Hi!

This is to give the benefit of hard won experience, and is something I have been meaning to share for quite some time. When you surf the internet, your computer will automatically accumulate a lot of files in a folder known as "temporary internet files". Those folders are supposed to empty out when they reach a maximum level of mb, but if you have not set those levels, because you didn't know you needed to, the files could be pretty full.

1. The first step I follow in doing my "house" cleaning, is go to the start button in the lower left hand side of your monitor, click so that the menu comes up, then go to "my computer", click on that.
2. Once this window is fully open, place your cursor over the "C" drive. This is usually your main hard drive, and unless you have a special setup (in which case you don't need this advice, as you are at least a nerdlet yourself) it will be the drive where everything is stored. When your cursor is directly over the "C" drive, Right click, which will bring up a pop up menu. At the bottom of that pop up menu is the word properties, left click that.
3. The pop up window that opens will have several things in it, but right in the middle it will have a pie shaped graph showing how much of your memory is being used at this time. Just to the right, and below that pie shaped grapgh will be a little button that says "disk cleanup", since this is what you want to do, click on this button.
4. If you have properly activated this feature, there will pop up a small window with a graduated horizontal window that fills as it finishes it's job.
5. When it is done, there will pop up a final window, in it you will be able to see how full your temporary files have gotten, and anything else your computer is storing.
6. If you are using Microsoft office, and whoever set your computer up was kind enough to leave the setup files on your computer, they will be listed there as something you don't "need". That's not really true. You don't need them on a constant basis, but if "Office" needs to repair itself, "Office" will need those files, so leave them unchecked. Make sure the line that says temporary files is checked, and if you use more than one browser there may be more than one line. At the bottom of this window click the button that says "OK", a small query window will pop up and ask you if you really want to do this. Click "yes". These are temporary files that your computer does not need, and are clogging your system. Often among those files are the little cookies that act as spies in your computer and feed information out to people you have not authorized to know your business. And at the very least, the little "bots" are stealing your band width which makes your computer run slower on the internet. Let your computer take the time it needs to finish this, the window will vanish when it is dont, click OK on the properties window and exit those files.

Your almost done. There are a couple more things that need to be tended to while you are dusting off your computer for the next week's running. If you have used the Netscape browser, or Firefox, there is another file that could benefit your computer by cleaning it. It is called "Prefetch". In order to find your prefetch file, go to the green start button, (it's green if you are using XP), and when the menu pops up you will see a "search" button to your right in the lower part of the menu. Click on that.

1. When that window is open, in the all files and folders slot, type prefetch, and click search. It may take a few minutes, depending on the speed of your processor, but it will find that file,
2. When it is found, click it to open it, go to edit on the top bar, and click "select all", then click "delete", this will empty that file. I know that there will look to be important files in there. Even .exe files you have been told you can never delete, but these are files from the internet your computer is storing "in case you need them" You do not need them. Empty this folder.

Now, if you have a spyware scanner on your computer, run it. Follw the instructions of those who designed your program. And Viola! You have done your housekeeping duties for your computer. Have a lovely week, your computer should run a bit faster now. BTW, if it is running seriously slow, and this did not speed it up, you may need the advice of your local "geek". Call him or her and ask about the next step. It never hurts to have one of these folks on your Christmas list. They do come in handy!