 Quick Fixes
Below are some common easy fix
solutions that you may use to optimize your computer. Please note that these are generic suggestions only and
should be used with caution.
1.
Cleaning up the Windows Temp
Folder
2. Getting to Internet Explorer Address Bar Quickly
3. Remove Windows Startup Programs Using
4. How to add a program to the Quick Launch Bar
5. How to turn on Sticky Keys
6. How to set ownership on drives
7. How to change the size of the Virtual Memory Paging File
8. Enabling and Disabling The Windows XP Firewall
9. Adding Programs to the Start Menu
10. Make Use Of Your Windows Key
11. Running Scan Disk on Windows XP
12. Windows XP Shutdown Issues
13. How to show Hidden Files and Folders
14. How to defragment your hard drive
15. How to Remove Unwanted Device Drivers
For issues requiring further technical assistance, please feel free to Contact Us at (416) 827-1224
Cleaning Up the Windows Temp
Folder
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Before cleaning up the temp folder, close all other running programs.
The easiest way to clean up your Windows Temp folder is as follows:
Open My Computer or Windows Explorer
- Locate the C:\Documents and Settings\{your user name}\Local Settings\Temp folder
- Chose option Edit then Select All (or press Ctrl and A)
- Click the Delete button on the keyboard
- Click Yes to proceed to delete all files
*** Note that it is normal get an error message saying that some files are in use and cannot be deleted
Getting To IE Address Bar
Quickly
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To get to the Address bar quickly, press F6. This move the cursor to the address bar and highlights it so that
it can be deleted with the first key you press.
Removing Windows Startup
Programs
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Personalized Menus keeps the Programs menu clean by hiding items you haven't used recently, while keeping all of
your programs easily accessible. When Personalized Menus is turned on, Windows 2000 keeps track of which programs
are used each time you use your computer, and hides the programs you have not used in a long time.
You can still gain access to hidden programs by clicking Start, pointing to Programs, and then clicking the down
arrow at the bottom of the menu.
To turn on Personalized Menus, click Start, point to Settings, click Taskbar & Start Menu, and then select Use
Personalized Menus on the General tab.
Adding a Program to the Quick Launch
Bar Back to Top
In My Computer or Windows Explorer, click the icon for the program you want to add and drag it to the Quick
Launch portion of the Taskbar.
The icon for that program appears next to the other Quick Launch icons on the Taskbar.
How to turn on Sticky
Keys
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- Open Accessibility Options in the Control Panel
- On the Keyboard tab, select the Use Sticky Keys check box under Sticky Keys
Note:
To access the Accessibility Options, click Start, click Settings, select Control Panel and then double-click
Accessibility Options.
To change the settings for Sticky Keys, click the Settings option on the Keyboard tab under Sticky Keys.
- click Start, Settings, then Control Panel
- double-click Administrative Tools and then open Computer Management
- In the console tree, select Storage then select Logical Drives
- Right-click the drive for which you want to set ownership, right click and select Properties,
and click the Security tab
- Click Advanced and then click the Owners tab
- Click the new owner and then click OK
Note:
- You must be logged on as an administrator or a member of the Administrators group in order to complete this
procedure. If your computer is connected to a network, network policy settings may also prevent you from
completing this procedure.
- You can only change ownership on drives formatted to use NTFS. You can change ownership settings on a
remote computer or a local computer. To access a remote computer, right-click Computer Management (Local),
click Connect to another computer, and then select the computer you want to connect to.
- Logical Drives only changes ownership of the drive, not the folders and files on the drive.
How to change Page File
Size
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- Open System in Control Panel
- Click Performance Options on the Advanced tab
- Click Change under Virtual memory
- In the Drive list, click the drive that contains the paging file you want to change
- Under Paging file size for selected drive, type a new paging file size in megabytes in the Initial size
(MB) or Maximum size (MB) box and then click Set
Note: If you decrease the size of either the minimum or maximum page file settings, you must restart your
computer to see the effects of those changes. Increases typically do not require a restart.
