Windows Vista offers a number of useful tools for managing and maintaining routine tasks on your computer, such as installing and removing programs, and formatting, copying, and repairing disks. Windows also provides tools to find and fix disk problems, speed up disk access, and clean up disk space. By periodically finding and repairing disk errors, you can keep your files in good working condition and prevent disk problems that might cause you to lose your work. You can also schedule these tasks to run on a regular basis. If you find Windows performing sluggishly even after performing routine maintenance, you can adjust system processing and memory settings to improve performance.
Keeping your computer up-to-date is another way to keep your computer in good working condition and protect it against new and ongoing attacks over the Internet. Windows Update scans your computer for any software components or fixes (including security and high priority updates) that need to be installed and automatically or manually downloads them from the Internet. Each file that you download using Windows Update has a digital signature from Microsoft to ensure it’s authenticity and security. If problems do occur, you can undo harmful changes to your computer and restore its settings, or you can use one of several startup options to help you start Windows in a safe environment with basic files and drivers where you can restore settings and fix the problems.
A disk must be formatted with a file system that allows it to work with the operating system to store, manage, and access data. Two of the most common file systems are FAT (or FAT32, which is an improvement on FAT technology) and NTFS. Disks on DOS, Windows 3.1, or Windows 98/Me computers use the FAT file system, while disks on computers running Windows NT 4.0, Windows 2000, Windows XP and later can use either the NTFS or FAT system. NTFS is a newer file system that improves on some of the shortcomings of FAT disks that make them less desirable on a network. NTFS is the preferred file system for Windows Vista.
There are important differences between FAT and NTFS file systems:
When you format a disk with the FAT file system, a formatting program divides the disk into storage compartments. First it creates a series of rings, called tracks, around the circumference of the disk. Then it divides the tracks into equal parts, like pieces of a pie, to form sectors. The number of sectors and tracks depends on the size of the disk.
Although the physical surface of a disk is made of tracks and sectors, a file is stored in clusters. A cluster, also called an allocation unit, is one or more sectors of storage space. It represents the minimum amount of space that an operating system reserves when saving the contents of a file to a disk. Thus, a file might be stored in more than one cluster. Each cluster is identified by a unique number. The first two clusters are reserved by the operating system. The operating system maintains a file allocation table (or FAT) on each disk that lists the clusters on the disk and records the status of each cluster, whether it is occupied (and by which file), available, or defective. Each cluster in a file “remembers” its order in the chain of clusters—and each cluster points to the next one until the last cluster, which marks the end of the file. The FAT and FAT32 formats provide compatibility with other operating systems on your computer, which means you can configure your computer for a dual-boot or multi-boot setup and you can backup a previous operating system.
The exFAT file system (NewSP1) is the next generation file system in the FAT (FAT12/16, FAT32) family. While retaining the simplicity advantages of FAT32, exFAT overcomes FAT32’s 4 GB file size limit and scales up past FAT32’s 32 GB formatter limit. This means you can copy files greater than 4 GB in size to an exFAT file system and format removable storage (Flash or hard disk) greater than 32 GB in capacity. In addition, exFAT is designed to enable cross operating system and cross-device (such as cameras and phones) interoperation, which will be possible as manufacturers build support for exFAT into their devices.
NTFS features a built-in security system that does not allow users to access the disk unless they have a user account and password with the necessary rights and permissions. NTFS protects disks from damage by automatically redirecting data from a bad sector to a good sector without requiring you to run a disk-checking utility. Given the reliability and the built-in repair mechanisms of NTFS disks, only rarely do they require maintenance. This is an example of fault tolerance, the ability of a disk to resist damage, which is a critical issue with disks on a network computer.
