Routine maintenance/housekeeping? Help and advice on software, hardware, configuration and general computing issues and problems

[ladyhomelover]

I've never been had any training yet use my pc and laptop every day. I've always wanted to ask this: is there something I ought to do to my pc every day/week/month to keep it working fast and sweet? Are there files I ought to be deleting, or whatever?

When I press ctl, alt, delete and get the processes list, it's HUGE. Is this bad? How can I cut it down?

Should I be doing a complete reformat every now and again?

Oh, I do already know about defragging, and do that from time to time, but is there anything else I ought to be doing?

[stoneyboy]

ladyhomelover,
Do a search for *.tmp files and delete them, In internet explorer go to tools - internet options - browsing history and delete everything.
end

[chris_on_tour2002]

you can set your computer to run it's own defrag on a regular basis - mine does it as a background op once a week.

also, get an external hard drive and back everything up = you don't want to lose the lot if your computer ever packs up.