Windows maintenance , keeping files happy.

[emenance]

Run chkdsk sometimes.

 

start cmd then type in chkdsk this will tell you if c drive has problems.

 

Sometimes you will see an error about volume bits . This is normal and not really an issue. To be sure your ok right click my computer and then properies and run the check errors util. If no errors there your ok even though chkdsk is talking about some minor issue. Although a few have even ended that with a good defrag. This is true esp with xp service pack 2 and those running a raid array. Again its ok , strait from MS info here. Some sytems will report back clean with sp 2. There is also a minor error that can show up about the MFT. DONT PANIC. Diskeeper can defrag the MFT and make this go away but it was stated by micro money AKA MS again this is not something to worry about.

 

Do not run diskkeeper or anythird party stuff to replace normal maintenance of chkdsk runs. this can dismantle your file system!!!

 

Now from the start. go to command promt and run chkdsk /f /r and say yes to run on next reboot. Do that and do not interupt it.

 

If you find bad sectors do not panic there is a util to run for that that will repair those. Harddisk regenerator is the name of that util. http://www.gold-software.com/download7605.html

 

Its basically is a better checkdisk program to run but can take alnight as it scans everybit of the disk surface.

 

Just remeber the chkdsk /f /r sometimes if anything pops up google for an explanation. This maintenance and defraging is very important is you want a long lasting OS install. My last one lasted about 8 months before I rebuilt it due to a hardware bitch about one of my IDE back up drive, owell 8 months was a long time anyway.

 

BTW Symantec may suck at antivirus anymore but does great with backups. I have been useing Back Up Exec desktop version and it work great. It will back up your partition while the computer is running automatic if you want. Forget XP restore.

[VMFA-Blaze]

If and when you install Vista and if you decide to install Live Care you won't need to do any of this anymore, because L/C does it for you automatically..

 

I'm finding Live Care to be a very easy system to deal with so far.. It actually does a defrag and a system tuneup at prearranged times, but if you liked watching the little colored lines then you might not like Vista because that's been eliminated... But so what it defrags automatically even if your not personally online.. So you don't have to try and remember...

 

~S~

 

Blaze

[Ven]

Just as I was considering to try Windows Live after reading your post Blaze, I got windows update notice... I had it set to manual. And after installing the 3 "important" updates, my system got messed up. I had UAC turned off but one of these updates turned it back on. It was actually messed up as the security center said the UAC was on and the UAC control panel said it was off. So now windows doesn't allow me to turn it off because it already thinks it's off... confusing? Anyways, I had no write access to any of my own files. Took me 2 hours searching on the net to troubleshoot it and finally got it working after manually turning it off in the registry.

 

This actually reminded me not to trust anyone... even Microsoft to auto update or manage my system.

[hitman]

I have Windows Live Care as well...it works pretty good as an a/v software AND BETTER a firewall that goes with it...but with the defrag status bar gone, I cant tell how badly defragmented my tables are and this is the ONLY version of windows that doesnt have a status bar on the defrag.

[VMFA-Blaze]

I have Windows Live Care as well...it works pretty good as an a/v software AND BETTER a firewall that goes with it...but with the defrag status bar gone, I cant tell how badly defragmented my tables are and this is the ONLY version of windows that doesnt have a status bar on the defrag.

 

Yes that's the same thing that I miss, but it does defrag automatically....

 

When I first realized that the graphics were missing from the defrag I did a Google and found that a lot of people, not just myself do miss it...

 

Oh and Ven sorry that you had a problem.. I spent several hours myself trying to understand the method that I needed to use to get a external HD to backup the system.. I think that there's going to be a lot of other issues that will be unveiled the longer that we experience Vista.. But even with its present issues I personally still like it and I'm sure that I will only get better... If you have ever experienced ME then you know what a really bad O/S Microsoft can turn out... :lol:

 

~S~

 

 

Blaze