Windows XP contains its own firewall. A firewall is a security system that acts as a protective boundary
between a network and the outside world. Internet Connection Firewall (ICF) is firewall software that is used
to set restrictions on what information is communicated from your home or small office network to and from the
Internet to your network.
If your network uses Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) to provide Internet access to multiple computers, ICF
should be enabled on the shared Internet connection. However, ICS and ICF can be enabled separately. You should
enable ICF on the Internet connection of any computer that is connected directly to the Internet. To check to
see if ICF is enabled or to enable the firewall, see Enable or disable Internet Connection Firewall.
ICF also protects a single computer connected to the Internet. If you have a single computer connected to the
Internet with a cable, DSL or dial-up modem, ICF protects your Internet connection. You should not enable ICF
on VPN connections because it will interfere with the operation of file sharing and other VPN functions.
Enable the ICF by right clicking on your Internet or Network connection and then going to the ADVANCED option
and ticking the ICF enable box.
- Locate the .exe file in Explorer, My Computer or Desktop
- Drag and drop the file onto the Start menu
To remove the shortcut, simply click the Start menu, right click on the shortcut and select Delete
followed by Yes
The Windows logo key located in the bottom row of most computer keyboards is a little-used treasure. It is the
shortcut anchor for the following commands:
Windows: Display the Start menu
Windows + D: Minimize or restore all windows
Windows + E: Display Windows Explorer
Windows + F: Display Search for files
Windows + Ctrl + F: Display Search for computer
Windows + F1: Display Help and Support Center
Windows + R: Display Run dialog box
Windows + Break: Display System Properties dialog box
Windows + Shift + M: Undo minimize all windows
Windows + L: Lock the workstation
Windows + U: Open Utility Manager
- Open My Computer and select the local disk you want to check
- Click Properties on the File menu
- On the Tools tab under Error-checking, click Check Now
- Under Check disk options, select the Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors check box
Note:
All files must be closed for this process to run properly. If the volume is currently in use, a message box
will appear prompting you to indicate whether or not you want to reschedule the disk checking for the next time
you restart your system. Then, the next time you restart your system, disk checking will run. Your volume will
not be available to perform other tasks while this process is running.
If your volume is formatted as NTFS, Windows automatically logs all file transactions, replaces bad clusters,
and stores copies of key information for all files on the NTFS volume.
Windows XP shutdown problems occur as a result of a few issues, including legacy hardware drivers and
software compatibility issues.
The leading cause of Windows XP shutdown problems is hardware incompatibility, including driver issues. It is
impossible to list every possible hardware or driver issue individually. The best advice is to check all
drivers for all hardware devices to ensure that they are the current best for Windows XP.
Most Windows XP shutdown problems are that the computer reboots when shutdown is attempted. This may be a
global symptom emerging from several distinct causes, because, by default, XP executes an automatic restart in
the event of a system failure. Therefore, more or less anything compromising the operating system during the
shutdown process could force this reboot.
- Open Windows Explorer
- In any folder that contains files, click on the Tools menu and select Folder Options
- Click on the view tab
- Locate where it lists Hidden Files and Folders and select Show hidden files and folders
- Click OK
How To Defragment Your Hard
Drive
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-
Close any open applications and data files
-
Open Windows Explorer
-
Right click on the drive or partition to defragment
-
Select the Properties option at the bottom of the menu
-
Select the Tools tab
-
Left click the Defragment Now button
Under Windows 7, accept any prompts from User Account Control to run the command. Next, you may select
Analyze Disk or Defragment Disk. If defragmenting Drive C, the system may need to reboot.
How to Remove Unwanted Device
Drivers Back to Top
If you install new hardware on your computer, the old device drivers may still exist. Device Manager is a
tool on Windows that identifies hardware on the machine.
- open the Device Manager by right-clicking the “My Computer” icon (labeled “Computer” in Vista/7)
- select the Properties option
- Select the Hardware tab under Windows XP or click the Device Manager link
- Uninstall devices that are not used or needed in the list of hardware
- Right click and select Uninstall to remove these devices
- Once these devices are removed, reboot the system for the changes to take effect
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