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Don't just delete program files and folders.
   technofile
Al Fasoldt's reviews and commentaries, continuously available online since 1983

Solving the Windows dilemma, Part 2: Making Windows behave better


May 28, 2000

By Al Fasoldt
Copyright ©2000, Al Fasoldt
Copyright ©2000, The Syracuse Newspapers

   What can you do to make Windows behave better?
   I've got tips. This week I'm offering a baker's dozen. These are all simple things you can do. There's nothing here that requires rocket science or geek specialties. Next month I'll have more advanced tips.
   First, be prepared. Before you can make Windows behave better, you need to know what to do when windows doesn't behave. When something bad happens, make sure you're ready with a backup copy of everything you need. The best way (and by far the easiest way) is by using a disk-imaging program. It copies an entire hard drive, leaving out all the empty space. When disaster strikes, you boot from a floppy disk and restore your entire Windows C: drive from the huge backup "image" file.
   To do this, you'll need a second hard drive if you don't already have one. Second drives can be installed by stores if you'd rather not do it yourself. A high-capacity drive will cost from $100 to $200. You'll also need drive imaging software. My choice is DriveCopy from Power Quest ( http://www.powerquest.com).
   On to the good stuff.
   1. If you have important files on your Windows PC, don't let your kids use your PC without supervision. Better yet, get them a computer of their own. (My advice: Get them an Apple iMac. It won't get messed up the way Windows will.)
   2. Make a disk-image backup of the C: drive before you install anything major -- before adding new hardware or installing a new Windows CD-ROM game, for example. Don't get carried away. I'm not telling you to do this every time you turn around.
   3. Don't just delete program files and folders. Always use the "Add/Remove Programs" section of the Control Panel to remove or uninstall a program. If you can't find an entry for the program in the "Add/Remove Programs" section, call or send an e-mail to the folks who made the software and ask them what you should do.
   4. Reboot often, even if Windows seems to be running right. Don't rely on Windows to keep running normally. Rebooting forces Windows to start fresh. Always reboot after you get serious error messages. Serious messages include ones that say Windows is running out of resources or is running low on memory. Save what you are doing and restart the computer.
   5. Don't let your hard drive get too full. Double click "My Computer," right click the drive icon and choose "Properties" to see how much space is free. Try to keep 100 to 200 megabytes free. (See the next tip on how to get rid of unneeded files.)
   6. Get a good system utility. The best is Fix-It 2000, part of the System Suite 2000 program ( http://www.ontrack.com/systemsuite/). It has the industry's best file defragmenter, a great system sleuth for tracking down and fixing errors and a menu that lets you customize Windows. It also will locate and identify files that can be deleted to free up space and will protect your computer against viruses.
   7. Clean out the "temp" folder once a week. Read this carefully: On the FIRST bootup of the day (Monday, for example), before doing anything else, clean out this temporary storage folder. Click "Start," then click "Run" and type "temp" (without quotes) and press the Enter key. Press Ctrl-A and hold down the Shift key while pressing the Delete key. If Windows asks if you want to delete the items, respond affirmatively.
   8. Learn how to use the hidden boot menu. Press the F8 key as soon as you see "Starting Windows ..." during the early phase of booting up. You'll see a boot menu. (Try it again if it didn't work. You'll get used to the timing of the key press. And yes, you can press it many times to make sure Windows notices it.) You can use the menu to get into Safe Mode or DOS mode, for example.
   9. Use the Windows update program (built into Windows 98 and installed on Windows 95 if you have Internet Explorer 4 or 5). WARNING: Make sure you have a current drive-image backup before making any Windows updates. They can (and do) go wrong.
   10. Always close down Windows before turning off your PC. Click "Start," then click "Shut Down" and follow the prompts. Windows eats up some of its files if you simply turn off the PC without shutting down Windows.
   11. Never allow anyone (even yourself) to delete anything in Windows EXCEPT THROUGH THE RECYCLE BIN. There's an easy way to bypass the Recycle Bin -- I'd rather not tell you about it -- but this ease comes at a high price. If you don't want to mess up files that Windows needs and you want to make sure you don't accidentally toss out your own stuff, always use the safe method: Drag the item to the Recycle Bin or press the Delete key. (Both do the same thing.)
   12. Learn to love the right mouse button. Windows uses its own logic when it tries to understand if you are trying to copy move an item. It also misinterprets another action and will sometimes create a shortcut when it should have copied a file. Fix this behavior by using the right mouse button when you drag a file or folder. Click with the right button and hold the button down while dragging the item you want to move or copy. When you let go, you'll see a pop-up menu of choices (copy, move and shortcut). Click the one you want.
   13. Finally, establish an "off-limits" policy. Your Windows PC should be off limits to everyone who sends you e-mail attachments that your PC is supposed to run. I'll bet people you know -- and people you don't know -- send you attachments all the time, and if those attachment are programs -- if Windows is able to run them, in other words -- you're asking for trouble.
   You have no idea what ANY attachment will do. If you didn't ask for it, trash it. Windows has no protection against stupid things users do, and the biggest dumb thing of all time is to double click on every attachment that comes your way.
   Next: The pros and cons of switching to Windows 2000.