Utility Software

Disk Defragmenters
Used to search through your computer files to look for disjoined fragments and then moves the fragments back together for efficiency.

System Profiler
Software used to search through your PC to give detailed information about your computers installed hardware and software.

Virus Scanner
Looks through your files and folders to find viruses.

Binary/Hex/Text editor
Used to directly change the text on the page instead of changing the code behind the text.

Firewall
A tool that automatically checks any incoming information/files for virus's or other things that might harm your computer.

Microsoft Management Console
An administrator tool designed to let advanced users edit/observe the current system, this is done through a flexible interface.

Task Scheduler
A tool designed to make it easy for the user to schedule various things through a script, it's best for virus scanning and running programmes that help maintain the system

Back-up to CD using compression software

When backing up files onto a CD it is better to compress the files to fit more onto the CD, windows has a standard method of compressing files, the files are Zipped into a .zip file. A more effective way to compress files is by using WinRAR, it is a freeware programme that is very popular and recognises almost all forms of compression.

Copy and delete files

To copy a file all you need to do is right click the file/folder you want to copy and click copy from the list:

Then go to the area you want to paste and right click, a list of options like above will come up:

Simply press paste and the file will copy over to the new area.

It is even easier to delete a file, just right click the file/folder you want to delete, then click delete from the list, it will then go to the recycle bin, to permanently delete the file just empty the recycle bin.

Create folders

To create a folder all you need to do is right click in an empty area, go to new then go to folder:

When you've clicked folder a new un-named folder will be created and you can rename it from there.

Installing and running a firewall

There are various ways of installing a firewall on Windows xp, one way is by running the fiewall sofware that comes with the PC or version of windows, but not all PC's have standard firewall software so its possible to download firewall software from the internet:

The third way to install a firewall is by using a disk, some firewall programme that need to be bought are sold using disks but have the same instalation files so the setup is the same as downloading the programme from the internet.

Installing Service Pack 2 patches for Windows XP

To install service pack 2 on windows xp you can eith go to the website:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sp2/default.mspx

Or, when you first install windows there will be a speech bubble in the bottom right corner saying you need to install new updates, when you've chosen which one you will do you'll get a popup showing the files your installing:

Once this has opened all you need to do is follow the simple setup and it will successfully install windows service pack 2.

Disk Defragment

To defragment a drive in your PC open the Windows Defragment programme, choose the drive you wish to defragment (all if neccessary) and press the defragment button.





Once the defragmentation has finished it will show you the finished results, although the drives have been defragmented there will still be some files still fragmented because the programme is designed to leave specific files alone, but there are free programmes on the internet to defragment these files if you feel its neccessary.