Re: Do you have any suggestions for the preventive maintenance checklist

Programs that are free and very useful - the ones I restore after a crash
from tucows, download.com, zdnet, or softseek.com

Windows Commander good FTP and file manager - very useful http://www.softseek.com/Utilities/File_Management/File_Managers/Review_16754_index.html
UFO - to use a file manager in command prompt only
http://www.demcom.com
Net Sonic http://www.web3000.com/index-0999.asp
Gozilla file download - restarts broken downloads - sometimes comes with netsonic
Aureate Go!Zilla http://www.gozilla.com/user/
FreeMem http://www.meikel.com
http://www.softseek.com/Utilities/Benchmarking_and_Tune_Up/Review_16255_index.html

Peter,

This list is fine as a reminder list for hobbyists and professionals, however, I would not distribute it to general end users.

There are enough exceptions in each category that the additive chance of a maintenance-generated problem is too high. For end users, my list is shorter:

1. Make frequent backups (standard format, verified, off-site).
2. Occasionally restore a key file to an off-site machine.
3. Update virus checker often and run on most thorough setting.
4. Keep at least 10% free space on all re-writable media. Comment - I have found this to be very important -
5. Document the offload of seemingly unneeded files so they can be restored.
6. Get someone that knows what they are doing to run scandisk and defrag and delete orphaned temp files.

The details of when and how are determined by the individual situation. Note that hard drives are approaching $10 per gigabyte and the labor/risk to delete a few MB of unneeded files may not be worth it.

Lars

At 12:51 PM 1/15/00 -0500, you wrote:

The ultimate preventive maintenance checklist

What's the support pro of 1999 and beyond to do for preventive maintenance on user machines?
TechRepublic readers contributed to this checklist of 29 things you can do to try to keep your users happy and online. ( few comments by Wiredbrain )
http://www.wiredbrain.com/

