Re: disc check with Jaws

  • From: "Kathye and Gene Long" <kathyeandgene@xxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: <jfw@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2008 07:22:32 -0500


Thanks for posting this information. It is exactly what I have been looking for. Regards, Gene ----- Original Message ----- From: "Waleed" <waleedmarzouka@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: <jfw@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, February 26, 2008 4:41 AM
Subject: Re: disc check with Jaws


Hello,
I got this valuable information from www.jaws-users.com. It includes how to do Check Disc. From time to time I post information that will assist you in working with your PC

From time to time I post information that will assist you in working with your PC. Just like servicing your car, your PC needs attention also.

Here are some recommendations everyone should do on a regular basis.

There are several things you can do to maintain your PC's performance. These procedures should be done at least once a month or even more often depending

on your usage.

            I recommend doing them in this order.

1. Prefetch

When you launch an application, Windows XP stores that information in a file called, prefetch. These files can accumulate over a period of time and will

have some affect on the loading of Windows. It doesn't hurt to clean out this file from time to time and will not affect the operation of your PC to delete

them.

Go to the start menu and either arrow down to run or just type the letter R.

When the edit box appears, type in: prefetch and press enter.

You will have a list of applications that you have used since you have been using Windows XP.

Simply do a control a to select all and then press your shift delete. If you just press delete, those files will go into the recycle bin, but adding the

shift key will bypass it.

Now say yes to, are you sure you want to delete these files.

Finally press alt f4 to exit.

2. Disc Clean-up

Whenever you surf the internet or download files, your PC stores information on the hard drive in a temp folder. There are other files included in the

Disc Clean-Up which you probably would want to get rid of.

Go to your start menu, then to All Programs, then Accessories, next to System Tools and finally to Disc Clean-Up and press enter.

It might take a few minutes for it to open, depending on if it will compress old files. But once it does, you will probably be asked which

Drive your want to clean.  Select the C drive.

Once this is selected, you will have a list of items that the disc clean-up will clean. These may include:

Downloaded Internet Files

Temp Internet Internet Files

Off Line Web Pages

Office Set-Up Files

Recycle Bin

Temporary Files

Web Publisher Files

Compress Old Files

Catalogue Files

As you down arrow through the list, you will notice that they may be checked or unchecked. If they are checked, this will clean that option when the next

Button is pressed. I recommend checking everything with the exception of, compress old files. You only need to check this if your hard drive is getting

Low on free drive space.

After you have checked the files you want to clean, tab to next and press enter. You will be asked if you are sure you want to do this, just

Press enter on, yes. It will take a few minutes, but when it is finished, you will be taken out of the Disc Clean-Up.

3. Check Disc

The check disc should be performed before a scan disc is performed. To do this, go to the start menu and then to, run.

When the edit box appears, type in: chkdsk /f and press enter. You will be presented with a dialogue that says, the check disc cannot be performed because

the volume is in use. Would you like to perform this the next time your system starts? Just type the letter Y and press enter.

Now you will need to shut down any open applications and restart your PC. When it begins to boot up and before Windows starts, your PC will

perform a check disc. It will take a few minutes to perform, but when it is finished, Windows will start up normally.

4. Start Up

One of the main reasons for your PC to be slow in starting is what is included in your start up. The more applications you have in the start

up the longer it takes for your PC to load windows and be ready for use.

If you don't feel comfortable in performing this operation, give me a call and I will be glad to help you with it.

Go to the start menu and then to run. When the edit box comes up, type in: msconfig and press enter.

You will be presented with several tabs and will be in the general tab to start with. Press your control tab key until you hear, Start Up.

You will now have a list of applications that start when you turn on your PC.

I personally don't' keep anything in my start up, but this is completely up to you as to what you want starting up. If you are using certain

anti-virus programs, you certainly want to make sure those are kept in your start up.

As you arrow down through your list, you will see that each item will be either checked or unchecked. If it is checked, this means it will

start with your PC. Arrow down through your list and uncheck each item you don't want to start. After you make your selection, tab to OK and press enter.

You will be given a dialogue telling you will need to restart your computer in order for this process to take affect. You will have two choices, restart

now and restart later.

Once you restart your PC, Windows will load, and should load quicker, and you will have a dialogue telling you that you are in selective start

up, Press your tab to the, don't show this dialogue again and check it by pressing your spacebar, then to tab to OK and press enter.

4. Scan Disc

Windows XP doesn't have an actual scan disc, but it does have something relatively close to it.

To run scan disc, go to your desk top and then to, My Computer. If you aren't using the classic start menu, you might have to go to your start

menu and then to My Computer there.

Open My Computer and highlight your C drive, sometimes called, Local Disc C. Don't press enter, just highlight it. Now do an alt enter to

bring up the properties.  Next do a control tab to the Tools tab.

You will be on, errors checking, check now button. Press your spacebar and it will say, Start Button, but don't press enter yet. Instead,

tab to the check boxes and check, automatically fix files system errors and the next check box which is, scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors.

Check both of the boxes.  Now tab to the start button and press enter.

You will be presented with a dialogue saying that the disc check cannot pbe performed because the disc check needs exclusive access to some

files. Do you want to schedule a disc check the next time you start Windows? Just press your spacebar on yes. Now tab to OK and press enter. Alt f4

out of the properties and shut down any open applications and restart your PC.

It may take as long as an hour for this process to complete, depending on the size of your hard drive and how many errors you have, but be

Patient and Windows will restart once the process is complete.

5.  Defrag

Sometimes when an application is shut down improperly, or you turn off your computer improperly, files are fragmented. When this happens,

it takes longer for an application to launch since it has to go looking for the files it needs to start.

To run a defrag, go to your start menu, then to all programs, then to accessories, next to system tools and finally to disc defrag and press enter.

You will be presented with an analyze button. Press your spacebar on this and your PC will analyze your hard disc to see what

percentage your disc is fragmented. This will only take a few minutes and when it is finished you can tab to view report and press enter. Arrow down

and you will find what percentage your disc is fragmented. If it is more than 5%, I would recommend running your defrag. Tab to the close button and

press enter, then tab to the defrag now button and press enter. This process will take a while depending on how big your hard drive is and what percentage

it is fragmented. Once it is finished you can alt f4 out of the application.

These are all of the steps I recommend in maintaining your PC that comes with Windows XP. I do however encourage you to number one, have an

Anti-virus program running at all times and also highly recommend a spy ware program. There are several of both of these available, some at no charge,

but remember, you always get what you pay for.

I personally recommend Norton anti-virus and for spy ware, a program called, Spy Sweeper. This program is made by Web Root and can be downloaded

from the Internet at,

http://www.webroot.com

or it can also be purchased at Wal-Mart for around $29.95. It works great with Jaws and is the best spy ware protection that I have found.

This document is the property of Gateway For The Blind LLC. And may not be reproduced, distributed or sold without the expressed written consent of it's

owner.

© 2006 - Gateway For The Blind LLC.

Denny Huff

Assistive Technology Specialist

Gateway For The Blind LLC.

P.O. Box 515

St. Clair, MO  63077

P:
636.262.1383

F:
301.805.5335

Denny@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

WWW

.GatewayForTheBlind.Com

THE GATEWAY TO INDEPENDENCE

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----- Original Message ----- From: "Renette Bloem" <renette@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "jaws mailing list" <jfw@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, February 26, 2008 9:50 AM
Subject: disc check with Jaws


Hi All

I am using Windows XP Home and the latest version of Jaws.

I experienced some problems with my laptop and somebody ran a disc check for
me which helped.

How does one do this?

Will Jaws read the Dos screen for example?

Thanks.

Renette

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