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Article Number T02152002

Routine PC maintenance

Sometimes installation of Serif programs can be affected by lack of simple housekeeping on PC's. Many PC users do not understand that a simple 'spring clean' of their PC's can greatly improve performance and stability of the machine and enable further applications to be installed more easily and without error. Below are some useful tips on how to ensure your PC doesn't end up like the archetypal teenagers bedroom; clothes and bits and pieces everywhere and you just daren't look under the bed!

Temporary directory

In Microsoft Windows 95/98/2000/ME/NT/XP a temporary directory called 'TEMP' is there for Windows to use to store files that it creates in the installation or running of programs on your PC. Sometimes programs are unable to clean up after themselves and remove the entries that they have made in the TEMP directory so it is up to you to clear it out.

In Windows 9x/ME/XP the directory path is usually C:\WINDOWS\Temp.
In Windows 2000/NT/XP there is also C:\Documents and Settings\YOUR USER NAME\Local Settings\Temp

Navigate to these directories through the 'My Computer' icon on your Desktop (e.g. Double left-click on the 'My Computer' icon, double left-click on the 'C Drive' icon, double left-click on the 'Windows' OR 'Winnt' folder depending on your Operating System, double left-click on the 'Temp' folder). As long as you have no programs running (or in the middle of installing!) or you have not actually saved anything here, you can safely delete the contents of this directory (but not the directory itself). The files in this folder should mainly be randomly generated names like TMP37.tmp or ~DF20E1.tmp.

Recycle Bin

Many people delete files that they do not want and think that is that. Not quite I'm afraid! Microsoft windows has a feature called 'Recycle Bin' into which your deleted files are placed. This feature can be quite a relief when you accidentally delete a file; you can pop into the Recycle Bin and restore the offending file. However the Recycle Bin doesn't automatically get rid of those unwanted files so you need to periodically empty it. When you do decide to empty the Recycle Bin it is always a good idea to have a quick look through the files you have deleted before you empty it just in case!

Clean Installs

When you install a new piece of software the installation can be affected by other pieces of software running as a background task or running in the foreground on your PC. To avoid installation errors that can be caused by conflicts with these active programs, ensure you shut down all active programs (ones that appear on your Task Bar), and close down programs that are running in your System Tray (it is on your Task bar in the bottom right hand corner). This will help ensure no conflicts arise on installation.


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