How to Troubleshoot Compaq Laptops
Compaq laptops are made by HP. As your laptop ages, it's performance will degrade. This is normal and is due to many factors, including clutter on the hard drive, multiple battery charges and other normal things related to use. Troubleshooting this involves running a number of maintenance tasks. HP's website has further information on these steps. It also can recommend a maintenance schedule.
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Instructions
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Run the HP troubleshooting tool. It's a help and support application that came with your computer. It will run a diagnostic check and will check the health, system information, modem, battery and network. Run the tool while the computer is running.
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2
Run Windows update. This will update the drivers and operating system.
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Scan for viruses and remove any that are found. Set your antivirus program to run automatically in the future, but for now run a full check of the drive after updating all the definitions.
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Scan for spyware and for adware. Adware are innocuous-appearing little programs that pop-up ads, but frequently embed damaging code in the computer. They run in memory and can hog resources you want to use. Spyware can track your online banking and can lead to stolen identities.
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Empty the Recycle Bin. Right click on the bin and delete the contents. This will free up hard drive space, leaving more room for the computer to operate in.
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Delete all the temporary Internet files. Use the disk cleanup utility in Windows Vista. The utility will list how much space will be saved by getting rid of redundant files. Again, this will free up space and give you more breathing room.
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Run Scan Disk. This will check the physical condition of the drive. It will reveal bad sectors which you can then repair.
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Defragment the drive. You can improve the performance of the drive by running this Visa utility.
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Close programs that are not in use and remove those that you don't use anymore.
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Tips & Warnings
Make sure the computer is connected to the internet to get all the updates we mention above.
Run a regular backup of your files to an external storage device to prevent loss of personal files should the hard disk die on you. Windows Vista has a Backup and Restore Center you can use.
