Windows XP includes a number of handy tools that can be used to keep things running at peak performance – you just need to know where to look.

The majority of these tools can be referred to as System Tools and can be accessed by clicking Start, All Programs, then Accessories and finally System Tools.

All of these programs are installed by default and in this feature we’re going to show you how to use them.

A computer’s hard drive is one of its most crucial components – without it there would be nowhere to store Windows, files and all the programs – so it is vital that this piece of hardware is well looked after.

Although modern hard drives are now very reliable and enormously roomy, it is still important to have a spring clean to ensure that the drive is not littered with unwanted files. While larger drive capacities mean it is not essential to reclaim space, unnecessary files can slow down a system, so it makes sense to have the occasional clearout.

This is where Windows’ Disk Cleanup tool can come in handy. Launch the tool from the System Tools menu and wait for a moment while the program analyses your hard drive. The tool can also be accessed by right-clicking on the icon for a drive in My Computer or Explorer, selecting Properties and then clicking the Disk Cleanup button.

Once the drive scan is complete, a list of options will be displayed. From the list, you can select the type of file to be deleted – such as the contents of the Recycle Bin, Temporary Internet Files and other unnecessary components. All the options listed, with the exception of ‘Compress old files’ are concerned with file removal.

However, there are some files on your hard drive that, although they are not used very often, should be left in place. In such instances, the compression feature makes it possible to reduce the size of files that are not frequently used to help save space, while ensuring that they are still available when needed.

With this option highlighted in the list, click the Options button at the bottom of the dialogue box and use the up and down arrow buttons to select the number of days a file needs to have been left untouched before it is added to the compression list. Click OK once this setting has been configured, use the tick box to indicate the type of unnecessary files to be deleted and then click OK again.

Similarly, the Cleanup button in the Installed programs section provides access to the Add Or Remove Program Control Panel, from where any unwanted software can be uninstalled. Finally, in the System Restore section of the dialogue box, click the Cleanup button followed by Yes to delete all but the most recent System Restore Point.

Having deleted a number of files from your hard drive using Disk Cleanup, it is a good idea to use the Disk Defragmenter. This tool arranges files on the hard drive so that Windows can get to them and read them faster. The reason defragmentation needs to be carried out from time to time is because of the way Windows makes use of hard drives. Whenever a file is saved or created, Windows will attempt to place it in the first available section of drive space.