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Why Is My Computer All Gunked Up?

Degunking Checklist:

Understand the four basic processes involved in degunking Windows 7

Learn that how and where you save files can gunk up your machine

Understand why you need a strategy for dealing with files, both wanted and unwanted

Learn that you can develop a plan to combat e-mail gunk

Understand why installing too much software and hardware can really gunk up your machine

See how your Desktop, Taskbar, Start menu, and menu system are places where gunk can build up

Understand how unorganized web favorites can gunk up your machine

Understand that connected devices use system resources

Because you’ve picked up this book, chances are you fall into one of three categories: You have a Windows 7 machine whose performance you are unhappy with; your mom or dad recently asked you why their Windows 7 machine doesn’t function as well as it used to and asked you to fix it; or you’re a help-desk clerk trying to show people how to save their Windows 7 machines from oblivion. Whatever the case, you’re the victim of a fairly common problem—you have a gunked-up computer that you need to keep from falling apart (and driving you crazy).