: Maintaining Your Computer
64
3
Click
Check Now
, then click
Start
. Your drive is checked
for errors. This process may take several minutes.
After Windows has finished checking the drive for
errors, it provides a summary of the problems that it
found.
4
Correct any problems that are found by following the
on-screen instructions.
5
Click
OK
.
Defragmenting the hard drive
When working with files, sometimes Windows divides the file
information into pieces and stores them in different places on
the hard drive. This is called
fragmentation
, and it is normal.
In order for your computer to use a file, Windows must search
for the pieces of the file and put them back together. This
process slows the hard drive performance.
Disk Defragmenter organizes the data on the drive so each
file is stored as one unit rather than as multiple pieces
scattered across different areas of the drive. Defragmenting
the information stored on the drive can improve hard drive
performance.
While Disk Defragmenter is running, do not use your keyboard
or mouse because using them may continuously stop and
restart the defragmenting process. Also, if you are connected
to a network, log off before starting Disk Defragmenter.
Network communication may stop the defragmentation
process and cause it to start over.
Important
Error checking cannot scan a drive while the drive is being used,
so if you try to check your hard drive for errors, you see a prompt asking
you if you want to scan the hard drive later (the next time you restart
your computer). If you see this prompt, click
Schedule disc check
, then
restart your computer.
Help
For more information about checking the hard drive for errors,
click
Start
, then click
Help and Support
. Type
checking for disk
errors
in the
Search Help
box, then press E
NTER
.
Tip
Because defragmenting a drive may take hours to complete (depending
on the size of the drive being defragmented), consider starting the process
when you will not need the computer for several hours.
8512032.book Page 64 Tuesday, January 9, 2007 1:47 PM
Summary of Contents for Profile 6
Page 1: ...REFERENCEGUIDE Gateway Profile 6 8512032 book Page a Tuesday January 9 2007 1 47 PM...
Page 2: ...8512032 book Page b Tuesday January 9 2007 1 47 PM...
Page 10: ...CHAPTER 1 About This Reference 4 8512032 book Page 4 Tuesday January 9 2007 1 47 PM...
Page 60: ...CHAPTER 4 Upgrading Your Computer 54 8512032 book Page 54 Tuesday January 9 2007 1 47 PM...
Page 76: ...CHAPTER 5 Maintaining Your Computer 70 8512032 book Page 70 Tuesday January 9 2007 1 47 PM...
Page 110: ...CHAPTER 6 Troubleshooting 104 8512032 book Page 104 Tuesday January 9 2007 1 47 PM...
Page 120: ...Appendix A Legal Notices 114 8512032 book Page 114 Tuesday January 9 2007 1 47 PM...
Page 128: ...122 Index 8512032 book Page 122 Tuesday January 9 2007 1 47 PM...
Page 129: ...8512032 book Page 123 Tuesday January 9 2007 1 47 PM...
Page 130: ...MAN PFL6 HW REF V R0 1 07 8512032 book Page 124 Tuesday January 9 2007 1 47 PM...