NTFS supports removable Flash media (New!), but not floppy disks, so they are formatted with a FAT. If you are running Windows on a stand-alone computer, you can choose either a FAT or NTFS, but in most cases, the file system has already been determined either by the person who originally set up the computer or by the manufacturer from whom you purchased the computer. If your computer is a client on a Windows network, it is likely that your hard disk uses NTFS. Because NTFS is more suited to network demands, such as a high level of security and resistance to system failure, network administrators format network disks with NTFS whenever possible. Sometimes, however, users on a network want or need to use a non-Windows operating system. Also, a user might need a computer that is capable of running Windows XP. The disks on that computer would then be formatted with a FAT.
Formatting a disk—including hard disks, USB flash drives and flash memory cards—prepares it so that you can store information on it. Formatting removes all information from the disk, so you should never format a disk that has files you want to keep. When you format a disk, you need to specify the certain settings; Windows has default settings recommended. Capacity is how much data the disk or partition can hold, such as the physical size, storage size, and sector size. A file system is the overall structure in which files are named, stored, and organized. NTFS, FAT, FAT32, and exFAT (NewSP1) are types of file systems. Disk allocation unit size, or cluster size, is a group of sectors on a disk. The operating system assigns a unique number to each cluster, and then keeps track of files according to which clusters they use. If your hard disk uses a FAT file system, you can convert it to the NTFS format.
With a disk in the drive, click the Start button, and then click Computer.
Right-click the drive, and then click Format.
Specify the capacity, file system (NTFS, FAT (Default), FAT32 or exFAT), and allocation unit size.
Select the Quick Format check box to perform a quick format, or clear the Quick Format check box to perform a full format and disk scan for bad sectors.
To use a disk to start up your computer and run MS-DOS, select the Create an MS-DOS startup disk check box.
Click Start, click OK to format the disk, and then click OK when it’s done.
Click Close.
- Click the Start button, point to All Programs, click Accessories, and then click Command Prompt.
- Type convert drive :/fs:ntfs /v, and then press Enter.
Where drive is the drive letter of the drive you wanted converted to NTFS.
- If you upgraded your computer, type Y, and then press Enter to delete the backup, or type N, and then press Enter to cancel the procedure.
- If you’re asked to force a dismount, type N, and then press Enter.
- If you need to restart the system to complete the conversion, type Y, and then press Enter.
- Click the Close button.
- Click the Start button, point to the Arrow, and then click Shut Down, and then wait for the computer to restart and convert the drive.
Did You Know?
You can check the format of a disk. Click the Start button, click Computer, click the disk you want to check, and then check the Details pane.
See Also
See “Detecting and Repairing Disk Errors” on page 433 for information on bad sectors.
WINV-7.3.3
As you work with files, folders, and programs, you should know the size of the disk and how much space remains available. A disk can store only a limited amount of data. Hard disks can store large amounts of data (in gigabytes), while removable disks, such as a USB flash drive or flash memory card, store smaller amounts. You can use the Properties command on a disk to display the disk size or the amount of used and free space, and to change a disk label, which is a name you can assign to a hard or removable disk. Besides checking hard disk drive or floppy disk information, you can also use the Properties command on a folder to find out the size of its contents. This can be helpful when you want to copy or move a folder to a removable disk or CD/DVD.
- With a disk in the drive, click the Start button, and then click Computer.
- Click the drive, and then click the Properties button on the toolbar.
- Right-click the drive, and then click Properties.
- On the General tab, identify the amount of free space on the disk.
- Click OK.
Did You Know?
You can display basic system information. Click the Start button, click Control Panel, double-click the System icon in Classic view. The basic information about your computer includes system rating, processor, memory (RAM), system type, network information, and Windows activation.
You can access and display system information from the Welcome Center. Click the Start button, point to All Programs, click Accessories, click Welcome Center, and then click View computer details. You can click Show more details to access System properties in the Control Panel.
You can copy files from your computer to a disk if you need to either transfer files from one stand-alone computer to another. You can also save a copy of important files to prevent losing them in the event of a power failure or a computer problem.
