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Chapter 3. Getting Started
27
Preventing Problems
An important part of owning your computer is maintenance. With proper
care, you can avoid common problems. The following sections provide
information that can help you to keep your computer running smoothly.
General Tips for Preventing Problems
1. Check the capacity of your hard disk drive from time to time. If the
hard disk drive gets too full, Windows
®
will slow down and might
produce errors.
Note: You can check the capacity of each hard disk drive as follows.
1. On the desktop, click Start -> Computer.
2. Select a hard disk drive, which you want to check, then right-
click.
3. Click Properties from the menu displayed after right-click.
4. Check the capacity of the hard disk drive.
5. Click OK to close the properties window.
2. Empty your recycle bin on a regular basis.
3. Use Diskeeper Lite or the Microsoft Disk Defragmenter on your hard
disk drive on a regular basis to improve data seek and read time. To
start the Disk Defragmenter, click Start -> All Programs ->
Accessories -> System Tools -> Disk Defragmenter.
• To free up disk space, uninstall unused application programs.
Note: You might also want to look for application program duplication
or overlapping versions.
• Clean out your Inbox, Sent, and Trash folders from your e-mail client
program.
• At least once a week, make a point to back up your data. If critical data is
present, it is a good idea to perform a daily backup. Lenovo has many
backup options available for your computer. CD-RW drives and CD-
RW/DVD drives are available for most computers and are easily
installed.
• Use or schedule System Restore to take a system snapshot periodically.
Note: Always take a system snapshot before installing new drivers,
updating software, or installing new software.
• Update device drivers and BIOS when needed.
• Profile your machine at http://www.lenovo.com/support to keep up to
date with current drivers and revisions.
• Keep up to date on device drivers on other non-Lenovo hardware. You
might want to read the device driver information release notes prior to
updating for compatibility or known issues.
• Keep a log book. Entries might include major hardware or software
changes, driver updates, minor issues you have experienced and how
you resolved them.
Lenovo 3000Y410 UG.book Page 27 Friday, September 14, 2007 1:37 PM