Article Number: C07750057

Note: This checklist is not customized for specific system scans and checks to increase processing speed. Check the computer's specific User Guide for more details.

1. Check how much memory (RAM) is in your computer.
   1. From the Windows Vista® default Start menu, right-click Computer, and then click Properties.

   2. In the System Properties window, in the System section, check Memory (RAM).

      

   If there is not at least 1 GB of RAM listed, consider upgrading the memory.

2. Check Drive space

   When looking at the Hard Drive properties window incorrectly, you might assume that the hard drive is not the correct size.

   1. Click Start, and then click My Computer.
   2. In the My Computer window, right-click the C: drive, and then click Properties.
   3. The Local Disk (C:) Properties dialog box appears.

   

   Note: System performance may begin to deteriorate if there is less than 10% of drive space available. If this is the case, go to the Empty Recycle Bin step.

3. If this is a Vista upgrade, was the Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor ran first?
   Microsoft has made a tool called the Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor RC to help determine if your Windows XP-based PC can run Windows Vista. Prior to accessing the Windows Upgrade Advisor, make sure your peripherals are connected and turned on. Learn more about the tool and download it by typing into your internet browser: www.Microsoft.com. Then click on the Windows Vista icon, click Get Ready, select upgrade advisor. (http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/upgradeadvisor/default.mspx)

   For more on Windows Vista editions available, go to the main page of Gateway.com and click the Windows Vista symbol. Then click Versions. From the menu bar near the top of the page, click Home and Home Office. Go to PC Accessories and click Software, then Operating Systems.

   Note: If your system meets the recommended requirements to run Windows Vista and your system still is running slow, use the rest of the steps in this checklist to improve your computer's performance.

4. Run Windows Update:
   
   1. Click Start. In the Start Search box, type: Windows. From the displayed list, select Windows Update.
   2. Verify "Windows is up to date" with important updates.
   3. If not, install updates.

5. Empty the Recycle Bin.
   • Right-click the Recycle Bin icon.
   • From the drop-down menu, click Empty Recycle Bin, and then click OK.

6. Run an anti-virus scan. Refer to the help file or documentation for the specific anti-virus application for completing a scan of the computer and to the Detecting and Identifying Viruses checklist for more information.

7. Run an anti-spyware scan. Refer to the Detecting and Identifying Spyware checklist for more information.

8. Run the Disk Cleanup tool.

   The types of files that you can specify for Disk Cleanup may include the following:

   • Downloaded Program Files - Downloaded program files are ActiveX controls and Java programs that are downloaded automatically from the Internet when you view certain pages. These files are temporarily stored in the Downloaded Program Files folder on the hard disk. This option includes a View Files button so that you can see the files before Disk Cleanup removes them. The button opens the C:\Winnt\Downloaded Program Files folder.
     
   • Temporary Setup Files - These are files that were created by a Setup program that is no longer running.
     
   • Temporary Internet Files - The Temporary Internet Files folder contains Web pages that are stored on your hard disk for quick viewing. Disk Cleanup removes these pages but leaves your personalized settings for Web pages intact. This option also includes a View Files button, which opens the C:\Documents and Settings\Username\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5 folder.
     
   • Previous Windows Installations - These are files kept from previous installations of Windows. Files and folders that may conflict with the installation of Windows have been moved to folders named Windows.old. If these folders are removed, you will no longer be able to access data from previous installations in this folder.
     
   • Office Setup Files - These are installation files used by Office. If these files are removed, you may be prompted for your original installation media or source during any Reinstall, Repair, or Patch operation. It is recommended that these files not be removed unless the original installation media is available.
     
   • Old Chkdsk Files - When Chkdsk checks a disk for errors, Chkdsk might save lost file fragments as files in the root folder on the disk. These files are unnecessary and may be removed.
     
   • Recycle Bin - The Recycle Bin contains files that you have deleted from the computer. These files are not permanently removed until you empty the Recycle Bin. This option includes a View Files button that opens the Recycle Bin.
     
   • Setup Log Files - These are files set up by Windows to store setup information. They can be safely removed.
     
   • Temporary Files - Programs sometimes store temporary information in a Temp folder. Before a program quits, the program usually deletes this information. You can safely delete temporary files.
     
   • Thumbnails - Windows keeps a copy of all of your picture, video, and document thumbnails so they can be displayed quickly when you open a folder. If these thumbnails are deleted, they will automatically be recreated by Windows as needed. These files can be safely deleted.
     
   • System Archived Windows Error Reporting - These files are used for error reporting and solution checking. These files can be safely deleted.
     
   • WebClient/Publisher Temporary Files - The WebClient/Publisher service maintains a cache of accessed files on the disk. These files are kept locally for performance reasons only, and be safely deleted.
     
   • Temporary Offline Files - Temporary offline files are local copies of recently used network files. These files are automatically cached so that you can use them after you disconnect from the network. A View Files button opens the Offline Files folder.
     
   • Offline Files - Offline files are local copies of network files that you specifically want to have available offline so that you can use them after you disconnect from the network. A View Files button opens the Offline Files folder.
     
   • Compress Old Files - Windows can compress files that you have not used recently. Compressing files saves disk space, but you can still use the files. No files are deleted. Because files are compressed at different rates, the displayed amount of disk space that you will gain is approximate. An Options button lets you specify the number of days to wait before Disk Cleanup compresses an unused file.
     
   • Catalog Files for the Content Indexer - The Indexing service speeds up and improves file searches by maintaining an index of the files that are on the disk. These Catalog files remain from a previous indexing operation and can be deleted safely.

   If you specify cleaning up the drive that contains the Windows installation, some or all of these options are available on the Disk Cleanup tab. If you specify any other drive, only the Recycle Bin and Catalog files for the Content Indexer options are available on the Disk Cleanup tab.

   The More Options tab contains options for cleaning up Windows components or installed programs.

   • The Programs and Features option creates free space by removing programs that are not being used. Clicking Clean Up starts the Uninstall or Change a Program Wizard.
     
   • The System Restore and Shadow Copies option removes all restore points except for the most recent one. In some editions of Windows Vista, the disk might include file shadow copies and older Windows Complete PC Backup images as part of restore points. This information will also be deleted. Click Clean Up to start the removal process.

9. Run Checkdisk (chkdsk).
   • Chkdsk requires exclusive access to a volume when it runs. Therefore, if one or more of the files are open on the disk that you want to check, Chkdsk displays a prompt asking if you want schedule the disk check for the next time that you restart your computer.
     
   • Chkdsk might take a long time to run, depending on the number of files and folders, the size of the volume, disk performance, and available system resources, such as processor and memory.
     
   • Chkdsk might not accurately report information in read-only mode.

   Note: If one or more of the files on the hard disk are open, you will receive the following message:

   "Chkdsk cannot run because the volume is in use by another process. Would you like to schedule this volume to be checked the next time the system restarts? (Y/N)"

   Type: Y, and then press the ENTER key to schedule the disk check, and then restart your computer to start the disk check.

   Exit code	Description
   0	No errors were found.
   1	Errors were found and fixed.
   2	Disk cleanup, such as garbage collection, was performed, or cleanup was not performed because /r was not specified.