Software Utilities

Utility	Description with example software	Describe how you would use this utility and indicate how often
Virus Protection	Avast! – Scans for viruses, worms and Trojans on disk, CDs, in emails, IM and P2P. Allows users to set automatic scans to automatically detect and remove viruses, worms and trojans.	Use the scan utility to detect viruses in the PC and to remove them so no damage is caused. Scan the PC once a week.
Firewall	PC Tools Firewall – used to block unauthorised access to the PC. Allows users to choose which networks and other users are allowed through the firewall and which aren't.	Use a firewall to allow certain users into a network. Scan the PC once a week.
Disk defragmentation	Defraggler – used to defragment files to improve computer performance. Allows users to improve computer performance by collecting all fragments of a file together.	Use to collect all fragments of different files together to improve computer performance. Perform defragmentation once a week.
Drive formatting	Command prompt and Device Management Tool – dividing drives into sections/partitions. Prepares a Hard Drive Disk for use by the operating system.	Create many file systems on a drive. Done on computer setup or when drive storage space needs to be altered.
Device Drivers	Software driver and Device Manager – allow for interaction with hardware. Allows user to communicate and change the settings of hardware.	Use as a translator between hardware and software. Used whenever new hardware needs to be installed.
Disk clean up tools	Disk Cleanup – deletes unused and temporary files from PC. Allows users to improve computer performance and increase storage space by deleteing unused and temporary files.	Deletes unused programs and files, temporary files and old backup files to help improve computer performance and create space on the PCs hard drive. Perform a disk clean up once a week.
Updates	Windows Update – keep system up to date. Allows user to use the latest software which allows for easier repair of the computer if it breaks.	Perform updates to keep computer systems up to date, PCs performing faster and systems working to their best abilities. Perform updates whenever they are received.
Back up	Windows Back up – back up files in case computer breaks, data corrupts or another disaster. Allows user to save important files that will not be lost in the case of a disaster, break down or corruption. Also allows user to restore deleted or corrupt files.	Create and save copies of computer files to ensure no files are lost if the computer hard drive breaks and cannot be fixed. Back up at least once a week. Restore files if they have been corrupted since the last backup or have been deleted. This feature also allows files to be restored to a disk if there is a problem with the operating system or the computer system.