Basic PC Maintenance (Step-by-Step)

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Basic PC Maintenance(Step-by-Step)
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Basic PC Maintenance(Step-by-Step)

• How to use MSCONFIG
• Starting Windows Xp in Safe Mode
• System Restore
• Registry Editor
• Backing up the registry
• Recommendations!
• Backing up your system
• Repairing the Registry

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How to use MSCONFIG

Designed to help you troubleshoot problems with
your computer, MSCONFIG can also be used to
ensure that your computer boots faster and
crashes less.
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How to use MSCONFIG

• The more programs you have running on your
  computer at once, the more likely it is that your
  computer will either run slowly or even crash.
• Every time you boot your computer "hidden"
  programs load in the background.
• Some of these hidden programs are essential, but
  most aren't.
• Turning off some of these hidden programs can
  significantly increase your computer's
  performance and reliability.
• Here is how to use MSCONFIG on Windows 98, ME,
  and XP to disable some of the unnecessary
  programs that automatically load on start-up.

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How to use MSCONFIG

• Go to Start " Run
• Win 98
  Win Xp

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How to use MSCONFIG

• Type MSCONFIG in the "Open" box and then either
  press enter on your keyboard or click on the OK
  button.
• This launches Microsoft's System Configuration
  Utility.

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How to use MSCONFIG

• Click on the Startup tab (the tab at the far
  right). If you use Windows XP, you'll notice
  that the Microsoft System Configuration Utility
  screen looks a little different than the one in
  Windows 98, 98 SE, or ME. But it still works the
  same (the tab at the far right).

Win 98
Win Xp
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How to use MSCONFIG

• This takes you to a page with a list of "startup
  items. Startup items are programs that are
  automatically loaded every time you turn on your
  computer. Some startup programs are absolutely
  necessary, others are simply a waste of RAM.
• The only startup items you absolutely need are
• ScanRegistry
• TaskMonitor
• SystemTray
• LoadPowerProfile
• Your antivirus program (You won't have a hard
  time figuring out which one is your antivirus
  program. It is pretty obvious.)

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How to use MSCONFIG

• Since you need these startup items to be running
  all the time in order for your computer to work
  properly, make sure there is always a check mark
  next to all of these startup items.
• If you don't see one or two of these items in
  your list of startup items, that's O.K. For
  example, some people may not have a
  LoadPowerProfile while others may have two. The
  most important thing to remember is you don't
  want to uncheck any of these files if you have
  them.
• The rest of the startup items are completely
  optional. Whether you leave these startup items
  on or turn them off is completely up to you.
• Disable only those programs that you recognize
  and don't need to have running all the time. When
  in doubt, leave it on. Or, better still, check
  out Paul "PacMan" Collins' huge "Startup
  Applications" list at http//www.sysinfo.org/start
  uplist.php

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How to use MSCONFIG

• On my Xp computer I have a W98 version of WinFax
  that runs in compatibility mode. For some reason
  or other, WinFax will not let me alter the setup
  stating that I do not have sufficient privileges
  even though I log on as the Administrator.
• To prevent WinFax from automatically starting
  every time I boot my computer, I ran MSCONFIG
  and unchecked the startup com-ponents. That's
  it.
• Remember, disable only those programs that you
  recognize and don't need to have running all the
  time. When in doubt, leave it on.

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How to use MSCONFIG
Win 98 Win XP
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How to use MSCONFIG

• Windows XP is a little different. In Windows XP,
  all of Windows essential programs are loaded
  through something called "Windows Services.
• This means that most of the startup items you see
  in XP are completely optional and can be turned
  off.
• Still, the rule of thumb applies

Disable only those programs that you recognize
and don't need to have running all the time.
When in doubt leave it on!
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How to use MSCONFIG

• Click on the OK button.

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How to use MSCONFIG

• A message will pop up telling you that you must
  restart your computer before these changes will
  take effect. Click on "Yes" and your computer
  will automatically reboot.

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How to use MSCONFIG

• That's it! Your computer should now boot faster
  and crash less.
• And if you ever want to turn on any of the
  startup items you disabled with MSCONFIG, just
  run MSCONFIG again.

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Starting Windows Xp in Safe Mode using MSCONFIG

• Safe mode lets you turn off unnecessary computer
  programs so that you can find the cause of a
  problem. When you are done, you can turn on the
  programs again.
• Sometimes repeatedly pressing the F8 function key
  during startup to boot into safe mode is not
  successful!
• Click on the Boot.ini tab and you will see some
  checkboxes at the bottom under Boot Options.

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Starting Windows Xp in Safe Mode using MSCONFIG

• Click the checkbox next to /SAFEBOOT and select
  Minimal (if you really need network access while
  you are in SafeMode you can select Network
  instead)

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Starting Windows Xp in Safe Mode using MSCONFIG

• The next time you restart your system, Windows
  will boot into SafeMode.
• Remember to uncheck the SAFEBOOT option before
  you restart your computer.

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!Recommendations!

• Backing up your system
• Disk Imaging
• Create
• Restore
• Explore
• Unplug
• New Disk Deployment
• Disk Clone
• Add New Disk

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!Recommendations!

• Repairing the registry

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Windows Vista Features

• Vista is a 64 bit operating system
• It is a multi-processing O/S, i.e. it will handle
  two micro- processors simultaneously (Xp is a
  multi-task O/S).
• The file structure will be hierarchical like the
  Mac in logical blocks (small header with binary
  trees instead of a File Allocation Table (FAT)
  no more defragging!
• Search and Organization will be much faster!
• Speech Recognition you will be able to talk to
  your computer and it will answer you back!
• Remote Assistance will allow a support
  professional in a remote location to share
  control of your computer and help you resolve
  issues.
• Vista will be considerably more secure!!!!
• Vista will be more useful for graphics artists
  than Email and surfing the net!