Give your Windows PC a free health check

Matthew Hanson | Guides, Windows 7, Windows Vista | 15/03/2010 15:07pm
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All PCs have a limited life, but the more we take care of them from day one, the better they perform, and for much longer, too.All versions of Windows rely on data being constantly written and rewritten to the hard drive, and the registry file keeps track of these changes. Whenever data is added and deleted, it gradually slows down your system and can make it more unstable as a result. It would be very laborious to repeat a set of system tests every day or week, but here are the key things you should do every few months to make sure your Windows PC stays healthy. They include regular defragging and temporary file cleaning, as well as tracking system reliability over time to spot potential problems early on.

Step-by-step: Give your PC a free health check

1 Test PC stability
Windows Vista and Windows 7 have a handy Event Log (in Performance and Information Tools or type eventvwr.msc into the search box) to spot potential weak points in your system. Select a log to test, but try starting with System under the Windows Logs folder for a good overview of your PC.

2 Filter logs
Choose Action ➜ Filter Current Log, then tick Critical, Error and Warning before selecting OK. The test now runs and it’s only system problems that are searched for. When the results are returned, you should click an on event to learn more about it and use the Details tab.

3 Generate a health report
Windows now contains a detailed health report, a kind of MOT certificate for PCs. In Performance and Information Tools ➜ Advanced Tools, select Generate a system health report. The report tests various parts of your system – anything flagged up as Failed should be investigated using the Event Log.

4 Schedule defragmentation
With data constantly being written and rewritten to your hard drive, it becomes fragmented over time. Defragging needn’t be a chore because you can set schedules to run every day, week or month. Windows 7, Windows Vista and Windows XP all have the defragmenter in Accessories ➜ System Tools.

5 Clean up old files
Temporary files are one of the biggest types of clutter on a PC but it’s easy to flush out redundant files that waste space. Go to Start ➜ Accessories ➜ System Tools ➜ Disk Cleanup. Tick which type of files you want to get rid of – Temporary Internet Files, Temporary files and Thumbnails are the biggest offenders.

6 Completely remove programs
Don’t just rely on a program’s own uninstall option – use the Windows Programs and Features area in Control Panel to choose the program to be fully deleted. Even this can leave untidy entries in your system, so check whether there is an official uninstaller on the manufacturer’s website.

7 Run ChkDsk
Drive health isn’t just about regular defragging and cleaning – there are also corrupt files and directories to quash. ChkDsk is a system utility that scans your system on startup. Schedule it for launch by choosing Error-checking ➜ Check Now under Properties ➜ Tools when you right-click your C drive.

8 You’re now healthy
Well done, you’ve cleaned out the vital parts of your Windows system – but for continued success, follow these steps regularly. If you’re still concerned about system stability try running Problem Reports and Solutions (Windows Vista and Windows 7 only), which scans your system for conflicts.

This entry was posted on Monday, March 15th, 2010 at 3:07 pm and is filed under Guides, Windows 7, Windows Vista. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a comment, or trackback from your own site.