If you are using a computer with multiple users, you can set up disk quotas, so a single user cannot fill the entire disk. Disk quotas (New!) are not enabled by default, so you need to turn this feature on before you can use it. You can enable and set different disk quotas for individual users. If a user exceeds the quota, you can specify whether to allow or deny disk space. If you’re not sure what to set, you can create quota logs to monitor disk usage and then decide what you want to do.
- Click the Start button, and then click Computer.
- Right-click a hard disk drive, and then click Properties.
- Click the Quota tab.
- Click Show Quota Settings.
- Select the Enable quota management check box.
- Select the Deny disk space to users exceeding quota limit check box.
- Click the Do not limit disk usage option or click the Limit disk space to option and specify the disk space limit.
Select either of the log event check boxes to create a record of disk usage.
To set specific limits for individual users, click Quota Entries.In the Quota Entries window, click the Quota menu, click New Quota Entry, and then select a user and fill in property information.
Click OK.
Click OK.
Sometimes an unexpected power loss or program error can create inaccessible file segments that take up space on a disk. The Check Disk program that comes with Windows helps you find and repair damaged sections of a disk. Check Disk can also be used to find physical disk errors or bad sectors. The program doesn’t physically repair your media, but it moves data away from any bad sectors it finds. To keep your hard disk drive working properly, you should run Check Disk from time to time. When you run Check Disk, all files must be closed for the process to run. While the Check Disk process is running, your hard disk will not be available to perform any other task.
- Click the Start button, and then click Computer.
- Right-click the disk you want to check, and then click Properties.
- Click the Tools tab.
- Click Check Now.
- Select the Automatically fix file system errors check box, and then select the Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors check box.
- Click Start.
- When it’s done, click OK.
- Click OK.
When you delete files from a disk, you create empty spaces that might be fragmented over different areas of the disk. When you create a new file on a fragmented disk, parts of the file are stored in these empty spaces, resulting in a single file that is broken into many parts, which takes longer to retrieve or store when you open or save the file. A file broken up in this way is called a fragmented file, which is undetectable to the user. You can use Disk Defragmenter to place all of the parts of a file in one contiguous, or adjacent, location. This procedure, which efficiently rearranges all of the files and unused space, is called optimization. Optimization makes your programs run faster and your files open more quickly. You can select disk volumes (NewSP1) and set a schedule (New!) to run Disk Defragmenter on a regular basis. While the Disk Defragmenter works, you can use your computer to carry out other tasks; however, your computer will operate more slowly.
Cleaning up a disk involves removing unneeded files to make room for other files on your computer, which can be difficult if you don’t know the significance of each file. You can use a Windows program called Disk Cleanup to clean up your hard disk drive safely and effectively. Disk Cleanup searches your drive, then lists temporary files, Internet cache files, the Recycle Bin, and unnecessary program files that you can safely delete. Disk Cleanup also gives you the option to remove Windows components and installed programs that you no longer use. You can select the types of files you want Disk Cleanup to delete. Before you select and delete files, make sure you will not need them in the future. If you have multiple users on your computer, you can specify whether to clean up only your files or all the files on the computer (New!).
- Click the Start button, point to All Programs, click Accessories, click System Tools, and then click Disk Cleanup.
- Click My files only or Files from all users on this computer.
- If necessary, click the Drives list arrow, select a disk, and then click OK.
Wait while Disk Cleanup calculates how much space it can free up.
- Select the check boxes for the folders and files you want to delete.
- To view the contents of a folder, click View Files, and then click the Close button.
- Click OK, and then click Yes.
Task Scheduler is a program that enables you to schedule tasks, to run regularly, such as Disk Cleanup, at a time convenient for you. Task Scheduler starts each time you start Windows. With Task Scheduler, you can schedule a task to run daily, weekly, monthly, or at certain times (such as when the computer starts or idles), change the schedule for or turn off an existing task, or customize how a task runs at its scheduled time. You can create a basic task using the Create Basic Task wizard or a more complex task using the Create Task dialog box (New!). Before you schedule a task, be sure that the system date and time on your computer are accurate, as Task Scheduler relies on this information to run.
