Recommended Computer Maintenance Schedule

The following items are minimum level maintenance items. There are a lot more items that should be done regularly. Your individual computer system may have additional software that requires regular maintenance.  

This maintenance list assumes that your are using a good antivirus package for virus protection and Ad Aware for Spyware Protection. Other antivirus, adware or spyware protection should have additional routines for maintenance and regular updates.  The Maestro recommends NOD32 for antivirus protection

If you need assistance or are not comfortable running any of these maintenance routines, contact the Maestro for an on-site maintenance visit. 

Daily Tasks

Delete Internet Cookies

Delete Internet Temporary Files

Clear Internet History

Turn off the computer overnight

Turn off the computer if not being used for more than 4 hours.

Copy or backup critical information (backup to CD-ROM, USB Thumb Drive, floppy disk, Zip disk, second hard drive or even to the internet.

Use any good backup software. The Maestro recommends Novabackup from Novastor Corporation.

Continue to backup using any utility that is part of existing software such as those found in Quicken or Quickbooks. Specific Software tech support can better assist you when using built-in backup utilities.

Update Antivirus

Update Ad Aware Anti-spyware files

Ad Aware Spyware System Scan

Antivirus System Virus Scan

Remove Antivirus Quarantined files

Complete Backup of entire system (remember to include the system state in this backup)

 

Monthly Tasks

Disk Cleanup

Disk Defragmentation

Disk Cleanup- Clear Windows XP System Restore Points

Compact and delete old Email message files

As Needed and everytime information is updated or changed:

Backup Financial Data (Quicken/Quickbooks/MS Money/TurboTax/ other)

Optional backup of important Word /Excel Office files

Backup of Email messages and address books

Be careful when adding new hardware or software.

Many vendors add unnecessary startup routines and advertising icons without your express knowledge.

A lot of software titles add "automatic updates" that check for new versions via the internet.

These will slow your system down and cause additional performance problems.

Microsoft issues updates, fixes and patches to close security breaches within their own software.

Run Critical Updates regularly

Other vendors recommend regular updates of their own software.

My general feeling on these updates is to avoid them. If it ain’t broke, don’t try to fix it.

The only exceptions are protection updates for:

• Antivirus Packages 
• Adware/Spyware Protection
• Backup software systems
• Firewall protection

Delete .tmp files manually. (Disk Cleanup may not remove all .tmp files)

Review and Clear Event Logs from Administrative Tools

Daily Tasks

While on Internet Explorer:

• Click on Tools
• Internet Options
• Temporary Internet Files
• Delete Cookies
• Delete Files (check on offline content)
• History
• Clear History

While on Internet Explorer:

Click on Tools

Internet Options

Content

Auto Complete

Clear Forms

Clear Passwords

Copy or backup critical information

Use a reputable backup program or simply use Windows Explorer to copy selected files to your backup media.

Most backup software can create a specific "backup job" that can remember all of the various files and folders that you need to save. Windows 2000 and Windows XP Professional have built in backup software. Windows XP Home has similar software but it must be installed as an additional feature.

If you use Windows Explorer (not Internet Explorer) you can copy individual files, groups of files or entire folders to your backup media.

Backup media can be

• Floppy Disk
• Zip Disk
• CD ROM
• Thumb Drive (USB Interface)
• Secondary External Hard Drive
• Internet Backup Location

If your software includes built-in backup utilities, use them in addition to any other backup software installed. Quicken and QuickBooks both have built in backup features.

Click on Ad Aware SE

Click on Start and let it run

Update Ad Aware Anti-spyware files (should configured to update automatically each time you scan)

Complete backup of entire system (remember to include the system state in this backup)

A backup of your entire computer is your insurance policy for when disaster strikes. While selected data backups have a purpose in saving some information, system backups save everything in your computer. CD-ROMS, Zip disks do not have the capacity to backup your entire system.

Tape drives and secondary external hard drives are the only media large enough to backup your entire system.

Know your backup software and know how to restore as well as backup.

Click on

• Start
• Programs
• Accessories
• System Tools
• DiskCleanup
• OK

Click on

• Start
• Programs
• Accessories
• System Tools
• Disk Defragmenter
• Highlight Disk C
• Defragment

 

Allow at least one hour for this process. Do not run anything else while this is running

Run this only your system is running OK, you have no problems and have not recently installed any new hardware or software.

Click on

• Start
• Programs
• Accessories
• System Tools
• DiskCleanup
• More Options
• System Restore
• Cleanup
• Click Yes to delete all but the most recent restore point

Delete .tmp files manually. (Disk Cleanup may not remove all .tmp files)

Review and Clear Event Logs from Administrative Tools

Contact the Maestro for specific training in these and additional advanced maintenance tasks.