largest to smallest (year – month – day)

Be thoughtful about file naming

  • Never create files with meaningless names like "Document1.doc". Take the time to come up with a title that accurately describes what's inside the document.
  • Avoid long file names
  • Using long file names indicates that your file system not clear and deep enough.

So highlight free time within a few days to put the files in order. Consistently, step by step, give new names to all old files, renaming them according to patterns.

5. Use shortcuts

The shortcut provides the user easy access to frequently used files, placing it in two places. This allows you to always make do with one copy of the file.

6.Clean up your “Desktop”

Never store files and folders on your desktop!
The desktop is located on drive C and when you reinstall the operating system, you may lose all of its contents.
Store all files in the desired folder on drive D, and display only shortcuts on the desktop!

Desktop cleaning algorithm:

  • Drag all files from the desktop to the “Archive” folder created earlier (except for the “My Computer” and “Trash” icons)
  • Assign specific areas of the “Desktop” to essential objects (programs, folders, files).
    For example:
    - left top corner- for shortcuts important programs and “My Computer” icons;
    — upper right corner – shortcuts to actively used folders and the most important documents;
    — lower right corner — “Trash” icon
    You can change the location and purpose of zones depending on your needs.
  • Transfer the necessary files from the “Archive” folder to the “My Documents” folder, and delete unnecessary files.

7.Keep your file structure in order

Strictly adhere to the created structure

Pointless to spend long hours to restore order in all files and continue to save freshly downloaded documents to the “Desktop”.
Make it a rule that every time I have nothing to do on the computer, do some cleaning. digital trash.

Rules for maintaining order in the file storage system:

  1. Store only those files that:
  • will be useful to you;
  • it will not be possible to download again if necessary

2.When creating or downloading a new file, immediately place it in the appropriate folder
3. If the file cannot be immediately saved within your system or you need it for a short time, then save it to the “Inbox” folder.
4. Clean out your inbox once a week or delete all files in it.

So, behind you are seven difficult steps to sort out the digital rubble that resulted in your personal system file storage. Once you have spent time sorting documents, maintain the order and improve the created file storage system.

And remember that the habit of keeping in order digital documents- a guarantee that you will accomplish much more!!

I will be glad if my experience becomes YOUR SOLUTION to emerging problems! I'd love to hear about your experiences with digital trash cleanup in the comments!

You can learn about my experience in organizing the storage of paper personal documents!

The topic of maintaining order on your computer desktop can be called eternal. For the vast majority of users, the desktop is “cluttered” with shortcuts with enviable regularity.

Sometimes, you can’t really see the splash screen image behind them. And even after establishing some order, after a few days you can observe the same picture.


It's good if these are really just shortcuts. Quite often on desktops you can find all kinds of audio and video files, the simultaneous presence of both a shortcut and boot file etc. Besides the unaesthetic appearance this can have a negative, “inhibiting” effect on the operation of the computer. The fact is that the desktop folder is located on the system drive, and if you save in it large files, then this, accordingly, reduces the volume system disk and does not allow the system to “breathe more freely.”
Therefore, I recommend that you check the size of your desktop on your computer. Normal size is considered to be about 100Kb, since this indicates that only shortcuts are really located here. If during the scan you find a significantly larger volume, then urgently clean up and move all large files to more suitable sections.


If you find that files downloaded from the Internet end up on your desktop, then you need to check your browser settings and move the “downloads” folder from the system drive.
So, we have considered the technical side of the issue. However, there is also a purely organizational side, since often the clogging of the desktop occurs from our desire to pull out, as it seems to us, a “VERY IMPORTANT” document closer to quick access. As a result, we still have the same picture of a screen crammed with many shortcuts. I want to offer one, perhaps not very scientific, but well-proven in practice way of combating this “disease.”
If the number of shortcuts and files on your desktop has exceeded the critical point, then we create new folder(why should we waste time on trifles!), we proudly call it “Desktop” and with a confident hand We send absolutely EVERYTHING there!


After this, you can calmly begin your working day. If you really need something from the contents of the newly created folder during the day, then take it out and place it on your desktop. But only what you really need right now. By the end of the day, you will be able to see that the screen remains relatively free. Continue in this mode for at least 4-5 days. But after this, you can safely delete everything that continues to remain in that created folder. Just delete it, because if you haven’t needed it for almost a week, then you won’t need it. And in the future you will be able to find similar information in a more up-to-date version. You can use this method with some regularity as soon as you can no longer distinguish the background of your desktop.


And since we are talking about the background for the desktop, we will devote a few lines to this point. Today on the Internet it is offered simply huge selection screensavers, as they say, “for every taste and color.” We must admit that this is very convenient, since it is unlikely that anyone will want to look at the same picture for months or years, no matter how wonderful it is.


