Computer Information Technology – Section 2-4

Objectives The Student will Understand the basic system tools and how to use them Understand virus and other threats and how to avoid and remove them

System Tools There are 3 system tools to help improve performance: 1. Disk Cleanup 2. Disk Defragmenter 3. System Restore All these tools can be found in Start -> All Programs -> Accessories -> System Tools

Disk Cleanup Disk Cleanup will free up space on your hard disk, Disk Cleanup finds and then removes temporary files on your computer that you decide you no longer need.hard disk

Disk Defragmenter What is disk defragmentation: Disk defragmentation describes the process of consolidating fragmented files on your computer's hard disk. Fragmentation happens to a hard disk over time as you save, change, or delete files. The changes that you save to a file are often stored at a location on the hard disk that's different from the original file. Additional changes are saved to even more locations. Over time, both the file and the hard disk itself become fragmented, and your computer slows down as it has to look in many different places to open a file. Disk Defragmenter is a tool that rearranges the data on your hard disk and reunites fragmented files so your computer can run more efficiently.

Disk Defragmentation Red, Blue and Green Files are fragmented.

Disk Defragmentation

Disk Defragmentation - Complete

Disk Defragmentation Click on Start -> All Programs -> Accessories -> System Tools -> Disk Defragmenter First click on Analyze to check if defragmentation is needed

Disk Defragmentation

Disk Defragmentation Report

System Restore System Restore helps you restore your computer's system files to an earlier point in time. It's a way to undo system changes to your computer without affecting your personal files, such as e ‑ mail, documents, or photos. Sometimes, the installation of a program or a driver can cause an unexpected change to your computer or cause Windows to behave unpredictably. Usually, uninstalling the program or driver corrects the problem. If uninstalling does not fix the problem, you can try restoring your computer's system to an earlier date when everything worked correctl y.driver

System Restore System Restore can make changes to Windows system files, registry settings, and programs installed on your computer. It also can make changes to scripts, batch files, and other types of executable files on your computer. Personal files, such as documents, e ‑ mail, photos, and music files, are not changed.registryexecutable files For example, if you download a personal file, such as a photo from a digital camera, on a Friday and then restore your computer to the state it was in two days earlier on Wednesday, the photo will still be on your computer. However, if you install a photo viewing program on a Friday and then restore your computer to the state it was in two days earlier on Wednesday, System Restore will uninstall the program, and you won't be able to use that program to view photos.

Virus Protection The best protection again viruses is to have an anti- virus program running at all times. If you don’t have virus protection there are a number of free virus scanning tools available. McAfee has a tool called FreeScan ( McAfee FreeScan helps you detect thousands of viruses on your computer. Based on the award-winning McAfee VirusScan engine, FreeScan searches for viruses, including the latest known "in the wild" viruses, and displays a detailed list of any infected files. Should viruses be found, FreeScan even provides links to more information about the viruses and what you can do to clean your system.

Other “Threats” Besides viruses there are other threats to your computer: Spyware, Adware, Trojans & Hijackers Fraud Tools & Rogue Applications Password Stealers & Keyloggers These can also greatly affect your computers performance.

Other “Threats” There are free programs which will scan your system and remove those threats: Ad-Aware: Get the free version! Spybot - Search & Destroy:

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