Your computer may have come out of the box ready to use, but it isn’t entirely customized to your liking without a bit of extra work – and I don’t just mean that you haven’t slapped your favorite sticker on the laptop case just yet. There are many different ways to customize your computer and knowing how to navigate your machine just below the surface is akin to knowing the back roads of your town to avoid traffic on the roads everyone uses.

Windows Tools

Just ten years ago, the vast majority of programs we were using were downloaded from disks or run from actual software that was purchased in stores. Go back twenty years and the computer wouldn’t even boot up if you didn’t have your floppy disk in the hard drive when you turned the machine on.

It's hard to imagine now that there are dozens of services and programs installed on your machine that not only make your life easier when things get a bit tricky, but allow you to turn your computer into a machine that reflects what you do and what you need from a desktop or laptop.  These tools are built right in to Windows.  They let you change the behavior of those background things that usually seem out-of-reach, including the actions your computer takes automatically.

System Restore

Things happen and despite our very best intentions, there are times that we download the wrong thing. Or delete the wrong file when it was most critical. Fortunately, Windows understands our mistakes (and makes a few of its own from time to time) and if you need to fix your mistakes or computer glitches, simply take yourself back in time.

System Restore lets you periodically establish Restore Points, and if you download something that messes up programs, simply use Windows Restore to restore your computer back a day or two before you downloaded the program. It’s a lot like a time machine to erase mistakes of the present (or is the future?)

How to Find it . . .

The best thing about Windows Vista, Windows 7 and Windows 8 is the ease with which anyone can find something using the search field in the Start Menu.  To find any of the services listed here, just type the relevant phrase.  For the System Restore, type "System Restore"

If you want to find it the old-fashioned way, just right-click "Computer" in the Start Menu, click on "Properties" » "System Protection" TAB » "System Restore."  If you've got an older version of Windows, or maybe you just like using different types of shortcuts, you can lean to navigate Windows like a pro using the RUN command.

Disk Defrag

Windows saves your work in lots of places on the hard drive. While your computer is very smart, it can never be as organized as we’d like and there are often “holes” or fragments on the disk drive that are left as data is stored rather haphazardly. Old files accumulate, junky files sit stacked in corners and soon you have a true mess on your hands. Windows Disk Defrag allows you to remove junk, condense the good stuff, free up some space and keep everything nicely organized.

How to Find it . . .

Search "Disk Defragmenter"

Disk Cleanup

It's easy to empty the recycle bin, but what about all of those secondary files that a computer saves automatically?  Things like temp files, app data, and various program caches take up space just like anything else.  But cleaning these things is something you don't necessarily do by just dumping files in the trash.  That's why Windows includes a Disk Cleanup Utility.  It does just what its name implies, giving you an easy checklist of categories to clean and an easy push-button cleaner that lets you manage the back end of your PC's storage.

How to Find it . . .

Search "Disk Cleanup"

If you're interested in doing more system cleanup, check out this article on the Top 5 Ways to Keep your Hard-Drive Clean or this one that give you the Top 5 Ways to Clean Up your whole PC.

Performance Monitor

This utility includes tools that let you track your computer's behavior.  Does it seem to be running slower than it used to?  Is it becoming more error-prone or buggy?  Use the built-in performance tools the set up checkpoints.  From there you can track the biggest consumers of your computer resources.

How to Find it . . .

Search "Performance Monitor"

See this article for more information on boosting overall PC performance.

Hard Disk Manager

The Hard Disk Manager is access to nitty-gritty things, but critical elements for things you actually need. Using Hard Disk Manager, you can create a partition in your hard drive to protect programs like Windows, and you can also do a reformat of your machine to take it back to the factory settings. Using the disk manager doesn't take lots of tech-savvy to use, but it should certainly be implemented carefully. While giving you essential control, it also gives you the power to wipe out all of the data on a computer with one click.

How to Find it . . .

Search "Create and format hard disk partitions"

System Information

Knowing your system summary is akin to knowing your cell phone number. There are times that you’re just going to have to look it up. System information lets you look up the basic stats quickly and it’s always there (and always right), making it a nice go-to source when your memory fails you during an installation or customer support phone call.

How to Find it . . .

Search "System Information"

Event Viewer

Similar to a log, the Event Viewer is the computer journal of everything that went right and everything that has gone wrong recently. If you’re trying to figure out what in the world went wrong when your computer slows down or stops working normally, go check out the event viewer. You’ll get a fast picture of major events in the life of your computer, making it a bit easier to pinpoint a potential problem.

How to Find it . . .

Search "Event Viewer"

Device Manager

Your computer has a lot of pieces, and a lot of pieces means a lot of places where things might not go exactly as you’d prefer. With device manager, you’re able to see all of the various components of your computer – from the hard drive to the speakers you plugged in this morning. Not only will you see the official name of the component, but you can quickly install drivers for any components that seem to not be working correctly. You can troubleshoot concerns as well.

How to Find it . . .

Search "Device Manager"

Windows Update

If you normally count on your computer to tell you when updates should be happening, you might be behind the curve on new versions of software and new levels of protection as well. Windows Update lets you see instantly if there are new updates available, if there are optional updates you might want to consider depending on how you use your computer and you can also set up your preferences for the computer and all additional updates as well.

How to Find it . . .

Search "Windows Update"

Security Essentials

Your computer probably has some high-powered anti-virus program installed right from the factory, but did you know that Microsoft provides free  security features?  These include the built-in Windows Firewall, program permissions and even a free Anti-Malware scanner.  To access the built in security center for your PC, just search for "Action Center"  From this dialog you can get warnings about security threats, adjust firewall settings, troubleshoot errors and even access Windows Recovery services.

Virus Protection & Unwanted Software Protection

Do you have both?  If not, consider using Microsoft's own program to fill in the gaps in your security.  Windows Live Security Essentials is an award-winning scanner that works just like other virus and malware detectors, all in a push-button interface that's both minimal and seamlessly integrated into the way Windows works.

How to Find it . . .

You can find Microsoft Security Essentials at its dedicated website.

Also, you can check out this article to learn more about cleaning up your system to boost security.

User Accounts

Your computer has the capability of running several accounts without batting a digital eye. If your children or your husband use the computer as much as you do, why let everyone loose on the same account?

By setting up user accounts, you’re protecting your information and programs from the savage mouse clicks of your children, and at the same time you’re giving them space of their own to save files, work on projects and set up favorites through the internet. Of course, you’ll have administrative rights to access their account as necessary, but sometimes a little separation is nice – especially when that separation comes with a password.

How to Find it . . .

Search "User Accounts"

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The Best Toolbox for your PC

There are a wide range of programs out there that are geared toward making PC maintenance as convenient as possible.  FixCleaner includes built-in utilities that let you do many of the functions listed here.  Additionally, it includes a heads-up-display, easy access from one control panel that ensures you don't have to remember the names of each separate utility - just view, click and go.

How to Find it . . .

To find out more about using FixCleaner, check out it's main website here.