Tech Tip - Keeping your system safe and healthy

To help you manage and maintain a healthy working system, there are several tools a system administrator can employ to improve ease of use and better satisfy the needs of users.

Level:	Advanced
Solution ID:	S-013270
Category:	Administration, Installation, Computer, Hardware, Best Practice, Tech Tip
Products/Version:	SolidWorks 2007
Last revised:	1/31/2006

Microsoft® Windows® is a complex environment that allows a greater level of functionality, ease-of-use, and power that also can be a challenge to manage. Systems can be affected in a variety of ways each time software is installed and uninstalled, as well as in-to-day activities of using your computer.

Anti-Virus

Anti-virus and anti-spyware are two areas that should be addressed from an IT side to balance protection from virus/spy ware and performance for the users. The main issues with anti-virus are:

Important issues to address:

Updated virus definition files. If the definition files are out of date, your protection is limited at best.
The ability to real time scan files, web pages, email, and more as they are being used. The disadvantage from a SolidWorks user's perspective is that it will take longer to open a document if it needs to be scanned. One potential solution to this is to omit .SLDPRT, .SLDASM, and .SLDDRW files from the real time scan. The risk in doing so is if a SolidWorks file would become infected. The SolidWorks files could be scanned at nights and over the weekend to reduce this risk.
Keep your Anti-virus application version up-to-date. The versions listed below are recent versions. If your organization is using an anti-virus application that is a number of years old, this could be the source of your anti-virus issues.

Hard Disks

The following are the important aspects for your disk storage (local and network):

Disk type, speed, and RAID configuration. See the following two Tech Tips for more information; Selecting a CAD Workstation and How using RAID arrays can improve system performance for more details.
Disk defragmentation is a key element in keeping your system performing well and stable. The disk defragmenter that comes with Windows will defragment any active files or the Windows virtual memory. Note: Performing regular disk defragmentation can dramatically improve the performance and stability of your system.
Create a regular schedule using the defragmentation tool or the Windows Scheduler.
You need sufficient disk space on your local drive. At a minimum, 500MB.

Keeping your system clean

As time goes on, you will find that your computer start to fill-up the local hard disk. It is a good practice to remove these files on a regular basis (Windows XP only):

C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Local Settings\TempSWBackupDirectory
C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Local Settings\Temp
C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files

Third party Utilities

Disclaimer:

SolidWorks accepts no responsibility for the use of, or any subsequent damage or loss of data, due to use of non-SolidWorks applications. Several solutions outlined below are third-party applications which carry their own warranty and are therefore not supported by SolidWorks Corporation or by SolidWorks value-added resellers. Use of third-party applications is done strictly at the user's risk.

CheckIt Pro

When evaluating system problems or determining the general performance of a machine, not directly related to use of SolidWorks software, CheckIt can be used to perform burn-in and diagnostics testing. This utility can be used to test new machine and ones that may be problematic. To find out more, visit http://www.smithmicro.com/default.tpl?group=product_full&sku=CPRWINEE

Ace Utilities

Ace Utilities, performs a wide range of system clean-up functions. Outside of disk de-fragmentation, this utility can perform a wide range of system maintenance functions. This utilities functions and disk de-fragmentation should be set as a regular, scheduled task using the Windows Task Scheduler and the scheduling options in this utility. For more information, visit http://www.acelogix.com/index.html

Notes:

Always have a backup made prior to using these types of utilities. (see System Restore)
Turn on System Restore (My Computer\Properties\System Restore)

Conclusion

These tools and utilities can be employed to make SolidWorks users more productive and lessen the support requirements.