Goodmaintenancepractices
Byperformingafewgoodmaintenancepractices,youcanmaintaingoodcomputerperformance,protect
yourdata,andbepreparedincaseofacomputerfailure.
•Emptyyourrecyclebinonaregularbasis.
•Usethediskdefragmentationordiskoptimizationfeatureofyouroperatingsystemoccasionallyto
preventperformanceproblemscausedbyanexcessivenumberoffragmentedfiles.
•CleanoutyourInbox,SentItems,andDeletedItemsfoldersinyoure-mailapplicationonaregularbasis.
•Backupcriticaldataregularlyonremovablemediamemory,suchasdiscsandUSBstoragedevices,
andstoretheremovablemediainasafelocation.Thefrequencyofmakingbackupcopiesdependson
howcriticalthedataistoyouoryourbusiness.
•Backupyourdataonthestoragedriveregularly.See“Recoveryinformation”onpage78
.
•Keepyourcomputersoftware,devicedrivers,andoperatingsystemup-to-date.See“Keepingyour
computercurrent”onpage52
.
•Keepalogbook.Entriesmightincludemajorsoftwareorhardwarechanges,device-driverupdates,
intermittentproblemsandwhatyoudidtoresolvethem,andotherissuesyoumighthaveexperienced.
Thecauseofaproblemmightbechangeinhardware,changeinsoftware,oranyotheractionsthatmight
havetakenplace.AlogbookcanhelpyouoraLenovotechniciandeterminesthecauseofaproblem.
•CreateProductRecoverydiscs.See“Recoveryinformation”onpage78formoreinformationaboutusing
ProductRecoverydiscstorestoretheharddiskdrivetothefactory-defaultsettings.
•CreaterescuemediausingdiscsorUSBstoragedevicesasearlyaspossible.Youcanusearescue
mediumtorecoverfromfailuresthatpreventyoufromgainingaccesstotheWindowsenvironmentorthe
RescueandRecoveryworkspaceonyourharddiskdrive.
Keepingyourcomputercurrent
Inmostcases,itisagoodpracticetohavethemostup-to-dateoperatingsystemupdatepatches,software
programs,anddevicedrivers.Thissectionprovidesinformationabouthowtogetthelatestupdatesforyour
computer.
Gettingthelatestsystemupdates
Togetthelatestsystemupdatesforyourcomputer,ensurethatyourcomputerisconnectedtotheInternet
anddooneofthefollowing:
•UsethecorrespondingLenovoprogramtogetthesystemupdates,suchasdevicedriverupdates,
softwareupdates,andBIOSupdates:
–ForWindows7:UsetheSystemUpdateprogram.
–ForWindows10:UsetheLenovoCompanionprogram.
ToopentheSystemUpdateorLenovoCompanionprograms.See“Accessingaprogramonyour
computer”onpage40.Formoreinformationaboutusingtheprogram,refertothehelpsystemofthe
program.
•UseWindowsUpdatetogetthesystemupdates,suchassecurityfixes,newversionsofWindows
components,anddevicedriverupdates.
1.ClicktheStartbuttontoopentheStartmenu.
2.DependingonyourWindowsversion,dooneofthefollowing:
–ForWindows7:ClickControlPanel.ViewControlPanelbyLargeiconsorSmallicons,and
thenclickWindowsUpdate.
–ForWindows10:ClickSettings➙Update&security➙WindowsUpdate.
3.Followtheinstructionsonthescreen.
52ThinkStationP310HardwareMaintenanceManual