This article is focused around explaining and describing some 'elementary' maintenance that every computer should have performed at least once a month. Even seasoned veterans should give this a read, as writing it reminded me of a few things I've neglected.
The first section deals with identifying common words and terminology used for these tasks.
The second section briefly describes the individual tasks to perform.
The third section describes in detail (with pictures) the exact procedures involved.
Hard Disk
Also called "hard drive" elsewhere. This device is approximately 3.5" by 5". It resides within the computer case; you should not be able to see it with the case in place. This device is where the operating system (Windows) resides, as well as most 'user' files. This device's sole responsibility is storage. This device is 'seen' as one continuous pool of storage. Before a computer can store data in this pool, a wall (partition) must be made encompassing the portion of the pool to be used (even if you wish to use the entire pool.) The act of creating these 'walls' within the pool is "partitioning the hard drive".
Data is stored on platters resembling compact disks, within a spiral track (also resembling how compact disks store data), by use of controlled electromagnetism (unlike the optical based compact disk technology.)
The major drawback to this spiral data path is the fragmentation of data. Take a 100 Megabyte hard drive, for example. Fill it with 50 files, each named 1-50, at 2 Megabytes each. Delete files 3, 7, 22, 46. Now you have 8 Megabytes free, scattered throughout the entire device. Copy a single 8 Megabyte file onto the device. That single file will reside within 4 locations on the device (the 4 separate 2 Megabyte pieces.) This concept is fragmentation of the hard disk.
The device relies upon controlled electromagnetism to store and retrieve data; this poses specific risks and considerations. Hard disks are sensitive to vibration; the electromagnetic head sits at a microscopic distance above the platters and must not touch the actual platters. If it touches, it is called a hard crash. Hard crashes are the worst-case scenario and the most difficult to recover from (the head literally collides with the platter, scratching off the magnetic coating on the platter and scratching the surface.) Besides hard crashes, there are also soft crashes. A soft crash is generally caused by fluctuations in the current to the device (not enough juice for some reason, or too much juice.) Soft crashes are generally less-severe than hard crashes, but repeated soft crashes in the same location can cause hard crashes (not in the sense of physical collision of components, but similar as far as difficulty in recovering.) Repeated soft crashes is indicative of possible power supply issues.