Windows XP tip for the non-technically minded

[RJ_Paton]

So what's wrong with FORTRAN IV

I never could quite manage to get it to do anything useful - that hadn't already been done better by someone else 

If possible it's always better to try and seperate your OS and data files in seperate partitions (or even better seperate physical drives).
Defragging your drives using the windows utility can take some time and if there is anything running in the background it often stops and restarts while never completing the job .... the easiest way around this is to boot into safe mode (F5 or F8 on boot up) and defrag from there.
As Springbok also kindly points out running chkdsk once a month also helps in the general housekeeping

[Springbok]

Thankyou for all of your replies, hints and comments.

Will ask my SIL to do this for me as he does all the technical support for a Police system.(Not in UK. but coming to visit soon and hopefully will have withdrawal Symptoms)! Eternal Optimist, me.


Spring

[RJ_Paton]

Diskeeper Lite (as mentioned by BB) and other defrag utilities can be found at
http://www.thefreecountry.com/utilities/defragmentation.shtml

The usual rejoinder applies ... if unsure at all of what these utilities can do leave them alone.