5 Basic Computer Maintenance Tasks

 

During regular computer repair in South Riverside, the technicians have observed that maximum small business owners are oblivious about basic computer maintenance. Consequently, their devices either crash or slow down. The core issue is ignorance while failing to improve security patches and antivirus software, which burdens the system with trial software or running five toolbars simultaneously in the browser. 

 

You may not know much about your vehicles too. However, you know that you need to provide it with gas, change the oil frequently, and take it to a mechanic for check-ups. The same logic applies to your computers. In this article, we have identified 5 basic computer maintenance steps, so that you need not have to seek a computer repair in Lake Elsinore.  

 

1.  Clean Your PC 

 

Due to static electricity, your PC becomes a magnet for dirt, dust, and debris. The minor loopholes in the keyboards and processing units make it difficult for the dust to reach, and it accumulates for months before you trace any issue. But unknowingly, these very unsanitary particles simply clog up your cooling fans and keyboard, two of the most crucial moving parts of your device. 

 

You may purchase cans of compressed air or opt for an eco-friendlier solution by buying an anti-static vacuum. Every month without fail, spray the compressed air ensuring that you blow away everything that isn’t screwed down. 

   

2. Uninstall All Unused Programs  

 

You may be lucky that your PC is running for years. During these years the computer gathers all sorts of programs that were needed at some time or the other. Often, you do not even remember, which all programs are installed on your PC. Remember that each of the programs is consuming memory and processing time. That’s why, if you clean out your system, then you can make some room for new programs and also speed up your PC. 

Check your applications every month. When you purchased the machine, it was pre-loaded with lots of trial software. Many of us don’t install these. A lot of users have decided not to buy them at the end of the trial. By remaining on the system, they occupy space and bloat the Windows Registry. This may cause performance problems, leading Windows to become static and irregular. 

 

For uninstalling programs, go to Control Panel and click on Programs and Features to check a list of all programs installed on your PC. You need not have to take your machine for computer repair in Redlands for this as you can do it yourself. 

 

3. Perform a Total Scanning for Malware 

 

You can easily set it and forget it overnight. Software maintenance can become intricate. However, one of the simplest ways to take care of your machine is to run spyware detection software and conventional virus protection. Usual programs will run safely as background processes, securing your PC whenever it is on. 

 

Each week, you must open up your virus protection software and physically run a full scan for spyware and viruses.  

 

4. Defragment Your Hard Drive 

 

To maintain the integrity of your data, two hard drive tests should be run once every month. The first is to defragment your hard drive. Due to regular use, your files get spread out or fragmented all over your hard drive. An MP3 or WMV file may seem to be a single file to you in Windows Explorer, small pieces of the file may spread across the whole hard drive. If you can assemble all of these distant pieces back together into a single contiguous file, then file access becomes faster. Defragmenting would make your system run faster. 

 

The other test will be to perform a Check Disk. This tool inspects hard disk volumes for problems and tries to repair any that it finds. Disk errors are a common source of difficult-to-track issues, and if you can regularly run this test, then you may drastically minimize the risk of the challenges. 

 

Windows contain a check-disk utility and a built-in defragmenter. For accessing any one of them, simply open Windows Explorer and right-click on the drive you wish to evaluate. Choose Properties and click on the Tools tab. For defragmenting your hard drive, go to the Defragmentation section and press the Defragment now button. For conducting a check disk, go to the Error-checking section and press the Check now button. 

 

5. For a Back-up Plan, create a System Restore Point 

 

Prior to the installation of any new software on your device, always create a System Restore point. A few software may jeopardize your system leading to all sorts of weird problems. A System Restore Point helps in restoring your PC’s system files to a previous point in time when your system was working well. 

 

A system restores point can minimize your downtime drastically. For creating a system-restore point go to Control Panel and choose Backup and Restore options accordingly.  

 

Inference  

 

One need not have to be a computer expert to keep your computer running well. You only need to be proactive and observant instead of seeking computer repair in Montclair at the drop of a hat.