My hard disk seems to behave erratically, or I get error messages

Cause: A hard disk can develop a number of disk surface and file system errors that can cause you some problems. This happens during use of the disk due to “wear and tear,” so to speak. The good news is that Windows XP gives you an Error-checking tool that can solve the problems.

To run error-checking on the disk, follow these steps:

1. Click Start--> My Computer--> Right-click the disk and click Properties.

2. Click the Tools tab

3. Click the Check Now button. A dialog box appears, that allows you to automatically fix file system problems and check for and attempt repair of bad sectors. Click both check boxes, and then click Start. Error checking begins to run, and the process may take an hour or more, depending on the size of the disk.