There are various essential computer maintenance tips that will extend the lifespan and smooth running of your hardware, such as using Windows Update and monitoring for software patches from manufacturers.
Keep your hard drive clean regularly by clearing out old thumbnails, files and web pages that occupy disk space.
1. Keep Your Operating System Updated
Notifications telling you to update your software exist for a good reason – keeping up-to-date can extend its lifespan and performance significantly, protecting against glitchy operating systems, overheated CPUs, or batteries that drain quickly due to neglect. With proper routine maintenance in place, however, these could all be avoided altogether.
Tech news is filled with articles urging users to install operating system updates as soon as they become available from companies, however due to lengthy download times and restart requirements it can be tempting to put off or postpone them altogether – however this would be an immense miscalculation!
Maintaining an up-to-date OS is paramount for security purposes. New versions of the operating system contain security patches designed to close any known vulnerabilities used by hackers to gain entry to computers and prevent potential data loss or cyberattacks. By keeping your OS updated, you will protect yourself from cyber attacks while protecting data loss or loss in the event of cyberattack.
Beyond security, regular operating system updates provide bug fixes to enhance performance and stability as well as any newly added features, such as macOS’ dark mode feature which enables easier viewing at night.
Staying current with your operating system updates also allows for easier customer support services. As software developers increasingly focus on supporting only their newest releases, many might not be available to assist with technical issues or troubleshooting if you still use an older OS version. Incorporating these 10 essential computer maintenance tips into your daily routine should significantly lengthen its lifespan and reliability so you can maximize its use day-by-day.
2. Clean Your Hard Drive
The hard drive serves as your computer’s memory, housing information for fast access to programs and applications. Over time, however, it may become overloaded with temporary files and other forms of clutter, leading to slow performance or even system crashes when running important software applications.
To avoid this scenario, it’s wise to keep your computer clean by regularly clearing away unnecessary files and files that no longer serve a purpose. A disk cleanup tool like the one included with Windows 10 (type “disk cleanup” into Cortana to find it) may come in handy in clearing away accumulated junk – especially download folders where many forget to delete downloaded pictures and other large files from.
Cleaning your computer regularly to avoid dust buildup is also vitally important in prolonging its lifespan and decreasing heat exposure, which reduces CPU life span and other components’ life expectancies. You can do this either by opening your desktop case and blowing away excess dust, or by using a cloth with some isopropyl alcohol to wipe it off.
Finally, make sure that your antivirus program is up-to-date to help protect against malicious software that could harm or steal personal information from your computer.
Clean your hard drive regularly to maintain optimal performance of your computer and ensure adequate space is allocated for data and programs you require, protects privacy of information stored therein, and avoids over-clutter of files on the hard drive. Cleaning should be an effortless, effortless task which should be performed regularly to maintain optimal computer health and ensure maximum productivity from it.
3. Clean Your Keyboard
The keyboard is one of the most intimate parts of your computer. You touch it daily, which exposes it to bacteria from both you and other users who share that keyboard. Furthermore, keyboards contain tiny gaps where dust, hair, crumbs, and pet food can accumulate – it is therefore imperative that every 4-6 weeks your keyboard be thoroughly cleansed to maintain optimal health.
As with the keyboard itself, use a damp lint-free cloth to gently wipe down your keyboard with warm water, taking care not to oversaturate as excessive moisture may damage keys.
A quick spritz of disinfectant on a cloth will kill any remaining germs while refreshing your keyboard, too. Swab the keycaps regularly with cotton swabs dipped in isopropyl alcohol to clean small gaps between keycaps. Change out and allow to dry thoroughly before using again!
Once every 4-6 weeks, you should thoroughly clean both your mouse and keyboard with isopropyl alcohol or compressed air to get rid of most messes. For tougher gunks that remain, remove keycaps and clean with soapy water before popping back in place on their designated keys after.
Organising cords is another essential part of keeping your computer tidy and organized. Group your cords together so they won’t become tangled behind books or boxes and keep them from becoming damaged; this will allow you to easily locate what you need when needed and prevent future tangles or damage to cords. In addition, having a designated spot where your laptop can sit between uses would be useful; making it simple for you to put down and pick back up later.
4. Change Your Password
After experiencing a security breach or when suspecting someone may have stolen your information, it’s essential that you update your password regularly and frequently. Otherwise hackers could exploit any stolen passwords to gain entry to any accounts linked with that one such as banks or social media services.
An effective password should include uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols from upper and lowercase cases. An easily rememberable password (for example a line from a song or poem) or one which incorporates abbreviated sentences (“the quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog in the backyard” becomes “tqbfjotlditb”) can also help. I use the same trick when creating passwords for online slots gaming platforms that I found by visiting reviews site or 리뷰 웹사이트 방문 중.
If you find yourself forgetting your computer password, resetting it may be the solution. Simply enter your current password before choosing either a phone number or email address where Microsoft can send a code; once this occurs follow on-screen instructions to create a new one.
Change your password immediately if you have used the same one for multiple accounts, as hackers could potentially gain entry through one and test its effectiveness elsewhere – this is particularly important if using public Wi-Fi networks with which you connect to.
If you have a recent version of Windows, changing your password is easy through the Settings app. Navigating to Accounts > Sign-in options > Password can change it for you; older versions of Windows do not offer this option. Need assistance changing it? Reach out to one of our service technicians.
5. Back Up Your Data
Every computer user has important files stored on their machines that would be devastating if lost, yet today it is easier than ever to keep backup copies of our most precious digital assets, meaning even an intense computer disaster could become just another inconvenience by simply restoring a recent backup copy.
Backing up your data should be completed at least every few weeks or months, depending on how frequently you use your computer. There are various methods for making backups available to you including using built-in software on the computer itself and third-party programs; each has their own specific advantages but none should prove difficult to use.
Windows allows users to set up automatic backups by accessing the Update and Security section of Settings and selecting “Backup settings.” You will be able to specify which folders will be automatically backed up (it is best practice to select all), how often automated backups will run, as well as for how long.
Your backups should be stored on an external hard drive that’s separate from your computer, for maximum protection in case something happens to it, such as fire or flooding, which would wipe out both originals and backups simultaneously.
Manual backup can also be accomplished by copying files to multiple devices or moving files to an entirely new location. While this option takes more time and energy, it gives more control over which data needs backing up and where.