Good Housekeeping
Graham Godfrey gave an illustrated talk on this topic on
1 November 07.
All the following instructions apply to users of Windows XP,
but you will be able to do something similar with other
versions of Windows.
1. Quick Access to a document
Go to Folder containing wanted Document
Right-hand click on required Document
Select “Create Shortcut”
Drag “Shortcut to Housekeeping” onto Desktop
(drag and drop it onto the "Desktop", which you
will see listed on the left hand side)
2. Tidying a folder
Change View to “Details” (click on View on the top toolbar)
Click on “Date Modified” to change Date order
Delete unwanted Files -- they go into the Recycle Bin
Do Not empty Recycle Bin for 1 Month after deleting Files
3. To restore files from Recycle Bin
Double click on Recycle Bin
Select File or Files
Select Restore all items
4. Disk Cleanup
Disk Cleanup is one of several System Task programs.
Disk Cleanup displays unused files, and gives you the option
to delete them
Select “Start” and “All programs” on bottom left
Select “Accessories”
Select “System Tools”
Select “Disk Cleanup”
5. DeFragmenter
Disk DeFragmenter is another System Task program.
It examines the Hard Drive for Fragments of Data.
If there are too many Data Fragments it will put them
together again.
This will speed up the computer when it is searching for Data
It can take up to an hour to perform
Select “Start” and “All programs” on bottom left
Select “Accessories”
Select “System Tools”
Select “Disk Defragmenter”
6. Restore
The computer takes periodic snapshots of the System,
called Restore points.
Restore point: You can return the computer to a known good state.
Create a Restore point: useful before installing a new program.
Click “Start menu”
Select “Help & Support”
From “Pick a task” select “undo changes to your computer using
System restore
Select “Create a restore point” and then “Next”
Enter meaningful name e.g. Pre-Adobe in Restore point
Select “Create”
7. Restore my computer to an earlier time …
Click “Start menu”
Select “Help & Support”
From “Pick a task” select “undo changes to your
computer using System restore”
Select “Restore my computer to an earlier time” and
then “Next”
Select date you wish to return to and then “Next”
Click “Next" on following window, your computer
will be restored to the earlier date.
