eyesight check

[Liam Proven]

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On Sat, Feb 20, 2010 at 12:28 PM, Gryllida <gryllida at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
> On Sat, Feb 20, 2010 at 8:16 PM, Liam Proven <lproven at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> On Sat, Feb 20, 2010 at 8:59 AM, Gryllida <gryllida at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> > Thanks, but I am planning to install Ubuntu alongside (independently).
>> > The
>> > main question is the precaution actions I should do. For example, to
>> > de-fragment the disk prior to installation. Anything else?
>>
>> Ensure that you have emptied your various temp folders. These often
>> build up many dozens to hundreds of meg of junk.
>>
>> c:\documents and settings\%username%\local settings\temp
>
> was around 600MB, thanks

Good.

>> and
>>
>> c:\windows\temp
>
>
> I'm very much afraid to touch this. Windows OS will crash?

No, it will be fine. Remove *only* the contents of c:\windows\temp -
all subfolders &c. Leave the folder itself & don't touch any others.
>>
>> ... are the main ones.
>>
>> Empty your recycle bin.
>
> Already.
>>
>> Delete all the uninstall folders for Windows updates: they are called
>> ${name & number of update}$ in your c:\windows directory & are usually
>> compressed so show up in blue. Leave $hf_mig$ if it is present but get
>> rid of all the rest.
>
> I'm very much afraid to touch this. Windows OS will crash?

Not if you are careful. *Only* take ones whose names begin with dollar signs: $

Stuff like this:

$NtUninstallKB329115$

or

$NtUninstallKB905495-IE6SP1-20050805.184113$

or

$MSI31Uninstall_KB893803v2$

It is perfectly safe. It just means you can no longer uninstall the
fixes. But why would you want to?

>> Run a full chkdsk:
>>
>> chkdsk c: /f
>
> Okay.
>
>>
>> ... say Yes, then reboot.
>>
>> Do all these /before/ you defrag or try to shrink the partition.
>
> Defarg? I Google-ed  it and found it a good idea.

Definitely.
>>
>> I also recommend running defrag in Safe Mode. It's faster & it does a
>> more thorough job.
>
> Why exactly is it better in Safe Mode? Me doesn't get the idea.

In normal operation, lots of background programs are running and they
have files open all over your disk. Defrag cannot move open files.

In Safe mode, nothing else is running except the minumum, so more
files can be moved around, and no other tasks or processes will
interrupt the defrag.

> Thanks a lot for the reply!

No problem.

More instructions from an article I wrote a few years ago, here:
http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/1004689/how-to-give-a-tired-old-pc-a-spring-clean

-- 
Liam Proven • Profile: http://www.linkedin.com/in/liamproven
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