- Click the Start button, point to All Programs, click Accessories, click System Tools, and then click Task Scheduler.
- In the Actions pane, click Create Basic Task.
- Type a name and description for the scheduled task, and then click Next to continue.
- Click a scheduled task time interval option, and then click Next to continue.
- Specify a start time and a recurring interval, and then click Next to continue.
- Select an action option, and then click Next to continue.
- Specify the information or options related with the selected action, and then click Next to continue.
- Click Finish.
- To run, end, disable, or delete a task, click the Task Scheduler Library, select the task in the console window, and then click the command you want at the bottom of the Actions pane. To edit a task, select it, and then make changes at the bottom of the console window.
Windows Vista comes with a collection of components, such as Internet Explorer, Windows Mail, Windows Media Player, or Windows Messenger, you can use to get work done and have fun on your computer. When you install Windows Vista, not all the components on the installation disc are installed on your computer. You can use the the Programs and Features utility (New!) in the Control Panel to install additional components. When you install a new program on your computer, the Start menu highlights the menus you need to click to start the program. If you are no longer using a Windows component, you can remove it to save disk space.
- Click the Start button, and then click Control Panel.
- Double-click the Programs and Features icon in Classic view.
- In the left pane, click Turn Windows features on or off.
- Click the plus sign (+) to expand a category or click the minus sign (-) to collapse a category.
A blue check box indicates that only some of the items in a component group are installed.
- Select a check box to add the item, or clear a check box to remove an item.
- When you’re done, click OK.
- If prompted, insert the Windows Vista DVD into the drive.
- Click OK if prompted to restart your computer.
WINV-7.5.2
Windows comes with a collection of accessory programs with simple functionality. If you need more functionality, software programs are available for purchase. Before you can use a software program, you need to install it using a separate installer program. Most software programs come with their own installation program, which copies the program files to different places on your computer, some in a program folder and others in the Windows folder. When you install a new program on your computer, the Start menu highlights the menus you need to click to start the program. If you no longer use a program or a Windows update, you can remove it from your computer, which saves hard disk space. The Programs and Features utility (New!) in the Control Panel provides a faster display and shows you all the programs and/or software updates installed on your computer. Windows keeps track of all the files you install, so you should uninstall a program or system update, instead of deleting folders and files to remove it.
- Close all running programs, and then insert the program installation disc into the drive.
If the disc starts, the AutoPlay dialog box opens. Start the setup and follow the instructions provided to install the software.
- If the disc doesn’t start or you’re installing from a network or different drive, click the Start button, and then click Computer.
- Double-click the CD or DVD icon with the installation set up.
- Double-click the set up file, and then follow the installation instructions.
- Double-click the Programs and Features icon in Classic view.
- In the left pane, click View installed updates or Uninstall a program to display the software you want.
- Click the program you want to uninstall or change.
- Click the Uninstall, Change, or Repair button on the toolbar; availability varies depending on the program.
- If prompted, click Yes to confirm the removal. If an uninstall program starts, follow the instructions.
- When it’s done, click OK, and then click the Close button.
Did You Know?
You can turn the Start menu highlight off. Right-click the Start button, click Properties, click Customize, clear the Highlight newly installed programs check box, and then click OK twice.
See Also
If you encounter a problem after removing a Windows update or component, see “Restoring Computer Settings” on page 444 for information on restoring Windows to a previous state using the System Restore Wizard.
WINV-3.1.4, WINV-3.3.2
Microsoft continues to improve Windows Vista with new features or security fixes, known as updates. Windows Update allows you to keep your computer up-to-date with the latest system software and security updates over the Internet. You can choose to have Windows regularly check for critical updates and download them in the background (which doesn’t interfere with other downloads), or you can manually select the ones you want to install using the Windows Update Web site. Automatic updates occur at scheduled times or by notification acceptance. If you’re busy, you can ignore/hide the update to install it later. The Windows Update Web site displays express (only high priority) and custom (high priority, software, and hardware) installation update options. High priority updates are critical for your system to run properly, while software and hardware updates are optional. Windows Update confidentially scans your computer for updates that need to be installed.
