Windows Tips For Computer Users...
Old and New

Here is the next round of Tips for Windows users

Use Disk Cleanup

A system clogged with unnecessary files runs more slowly, and the mess makes important things harder to find. To cut through the clutter, open the Start menu and select Programs | Accessories | System Tools | Disk Cleanup.

The Disk Cleanup applet calculates the amount of space you can save by emptying the Recycle Bin, deleting temporary Internet files, and (for NTFS drives) compressing old files. Check off the options that make sense and click on OK to regain the specified amount of hard drive space

Change the Size of the Recycle Bin

You might be surprised at the amount of space Disk Cleanup saves by emptying the Recycle Bin. By default, Windows allocates up to 10 percent of each drive for the Recycle Bin. This method made sense when drives were measured in megabytes. But these days, you can set the amount as low as 1 percent for a large drive by right-clicking on Recycle Bin, choosing Properties, setting the new percentage, and clicking on OK

Remove Unused Programs

To get rid of never or seldom used programs, launch Add/Remove Programs from the Control Panel and examine each item. Don't meddle with items that are completely unfamiliar; they may be required by the system. But if you find a standalone application that you no longer use, get rid of it! Depending on the program in question, Add/Remove Programs in Windows 2000 and XP reveals the size of the installation, as well as how recently and how often it was used.

Cleanup Outlook Express Mail

A friend of mine complained to me that his e-mail program took forever to open. When I looked at his Inbox there were 1,976 messages in storage. I also looked in his deleted items folder and there were 3,878 messages.

OK, I understand saving important items but jokes that someone sent you in 2001 are probably safe to delete.

You should also take a look at all of your Outlook Express (or Outlook) message folders. When you delete a message or move it to another folder, OE simply marks the original message as deleted without actually removing it. Start by right-clicking on the Deleted Items folder and emptying it. Then choose File | Folder | Compact All Folders to free up all the space occupied by those marked messages. If you've never done this before, emptying the folders can take quite a while (it took 8 minutes on my friend's computer).

Afterward, OE may load noticeably faster

Final Words

These are just a few more of the everyday hints to make your computer experience easier.

As always, should you have any other questions about your computer, do not hesitate in picking up the phone... better to contact me and be sure.