pctoolbox.co.uk

This tutorial will show you how to run a ScanDisk on your Vista PC.

What is a ScanDisk?

ScanDisk, also known as ‘Error Checking’ simply scans the file system and repairs any errors or bad clusters.  This just helps keep your computer running smoothly and hopefully quickly, so its worth doing.  How often depends on how much you use your machine, every three months for the home user should be fine.  Busy home machines or business machines I would say monthly ideally.

How to run a ScanDisk

1. Firstly, close all programs.
2. Click on the Start Orb.
   
3. Select ‘Computer’
   
4. Right-Click on the drive which has the Label ‘(C:)’ and then select ‘Properties’.
   
5. Select the ‘Tools’ tab and then ‘Check Now’ (Click to Enlarge Image)
   
6. Ensure that both boxes are ticked, then click ‘Start’.
   
7. Click ‘Schedule Disk Scan’ and then restart your machine.
   

Any questions?

This tutorial will show you how run/schedule a Defragmentation on your Vista machine.

What is a Defrag?

If you use this analogy, your computer is like a filing cabinet, it starts all neat and tidy but over time it becomes messy and disorganised.  Defrag simply tidies things up which makes it easier for the computer to locate the information it requires therefore improving the performance of the machine.

Tip:

We suggest that you don’t have any programs running whilst running a Defrag.

How to run a Defrag

1. First of all click on the Start orb
   
2. Then select ‘Computer’
   
3. Right-Click on the drive which has the Label (C:) and select ‘Properties’.
   
4. Select the ‘Tools’ tab and then Defragment Now (Click to Enlarge Image)
   
5. Select Defragment Now (Click to Enlarge Image)
   
6. Select which disks you wish to be defragmented (we recommend that you Defragment all Disks).  Once you’ve selected click OK.
   
7. Your computer will now be running a Defragmentation.  This may take up to a few hours.  (Click to Enlarge Image)
   
8. You will be informed when the Defrag is complete.  At that point you can close the Defrag Window and continue using your computer as you normally would.

How to Schedule a Defrag:

On Vista, Defragmentation is set on a default schedule.  However, that schedule may not fit to your work style.  So here is how to change the Scheduled date and time.

1. Follow steps 1-4 from ‘How to run a Defrag’
2. Select ‘Modify Schedule’  (Click to enlarge Image)
   
3. Decide when you would like the Defrag to be Scheduled for by using the drop down menus (Click to Enlarge Image)
   
4. Click OK

Have you found this helpful?  What would you like pctoolbox to do next?!

Hello and Welcome

PcToolbox is a site linked with Brandstar UK and managed by their Technical Director Graham Martin (Me!). The aim of the site is to offer some techie blogs that are hopefully aimed at non-techies. Written for all to understand, highlighting the key information about the subject without going into unnecessary detail but with links where appropriate/available for further reading around the subject.

The plan is to offer a range of blogs and tutorials around a variety of I.T. subjects including Windows, Office, Computer Systems, PHP, New Gadgets, Software Tutorials and anything else we think might be of interest!

Who are Brandstar? Brandstar UK Ltd is a company based in Thakeham (near Storrington) in West Sussex (England). Brandstar offer computer support to local home users and small businesses, maintaining their standalone systems and networks. For more information check out the Brandstar UK Website. With this blog up and running the current Brandstar Blog will be just the news for Brandstar and anything specifically related to Brandstar Clients.

Another member of the Brandstar team “Alex” will be writing various blog’s here based around his area of expertise as well as writing a wide range of tutorials. For some tutorials already written by Alex & Brandstar take a look at the Brandstar Resource Area.

If you have any requests for blogs or tutorials please leave us a comment and we will see what can be done.

Cheers,

graham.