Weekly & Monthly Maintenence...How to?

I was just sitting here thinking and remembered that I am suppose to clean some files out do a defrag (what ever that is).

Can someone tell me what all is suppose to be cleaned as in temp files and such.

Along with this, can someone tell me how to clean each type of files and tell me how to do a defrag on my system ?

There is not words to describe how much I thank everyone on this site for all of the help in the past and for all of the information that I have received from this site.

Thanks again to anyone that can tell me how to do this maintenence to keep my PC up to par.

 

As I mentioned on another post...

A couple of things to do that may improve the speed. Regularly delete IE Temp internet files, cookies and history. Delete Temp files from your user profile from time to time C:\Documents and Settings\username\Local Settings\Temp. Use the disk defragmenter on a regular basis. Go to windows update and install most of the updates. Some you won't need if you don't run the service (an example may be the .NET updates?).
Download and run a couple of registry cleaners from time to time.

Two I recommend are; The beta version of EasyCleaner 2.0
http://www.toniarts.com/betas.htm
I don't normally recommend betas, but this has better support for XP than the older v1.7f

and... The registry cleaner component of jv16 PowerTools v1.3.
http://www.vtoy.fi/jv16/shtml/software.shtml

Used together these should make improvements.

Start|Search|all files and folder, in "look in:" select the drive that windows is installed on (usually C) In "All or part of the file name: "
type *.bak;*.old;*.gid;*.dmp;*.tmp and delete these useless files, some will be recreated by various actions and installs/uninstalls so periodically delete them.

Running the disk defragmenter and cleaning the registry (particularly if you install/uninstall programmes) are the best basic maintenance procedures for any flavour of windows.

Defrag, My Computer, right click on windows drive (C), properties, tools, defragment now. Running the disk cleanup function in properties will get rid of some of the files already mentioned.