1. Go to START and click with the RIGHT mouse button.
2. Select FIND or SEARCH for Windows 2000 or Windows ME.
3. In the NAMED: box type in *.tmp and in the LOOK IN: box select the C: drive or all local drives. Then click on FIND NOW.

This will locate all the temp files on that drive and list them in the lower portion of the window. Go to EDIT at the top of the window and click on SELECT ALL. This will highlight all the .tmp files. 

4. Once the files you want to delete are highlighted, press your Delete key on the keyboard.  This will delete the files selected.
5. Go back to Step 3 and type in *.chk.  Continue with the remaining instructions in steps 3 & 4 to delete these files.
6. Then click on the X in the upper right hand corner of the window to get back to your desktop.
7. Find the Recycle Bin on your desktop and empty it.
8. Go to START, PROGRAMS, ACCESSORIES, SYSTEM TOOLS.
9. Select SCANDISK.
10. Choose your hard drive and select Standard type of test. Once Scandisk is complete proceed to step 11.
11. Go to START, PROGRAMS, ACCESSORIES, SYSTEM TOOLS.
12. Select DISK DEFRAGMENTER.
13. Choose your C: drive/local drive and press OK. (Even if it says your disk is 0% fragmented do this step)
14. Reboot your computer.
15. Find the location in which your program and data are stored on your computer. Go into People's Choice, click on the icon to the left of your company name and choose the box titled "System Info". Note EXACTLY the Program File path and the Accounting Data file path. You need this information to complete steps 18 and 19. Close out of People's Choice. If you are networked, no one else should be using People's Choice.
    
    EXAMPLE:
    

    Program File:    c:\program files\people's choice\pcacact97.mde Accounting Data File: c:\people's choice\data\pcdataa97pcii.mdb Payroll Data File: c:\people's choice\data\pcdatap97pcii.mdb

    Make Note of your Program and Data File Paths:

    Program File: ____________________________________________ Accounting Data File: ____________________________________________ Payroll Data File: ____________________________________________

     

16. Go to START, PROGRAMS, PEOPLE’S CHOICE ACCOUNTING.
17. Select SYSTEM UTILITIES.  The utilities should only be completed when your People's Choice program is closed.
18. Delete .LDB Files.  You need to enter the folder locations for your program and data files noted in step 15.  Click Delete .ldb files button.  Click OK, click Cancel.
19. Repair and Compact MDB/MDE files.   In the Look In field, enter the directory your program was installed into (i.e. People's Choice).  You may use the drop down arrow to find and select the directory.  You should see three folders, one of which is labeled "Data".  Double Click on the "Data" folder.  Double click on the PCDataA97xxxx.mdb and choose yes to repair now.  Go back into Repair & Compact and double click on the PCDataP97xxxx.mdb file and click yes to repair now.    (xxxx is your company code)

All of the above instructions should be done on a routine basis.  Following a Windows System Maintenance schedule and setting up a regular backup routine (rotating diskettes AND archiving a set of diskettes, preferably off-site, i.e. monthly) can save you lots of time should you encounter hardware problems.