Windows XP, Vista and 8.x - PC Tips, Tricks & Fixes

Windows XP, Vista & 8.x Tips in Keeping your PC running Smoothly Also see free software for Windows XP, Vista, 7-10.
	Key /v = Verifies all files and folders /f = Fixes all files, folders and structures /r = Relocates bad blocks Bold Text = Run these programs in order. The Run... command is found by pressing the Start key.
Program	Type in this or use Key	Notes
Run ...	chkdsk	This will check your computers startup disk but won't verify, fix or relocate bad blocks. A quick way to see if anything is wrong. Your can also add a drive letter behind it, d: or e:, etc.
Run ...	chkdsk c: /v /f	This command will Verify and Fix your hard disk drive. Run Check Disk at least once a week. If your disk needs to be fixed, you will be asked if you'd like to fix your disk or not.
Run ...	chkdsk c: /v /f /r	This command will Verify, Fix and Relocated bad blocks on your hard disk drive (HDD). Run at least once a month. Just replace the drive letter (c:) to check or fix your other hard drives or partitions. This will not work on your CD or DVD drive. Relocating bad blocks takes hours so do it when you have time.
Run ...	CMD or cmd.exe	This will open the DOS prompt which is now called CMD.exe or the command prompt. Examples: mem = shows amounts of RAM of your computer. date = show or change the date. time = show or change the time. help = shows help. You may need to run CHKDSK as an Administrator. To do this using Windows 8.0 / 8.1, Right-click on the Start icon and choose; Command Prompt (Admin). See photo on the left.
Run ...	dfrg.msc	This will defragment the drives or partitions you select. Run this program after check disk. This moves all your files together the way they should have been copied in the first place but your hard drive just copies files randomly on the disk.
Open	SpyBot	Search and destroy all spy-ware. If your PC is slowing down to a crawl, you probably have spy-ware spying on you. Download SpyBot Search & Destroy.
Open	TuneUp Utilities	Fixes, secures and tweaks many operating system bugs, interfaces and security holes in Windows 98, XP and Internet Explorer. Download TuneUp Utilities.

To run any of these commands above Press the Windows key which is between the Ctrl & Alt key. Press the "R" key (same as Run... in this sequence). This does not work using Windows 8.x. Type in CMD A DOS prompt will appear. Then type in any of the commands noted above. You may change the drive letter to check other disks or partitions (c:).
XP Tricks & Shortcuts
Trick	Shortcut	Description
Snapshot	Print Screen	Copies display to clipboard. If monitor resolutions are too high, pasting in certain programs may fail.
Download	Shortcutter XP	Shortcuts to files you may never know you had installed on your operating system for Windows XP.
Download	Shortcutter 98	Shortcuts to files you may never know you had installed on your operating system for Windows 98.

Basic Shortcuts	Ctrl C Ctrl V Ctrl X Ctrl Z Ctrl A Ctrl B	Copy Paste Cut Undo Select All Bold text in most editors

Windows XP, Vista & 8.x