- Click the Start button, point to All Programs, and then click Windows Update.
- In the left pane, click Change settings.
- Click the automatic update option you want to use:
Install updates automatically (recommended), then specify a time.
Download updates, but let me choose whether to install them.
Check for updates but let me choose whether to download and install them.
Never check for updates (not recommended).
- Click OK, and then click Close button.
- If a Windows Update icon appears in the notification area, click the alert or icon, and then follow any instructions as needed.
Did You Know?
You can View update history. Click the Start button, point to All Programs, click Windows Update, and then click View update history in the left pane to view the installed updates. When you’re done, click OK, and then click the Close button.
You can install updates when not available or resume after an interruption. If your computer is turned off or in hibernate or sleep mode during a scheduled update, updates are installed the next time you start your computer. If you lose an Internet connection during a download, Windows Update resumes where it left off.
Installing Updates and Shut Down
If you set up your computer to download and receive updates automatically, and the updates are ready to be installed, the Power button on the Start menu changes to a dark red with a shield on it (shown below). When you click this button, Windows installs the updates and then shuts down your computer when installation of the updates is complete.
The Performance Information and Tools utility (New!) in the Control Panel provides a central location for you to determine the performance of your computer, print out a report, and access tools to increase performance. The utility analyzes your computer and provides a rating score for the critical components on your computer, which include processor, memory (RAM), graphics, gaming graphics, and primary hard disk. To help you improve performance, you can access performance related tools in the Tasks pane.
- Click the Start button, and then click Control Panel.
- Double-click the Performance Information and Tools icon in Classic view.
- Click Update my score to the latest information.
- To view and print details, click View and print details, click Print this page, click Print, and then click the Close button.
- In the left pane, click links to performance improvement tools:
Manage startup programs. Remove or disable unnecessary startup programs.
Adjust visual effects. Set to Adjust for best performance option.
Adjust indexing options. Reduce the number of folder to index.
Adjust power settings. Set to use Balanced power plan.
Open Disk Cleanup. Delete unnecessary or temporary files.
Advanced tools. Displays additional tools, including Disk Defragmenter and ReadyBoost.
- When you’re done, click the Close button.
WINV-7.3.2
You can use Windows ReadyBoost (New!) to speed up your computer by using disk space on certain removable media devices, such as USB flash drives. When you insert a compatible removable media device (one that uses fast flash memory), the AutoPlay dialog box opens and provides the option to use Windows ReadyBoost. Before you can use it, you need to turn it on and specify the amount of space you want to allocate. Windows provides a recommended space amount. In general, ReadyBoost recommends one to three times the amount of random access memory (RAM) installed on your computer for the best performance results.
- With removable media in the drive, click the Start button, and then click Computer.
- Click the drive, and then click the Properties button on the toolbar.
- Click the ReadyBoost tab.
- Click the Use this device option.
- If you want, drag the slider to specify the space to reserve for system speed.
- Click OK.
- To use ReadyBoost, remove the device, re-insert it, and then use the AutoPlay dialog box to start it.
WINV-7.7.2
Windows Vista is a reliable operating system, but any time you make changes to your computer, such as adding or removing software and hardware, you run the risk of causing problems with your operating system. To alleviate potential problems, you can use System Restore, a program installed with Windows Vista, to undo harmful changes to your computer and restore its settings. System Restore returns your computer system, but not your personal files, to an earlier time, before the changes were made to your computer, called a restore point. As you work with your computer, System Restore monitors your changes and creates restore points on a daily basis or at important system events, but you can also create your own restore point at any time. If you have recently performed a system restoration, you can use System Restore to undo your most recent restoration. System Restore is turned on by default when you install Windows Vista, but you can turn it off or change System Restore options. However, you need at least 300 MB of free space on each hard disk.
