Computer Maintenance

Computers are at their best—and their most secure—when well-maintained. Without regular cleaning and organization, your hard drive gets cluttered with data, your file system becomes messy, and overall performance slips. Without frequent backups and weeding, your data is less secure and more difficult to restore. And, unless you occasionally update your software and renew your subscriptions, your programs will not perform optimally. Even the physical cleanliness of your hardware affects the quality of your computing experience. Monitors get smudged, dust gets into your keyboard, grime builds up under your mouse. The problem is, home computers have become so reliable and convenient, and we take their efficient operation for granted. But, just like your home or your car, your computer requires attention from time to time. The following maintenance tasks, if performed on a regular basis, will keep your computer running safely and smoothly.

System checkups

Your computer works harder than you think. It’s constantly prioritizing tasks, storing files, executing commands, allocating memory. It’s really quite amazing how efficient these machines are. Over time, however, errors occur on your hard drive, data gets disorganized, and references become obsolete. These little problems add up, and as they do, your operating system slows down, system and software crashes occur more frequently, start up and shut down operations take longer and longer. In order to get your system back into shape, and even better, to keep it from slowing down in the first place, set up a monthly maintenance schedule. Be sure to include these items in your routine:

 

·	Scan your hard drive for errors and fix any corrupt sectors

 

·	Defragment your hard drive

 

·	Remove invalid Registry entries and broken shortcuts

We have all the tools needed to schedule and complete each of these tasks and to keep your Windows operating system in good health.

Housekeeping

To ensure an efficient and enjoyable computing experience, keep your computer clean and well-organized. Removing old programs and drivers frees up memory and reduces the potential for system conflicts. Deleting obsolete and temporary files opens up space for today’s important work. And, the fewer unnecessary files you have on your computer, the safer you are from threats like online identity theft. Beyond digital cleanup, it’s also important to give the physical parts of your computer some TLC. Left too long, dirt and grime can build up and cause damage to your hardware. So, set aside some time each month to complete the following tasks:

 

·	Remove old programs and temporary files

 

·	Delete obsolete data

 

·	Make sure private and financial data is stored securely