However, when choosing a screensaver, you should not always be guided only by your preferences and tastes. For example, if we are talking about office computer, then it is better to exclude images of girls and boys immediately. Moreover, regardless of the degree of their “clothing”. In any case, such screensavers will be regarded as a manifestation of frivolity and may create a false impression of you as an employee. Also try to avoid screensavers with aggressive overtones or in too bright colors. For example, the color red is a natural stimulant and irritant, which can ultimately lead to fatigue and nervousness. It is better to choose a relatively calm screensaver with images of nature or animals, in soft warm colors that set the mood for a certain relaxation.


There is another benefit to choosing a neutral screensaver. We often make our choices on a subconscious level, and such a picture can tell a lot about a person’s psychotype. Do we really want to once again demonstrate our inner world and open our souls to strangers? Therefore, the work computer is not the best place for a strong expression of individuality, unless, of course, you work as a creative designer.







Your computer may be nice office. It stores:
- files;
- programs;
- drawings.

All this can be compared with the files, devices and decorations of a real office. The operating system is the boss. With all this in mind, imagine that you find yourself in an office that is slow and inefficient. Maybe, low performance The office you find yourself in is the result of many reasons. It's the same with a computer. It may contain a large number of unnecessary things that slow down your computer. The most common reasons are poor organization and lack of free space.

Disk cleanup.

There may be a large number of people in the office unnecessary files, devices and decorations. It's the same with your computer. One of the best ways Maintaining a sufficient amount of free space is to periodically clean the disk. In the operating system Windows program, which can be used for these purposes is called “disk cleanup”. It removes a large number of unnecessary files depending on the settings you specify.

To perform disk cleanup in Windows XP, click on the “My Computer” icon in the “Start” menu. Then click right click mouse on the image labeled “Disk C” or “Hard Drive” and select the “Properties” menu. Then click the button that says “Disk Cleanup” and follow the instructions. When selecting the type of deleted Windows files will provide you with information to help you make a decision. When viewing the list of file types, simply click on the name of the file type and you will get its description. This will help you know how safe it is to delete these files. To select a file type, simply check the box next to the type name. When finished, click OK.

It should be said that cleaning the disk will not take much time - just a couple of minutes, and will save you much more time by increasing the speed of your computer. However, to achieve best results It is necessary to clean the disk regularly. One way to periodically clean up the disk is to set this task to run on a schedule. This will allow the computer to automatically run Disk Cleanup at regular intervals and at times you set. In addition, you can periodically clean the disk yourself without setting a schedule.

Installation and removal of programms.

The information provided above will help you get rid of unnecessary files, but in addition, you may also need to delete unnecessary programs. This can be done using the Add/Remove Programs tool. It is located in the control panel and displays a list of all installed this moment programs on your computer and the option to remove them. It's worth using the Add/Remove Programs utility periodically to make sure you're using all the programs you have.

If the list contains programs that are no longer used, you can simply highlight similar program and delete it with one click. In most cases, to complete the program removal process, you need to restart your computer. This procedure will remove temporary files, remaining after uninstalling the program.

The Add/Remove Programs utility is very useful, but not all programs are listed. Programs that were pre-installed on your computer, as well as the Windows operating system, can also be removed. For example, Outlook Express is a processing program Email default, which comes with operating system Windows XP. If you don't use this program, you can uninstall it. Click the “Install and Uninstall” section Windows components", which you can find in the Add/Remove Programs utility and follow the instructions.

Defragmentation.

Many offices contain a large number of files and programs that are of some value and cannot be thrown away. In fact, they may contain files that are not even used but still need to be saved for some reason. Although these files should remain in the office, they need to be organized. That's why we create file folders, which contain groups of files related to each other. Then we store them in cabinets, having previously arranged them in alphabetical order.

On your computer, saved files are placed on HDD. However, they are placed according to the time they were saved. For example, if you open a Word document and save it as “file A” and then open another document and save it as “file B,” file A will be located next to file B. That’s great, but if you open file A later and save again it, then the added information is stored closer to file B.

When files are split this way, fragmented files are created. This means that the computer must first find the first part of the file, then the second, and open both parts in one Word document. This may cause your computer to run slower. However, Windows invented a utility to rearrange files to eliminate file fragmentation.

You can start disk defragmentation by selecting All Programs from the Start menu. Then select “Accessories”, then “System Tools”, and you will see the “Disk Defragmentation” section. In fact, this is also alternative way run disk cleanup described above. Before you begin disk defragmentation, you can analyze your hard drive to see if Windows recommends disk defragmentation. You will understand whether or not you need to defragment the disk at this moment.

If you need to defragment your computer, just click on the "Defragmentation" button. To complete this task you will need certain time depending on the speed of your computer and the number of defragmented files. This may take 15-30 minutes or more. However, if you perform disk defragmentation, you can still use your computer.