Windows Disk Precautions
Applies to all versions of Windows since Windows 95
There is only one sure remedy for computer crashes and disk failure: backups. For the crash that will happen, make sure that you have the automatic backup feature turned on in your word processor/spread sheet of choice and know how to use it. If your software doesn't have this feature, make backups of your work as you go. For the inevitable disk crash, use your tape backup unit if you have one or copy essential files to diskette (assuming you know where all your software diskettes and CDS are), zip drive, or CD.
Though Windows 95/98 is much more stable than past operating systems, it suffers from badly behaved programs that affect other programs or the Windows 95/98 operating system itself. NT is far more stable but has additional overhead and security considerations that make it's use more complicated. Windows 95 is no longer supported by Microsoft, 98 and NT will be retired soon (June, 03). If you can, Windows 2000 Professional (2K) is the best MS operating system thus far (XP is a bloated version of 2K with lots of bells and whistles and very Microsoft centric - my opinion anyway). There are two issues that need to be addressed that can help you recover from or avoid some of these crashes: memory management and temporary file deletion. When crashes or hangups occur, Windows and the programs that were running may leave behind pieces of files that would normally be deleted under normal exiting. And some programs like MS Word and Word Perfect don't clean up after themselves even under the best of circumstances. Regardless of the MS operating system used, some manual cleanup is required of these files.
First, you should know how to kill a program that locks up on you. If not totally locked up, try using Control-Alt-Delete where you will be given a choice of trying to end the program (end task) if it is no longer responding (In 2K or XP, this is a more complex window, choose Task Manager). If you can kill the program, then immediately save any other work in open programs and shut down/restart your machine (though in 2K or XP, even this can usually be avoided).
You should always exit from Windows before shutting off your computer. If you don't, then you will be accumulating *.tmp files as described below. If you are in the habit of shutting off your machine without exiting from Windows, then you should follow the steps described below. If you suspect a problem with SAS or web browsing, see the notes at the bottom before clearing temp files.
To Clear TEMP Files:
You can choose to clear temp files by hand or by using a program called "EmptyTempFolders". Follow directions here to install EmptyTempFolders and automatically clear the temp files.
To clear temp files manually:
Open Windows Explorer (if this isn't on your desktop, go to Start/Programs/Windows Explorer or look in "Accessories") or open "My Computer". (Note: NT systems use c:\Temp or other locations and you will have to figure out what is used on your particular setup - we recommend using c:\temp in for Windows 2K and XP instead of the default location of "C:\Documents and Settings\UserLogon\Local Settings\Temp"). Note that under Win2K or XP, each user has their own Temp file subdirectory and each has to be cleared out.
Click to C:\Windows\temp or C:\Winnt\temp (or the appropriate location)
Highlight all files and directories in this location using Shift-Click on the top and bottom files (files will have ~'s and .tmp type starting characters and extensions).
Hit the Delete Key and answer yes to any subsequent questions
Exit from Windows Explorer
Empty your recycle bin
Alternative:
Open My Computer, right click on the drive needing to be cleaned up, and choose the Disk Cleanup routine. This works for many of the files and includes options for clearing IE's cache and the recycle bin. However, it doesn't deal with subdirectories that should also be erased and doesn't handle the cache files of other web browsers.
SAS USERS note:Find your \SASWORK subdirectory and delete any files that you haven't saved to this location. In particular, delete any temporary work subdirectories (#TD-----).
Netscape/Internet Explorer users: I recommend clearing the cache files of Netscape and Internet Explorer on a regular basis using the cache clearing options of the program itself. In Netscape, you can go to Edit/Preferences/Advanced/Cache. In IE, go to Tools/Internet Options/General.
Scandisk/Defrag or Norton Disk Doctor/Speedisk
You are now ready to run Scandisk and Defrag routines to clear out pieces of old files that have been left behind by various programs and to make files that are stored in pieces contiguous. VIRUSSCAN AND NORTON ANTIVIRUS USERS: TURN OFF ANTIVIRUS SOFTWARE BEFORE RUNNING SCANDISK AND DEFRAG type Routines. Norton Utilities Users: use the Norton Disk Doctor and Speed Disk routines instead of Scandisk and Defrag. Note: Norton 2002 now includes support for NT4.0 and some support for 2000 Pro.
Windows 95/98 users: Click Start/Run and type in "scandisk" and hit return or use the Properties/Tools feature from My Computer or Windows Explorer on the drive you wish to work on (this is the way for 2K users). Choose the Standard and Automatic Fix options and run this program. In 2K or XP, you will have to reboot the machine as the checking gets done as part of the boot cycle. If the program asks you to save or delete files, tell it to delete. If the program asks you to create an undo file, choose no.
After scandisk runs, close up all windows and shutdown/restart the machine.
About once a month you will also want to run the Defrag routine:
Windows 95/98: Click Start/Run and type in "defrag" and hit return. Let this program run and when it completes, shut down the machine completely before restarting.
For 2K/XP: Use the Tools from Properties of the drive as with the disk checking above.
NT Users: you will need one of the commercial packages to accomplish scanning and defragging such as Diskkeeper or the current version of Norton Utilities.
Desparate Measures
Microsoft operating systems use the virtual memory concept whereby they use a piece of the hard drive as if it were real memory. This is actually a file on your computer and it can become corrupted or broken up into too many small pieces causing problems such as random lockups, blue screen of death, and so on. The trick here is to disable Virtual Memory, run scandisk and defrag, and then reenable it. Lots of rebooting required to get this done but this may save you from reinstalling the operating system.
To get to virtual memory, go to the Control Panel/System/Performance and choose "let me set virtual memory..." and click the "disable Virtual Memory" option. This will turn off VM essentially deleting the file from the hard drive. Reboot as instructed, run scandisk and defrag routines, and then when completed, go back into System/Performance and turn the virtual memory back on. You will need to reboot yet again. Note, this is not something you can do with less than 40MB of RAM. This even works for Windows 2K and XP though a "temporary" swap file will be created on startup.
|