0 1. Empty the Recycle Bin. Some users need to be reminded to periodically empty the Recycle Bin.
0 2. Delete .tmp files. Before running ScanDisk and Defragmenter, DEFRAG in Start - RUN delete all *.tmp files that have been created prior to the current day. It will surprise most people to learn how much hard drive space has been used by .tmp files. ( Comment - go to start menu - use find - *.tmp then select all - top of fine - go to bottom use shift and click - then delete )
0 3. Delete files that begin with a tilde ~. When cleaning the system of garbage files, readers might like to also check for any files beginning with a tilde (~). Make sure that all your application programs are closed first such
as word-processing, spreadsheet and graphics programs as sometimes the temporary file you are currently viewing sometimes use a tilde. If the above are closed the tilde files can be deleted. Some users may find they have a lot of these on their systems!
0 4. Delete old .zip files. Users tend to unzip the files but then leave the zipped file on their computer as well when they don't need it. ( comment - be careful - there are some *.zip you need if in doubt leave it alone)
0 5. Delete .chk files, and switch the swap file. For those with permanent swap files, it is sometimes a good idea to set the swap file back to temporary and then permanent again. This cleans out any garbage (and therefore possible corruption).
0 6. And 7. Run ScanDisk and defrag the drive as needed. If your Windows 95/98 users aren't running these utilities themselves, it doesn't hurt to check the disk and make sure the number of disk errors and the percentage of fragmentation are within acceptable limits. For Windows 98 clients, use the Task Scheduler to automate ScanDisk.
( Comment: Reboot and use ctrl and/or F8 key to boot into command prompt only C:\ and run scanreg /fix )
0 8. Check browser history and cache files. Check that the user history files and Internet cache settings are set properly (cache size). Recommend you delete the cache files and history files then reset the history files to no more than three days unless the user specifically needs to store that information longer. By freeing up the cache, downloads from the Web actually speed up as there is more space available to store the temporary files.
( Comment: Windows Internet explorer - right click for properties there is delete temp files - also check settings temp Internet files clear cache - Netscape properties ( under edit ) advances - cache )
0 9. Clean out Windows temporary Internet files. If the browser is Microsoft's Internet Explorer, clean out the c:\Windows\Temporary Internet files folder.
0 10. Confirm that backups are being done. Do you have a network solution for automatically backing up user files to a server? If not—and if you're relying on end users to back up their own files—ask users when the last backups were done. Make sure they're rotating their disks. Drag their My Documents folder onto a server drive for them. Remind them to verify the backups by trying to restore a sample file or folder.
0 11. Update drivers as needed. Make sure you’ve installed the latest drivers for printers, modems, sound cards, video cards, and other devices.
0 12. Create or update the boot disk. Every Windows user should have a boot disk and every NT client should have an emergency repair disk. While you're making your rounds, poll your users and make sure they have the disks they'd need in case of emergency. NT clients need to have their emergency repair disks
upgraded with the RDISK/S command every time there's a change in the network setup, such as the addition of new users or new devices.
0 13. Check the operating system and applications. Update your OS and applications with the latest service packs or updates. Save your company some money; don't try to support multiple versions of the same application.
0 14. Check the connections. Users love to move their equipment around. Make sure all the plugs are snug in their connections. And make sure your users are using surge protectors and not a string of extension cords to power their machines. While the computer is open, re-seat all connections including, expansion cards, CPU, memory, data cables and power connections. You'd be surprised how often an expansion card isn't seated all the way, especially AGP video cards and PCI cards.
0 15. Take inventory. Update your master inventory of computer assets. Verify serial numbers, CPU speed, hard drive space, memory, etc.
0 16. Make sure the hardware works. Many computers haven't seen a floppy or CD inserted in years as most upgrades and new installations are done from the server. Clean or replace floppy disk and CD drives as needed.
0 17. Clean the screens. Do your users a favor and bring the appropriate screen-cleaning cloth or solution
with you on the preventive maintenance visit.
0 18. Change passwords. Unless you can enforce a "change your password every X days" policy via your network software, use the preventive maintenance visit to remind your users to change their system passwords.
0 19. Check the printers. Print a test page on your users' printers. Make sure the printers are producing clean copies, and that the toner cartridges aren't about to run out.
0 20. Update the anti-virus software. Make sure your users know how to update their anti-virus software. While you're there, update it for them.
0 21. Reboot the system. In some shops, the workstations are left on all the time. While you're there, reboot the system to force a memory reset and to make sure the machine will boot when you're not there in person.
0 22. Bring that can of air! It's still a good idea to blow the dust and debris out of keyboards every now and then. And make sure there isn't dust accumulating on the back of the machine or wherever the air fan is located. It's amazing how much dust can collect in a computer over time. Blowing out the inside of the
computer has a couple of pitfalls that must be addressed. First, since the pressure is much higher than with canned air, don't direct the air at an unsecured fan. Try using a pencil erasure to hold the fan from turning while
you clean out the power supply and CPU. Blow out the power supply from the inside out first, or you will get tons of dust blown into the computer. Take each computer to a place that doesn't mind the dust, outdoors preferably.
0 23. Clean the keyboard. With power off, tip or turn the keyboard upside down and carefully use the palm of your hand to strike the keyboard several times. You'll be surprised how much junk will fall out.
0 24. Clean the CD-ROM drive. Clean the laser. Many programs are installed corrupted from a dirty CD reader.
0 25. Clean the floppy drive. In addition to using canned air for the floppy drive, use a 3.5" floppy drive cleaning kit. It consists of a cleaning diskette and a bottle of solution that you apply to the diskette. First, apply the solution to the cleaning diskette. Second, insert the cleaning diskette into the floppy drive. Third, type: DIR A: (or DIR B:), which will spin the diskette (repeat this three times). In some locations, PCs are located areas where the floppy drive, a.k.a. air intake manifold, collects quite a lot of dust and grime, so canned air alone
does not remedy this problem.
0 26. Clean the mouse. It never hurts to make sure the mouse is free of dust and grime.
0 27. Check the power sources. Make sure systems are plugged into protected outlets or power strips, if not uninterruptible power supplies.
0 28. Check the fan. Remember to check that the CPU's cooling fan is working and that the airflow isn't impeded by dust.
0 29. Check the network hardware. It is also necessary to check and reboot hubs, routers, switches, and print servers from time to time.

They contain memory that needs to be flushed and have connections that can work loose. Most networks have a server reboot schedule but forget about the other, just as vital, network kit.

Notes for follow-up:

Programs that are free and very useful - the ones I restore after a crash
from tucows, download.com, zdnet, or softseek.com

Windows Commander http://www.softseek.com/Utilities/File_Management/File_Managers/Review_16754_index.html
UFO - to use a file manager in command prompt only
http://www.demcom.com
Net Sonic http://www.web3000.com/index-0999.asp
Gozilla file download - restarts broken downloads - sometimes comes with netsonic
Aureate Go!Zilla http://www.gozilla.com/user/
FreeMem http://www.meikel.com
http://www.softseek.com/Utilities/Benchmarking_and_Tune_Up/Review_16255_index.html