Hardware Reference
In-Depth Information
• Run a full system antivirus and antispyware scan. Before starting the scans, ensure your
antivirus and antispyware software are up to date.
About System Restore
System Restore is an automatic service in Windows XP and newer that periodically creates
restore points, which are snapshots of the Registry and certain other dynamic system files.
These restore points do not include any user or application data and should therefore not be
confused with, or used in place of, normal file or data backup procedures. The System Restore
application can be used to manually return a system to a previously created restore point, as
well as to manually create a new restore point. You don't typically need to manually create
restore points because they are automatically created at the following times:
• Every time you install an application
• Every time an update is installed with Automatic Updates
• Every time an update is installed with Windows Update
• Every time you install an unsigned driver
• Every 24 hours if the system is turned on, or if it has been more than 24 hours since the last
restore point was created
Even though you don't usually need to create restore points manually, I do recommend creating
a manual restore point before editing the Registry directly because that essentially creates a
backup of the Registry you can restore if your edit causes problems.
The Windows Vista and later System Restore program, unlike its predecessors, can be run
without booting to the Windows Desktop. You can run it from the DVD's Recovery
Environment to restore your system to an earlier condition.
The following are some monthly maintenance procedures you should perform:
• Check for and install any updated drivers.
• Run the Windows Disk Cleanup tool, which searches the system for unnecessary files that can
be safely deleted. A more thorough third-party freeware tool I recommend for this purpose is
CCleaner (
www.piriform.com/
)
.
• Run a disk-defragmenting program. The defragment program included with Windows Vista and
later runs automatically, but for a faster and more thorough on-demand defragmentation, you
may prefer a third-party program such as VOPT (
www.vopt.com
)
, which is also known as
being one of the fastest on the market. The defragmenting program in Windows 7 and later also
specifically identifies solid-state drives (SSDs) and automatically excludes them from
defragmenting operations.
• Check that all system fans are operating properly, including the CPU heatsink, power supply,
and any chassis fans.
Cleaning a System
One of the most important operations in a good preventive maintenance program is regular and
thorough cleaning of the system. Dust buildup on the internal components can lead to several
problems. One is that the dust acts as a thermal insulator, which prevents proper system cooling.
