SPRUCE CREEK SOUTH COMPUTER CLUB

HARD DRIVE HEALTH PROTECTION
( Created Especially For Spruce Creek South Computer Club By Ray Youngberg )

SCANDISK and DEFRAG should be run regularly (at least once a month) to check the health of your hard disk. These programs come with Windows 95, 98 and later versions of Windows. Fancier versions of similar programs are available in other utility program packages. The following procedure will not only check on the hard drive health by running ScanDisk , but will correct programs errors in preparation to running Defrag. The end result usually helps your computer to run smoother and faster and makes more space on the Hard Drive available.

Most of these instructions refer to Windows 95 and 98 but will work with later versions of Windows. All clicks are assumed to be with the Left mouse button unless specifically identified. Remember, this is only one way to bring up the various dialog boxes. There are other ways to do the same thing in Windows.

PROCEDURE FOR REMOVING UNNEEDED FILES, RUNNING SCANDISK AND DEFRAGMENTATION
  1. Go to and Click on "My Computer" then Go to and (with the right mouse button) Click on "C Drive".

  2. Go to and Click on "Properties" then Go to and Click on "Disk Cleanup".

  3. ( Go to and Click "Check" files to be deleted. Then Go to and Click on "OK". When asked asked "Are You Sure?", Click "YES".

    Note: These files are not needed and can be safely removed to make space available on the Hard Drive and will help to make running Scandisk and Defrag easier.

  4. While still in the same folder, Click on "Tools".

  5. Look for "Error-checking status". Go to and Click on "Check Now".

  6. Choose "Standard Type of Test" and Click "Automatically fix errors" and then Click on "Start".

  7. When the test is completed, "ScanDisk Results" will appear. There is may have been some errors but they will have been fixed automatically. Now Click on "Close". Another window will appear. Click on "Close" again.

  8. While still in the same "Tools" folder, look for "Defragmentation Status". Go to and Click on "Defragment Now".

  9. Disk Defragmenter will at this point indicate " % " of defragmentation.

  10. Click on "Show Details" for interesting display of defragmenting process.

  11. When defragmentation is completed, click on "Yes" to return to normal operation. Your hard drive has now been cleaned and made healthier and should run smoother and faster.

  12. On the desk top, Go to and Click on "Recycle Bin" then Go to and Click on "File".

  13. Go to and Click on "Empty Recycle Bin".

  14. These files, if found, result from deleting files and folders during normal use and now are not usually needed.

Created & Donated by H. Ray Youngberg
Computer Cat Consulting, The Villages, FL
WWW.COMPCAT.COM
WebMaster - dhooton@atlantic.net