Each year we go through the ritual of spring-cleaning our homes. We move furniture, empty cupboards, throw out old unused items, put unused items in storage, sweep, dust, and get rid of the cobwebs. It is a process of renewal and our homes run more efficiently for a while.

This spring consider doing a thorough spring-cleaning of your computer system. Move files, empty folders, archive important files, throw out old unused programs, files and documents, sweep, dust, and get rid of the cobwebs. Renew and refresh, and revitalize your system so that it runs most efficiently.

So let’s get out the dustpan and broom and do a clean sweep. To do a thorough job, here is a list of the tasks you want to complete.

• Scan Disk – checks your hard drive for errors. Scan disk will alert you to any problems it encounters. I recommend that you choose to allow scan disk to make an attempt at repairing any problems.
• Defrag the C:\drive – Disk Defragging is a process that your system goes through to place the bytes of each file stored on your C:\drive in adjacent clusters.
• Remove Unused Program files – take caution when performing the removal of unused program files. You may want to seek professional help if you have many large programs to remove.
• Remove Temporary Files – complete a search of the drive for any files with a .tmp extension. Delete those files found.
• Remove Downloaded Zip files – complete a search of the drive for any .zip files. Selectively delete any zip file no longer needed. You can safely remove the zipped file once you have expanded the files or installed the program. .
• My Documents – carefully review the contents of the My Documents folder for old, no longer used documents. Pay particular attention to duplicate files and multiple iterations of the same file. Keep only the most recent file. Use the same rule you use for your closet cleanup. If you haven’t accessed the file in the past year, you probably do not need it. For those files needed for record retention purposes but not accessed regularly, zip and archive the file to a DVD or CD. While you are cleaning the folder, reorganize the remaining files in folders, keeping like documents together according to categories appropriate for you. When reorganizing, consider setting the folder view on details and sorting by date to look for the oldest files. You can also sort by file size to find the largest files.

• Delete Temporary Internet files – when you surf the Internet, your system stores files related to the sites you have visited. I also perform maintenance on the cookie files, the favorites folder, and the history files. These files are temporary but if not managed will clutter your drive.
• Maintain your e-Mail files – check the amount of space being used to store your e-Mail items. Check through all of the file folders, deleting items older than 6 months. Only keep and archive the important stuff. Consider saving important e-Mail items as a text file, saving the files to an e-Mail folder in the My Documents folder. Burn the contents of the e-Mail folder to a DVD or CD. Save any attachments, and store the file in the appropriate My Documents folder. Delete any sent items older then 6 months. Finish up by emptying your deleted items folder.

After you have swept, scrubbed, reorganized and sanitized your files and folder, the last step you need to take is to empty your recycle bin to eliminate all of the files you deleted during your clean sweep.

Getting into the habit of spring cleaning your computer on a regularly scheduled maintenance plan will ensure optimal performance from your system.