- Close all programs and make sure no one else is logged on to the computer.
- Click the Start button, point to All Programs, click Accessories, click System Tools, and then click System Restore.
- Click the Recommended restore or Choose a different restore point option.
- Click Next to continue.
- If you are choosing a restore point, select it, and then click Next to continue.
- Review the restore point information, and then click Finish.
- Wait for the system to be restored, and log on when prompted.
- When it’s done, click OK, and then click the Close button.
Previous versions (New!) are shadow copies of files and folders that you back up using the Back Up Files wizard or Windows automatically saves as part of a restore point. You can use previous versions of files to restore files that become damaged or you accidentally modify or delete. If System Protection is turned on, Windows automatically creates shadow copies of files—except Windows system files—that have been modified since the last restore point was made. You can restore individual files or complete folders. When you restore a file or folder, the current file or folder is replace by the restored one. It’s important to realize that you cannot undo a restore.
- Open the folder with the file or folder you want restore.
- Right-click it, and then click Restore previous version.
- Click an item in the list.
- Click Restore.
If the Restore button is not available, you cannot restore a previous version of the file or folder.
- Click OK.
See Also
See “Restoring Computer Settings” on page 444 for information on turning on System Protection.
If you have a problem starting Windows, you can use one of several startup options to help you start Windows in a safe environment where you can restore settings and fix the problem. Safe Mode is a good place to start. If a problem does not occur when you start in Safe Mode, you can eliminate basic Windows files and drivers as possible causes of the problem. If you added a device or changed driver, you can use Safe Mode to remove the device or restore the changed driver. You can also use Choosing Last Known Good Configuration to restore settings saved when your computer was last shut down properly.
- Restart your computer.
- As your computer boots, press and hold F8.
- Use the arrow keys to select a startup option, and then press Enter.
- If you have a dual-boot system, select the operating system you want, and then press Enter.
- Restore any recent system changes, or remove any newly installed software that might be causing the problem.
- Shutdown your computer.
- Start your computer to see if it works properly.
- If problems persist, try a different startup option, or seek assistance from a support technician.
Did You Know?
You can use Startup Repair to fix Windows Vista problems. Restart your computer with the Windows installation disc in the drive, click Repair your computer, select your operating system, click Next, click Startup Repair, and then follow the on-screen instructions.
Table . Computer Startup Options
Option | Description |
|---|---|
Safe Mode | Starts with basic files and drivers and without a network connection |
Safe Mode With Networking | Starts with basic files and drivers and a network connection |
Safe Mode With Command Prompt | Starts with basic files and drivers and without a network connection to the command prompt |
Enable Boot Logging | Starts and logs startup information in the ntbtlog.txt file |
Enable VGA Mode | Starts using the basic VGA driver |
Last Known Good Configuration | Starts using Registry settings saved at the last properly done shutdown |
Directory Services Restore Mode | Restores active directory services |
Debugging Mode | Starts and sends debugging information to another computer using a serial cable |
Start Windows Normally | Starts the computer normally |
Reboot | Restarts the computer |
Return To OS Choices Menu | Displays operating system selection screen |
If you installed more than one operating system on your computer (known as a dual-boot), such as Windows XP and Windows Vista, you can select the default operating system you want to use when you start up your computer. You can also specify how much time to display the list of operating systems for a dual boot before the default starts. If you have problems starting Windows, you can set options to instruct Windows what to do. You can set options to automatically restart and create a system log of events to track where the problem occurs.
- Click the Start button, and then click Control Panel.
- Double-click the System icon in Classic view.
- In the left pane, click Advanced system settings.
- Click Settings (under Startup And Recovery).
- Click the Default operating system list arrow, and then select the operating system you want to start as default.
- Select the system startup check boxes you want to use and specify the time you want to wait to select the operating system or recovery options.
- Select the system failure check boxes you want to use.
- Click OK.
- Click OK.
- Click the Close button.
