Computer Maintenance Tips & Checklist - Make Your Device Health Better

Computer maintenance entails regular cleaning, hard drive updates, and virus prevention on your PCs and laptops. Creating a computer maintenance checklist makes it easy to follow the process. When properly maintained, computers can survive five to eight years, but if the user does not take protection to protect the hardware, that lifespan can be cut short fast. Cleaning your devices will help them last longer and help you access the web more safely. This is why computer upkeep is so essential.

The entire procedure can be separated into four stages.

Cleaning the hardware

Cleaning your keyboard at least once a week can help keep it in good shape. Wipe your keyboard down with a wet, lint-free cloth, but don't soak it in water. Wipe down your monitor once a week with a dry lint-free cloth to keep it looking fresh and clean. Turn your mouse upside down after unplugging it. After that, detach the bottom panel and use a lint-free cloth to clean the ball. Before reassembling the mouse for a more thorough clean, soak the cloth in rubbing alcohol, allowing the ball to dry.

Proper Malware Protection

For personal Computer Maintenance, run an antivirus program update the same day it becomes general to remove viruses. These updates can provide new software parts or enhance existing ones. Changing your password four times a year keeps you safer without causing too much trouble. Firmware is a little piece of software that supports your computer's hardware running smoothly. These advancements are sometimes included in important computer updates, but you can also manually check for firmware updates on many devices. In expansion to program updates, you'll want to update your signatures. This guarantees that your computer is free of new viruses.

Maintenance of the hard drive

You should regularly monitor the startup applications. Disk Cleanup will help you free up the area on your hard drive. This will erase large attachments, temporary files, and extra language files, among other things.

• Check for significant computer upgrades at least once a month to keep your apps functioning safely and efficiently.
• Keep your files safe. Maintaining files on your desktop can make your computer run slower. Rather, group similar files into folders so they're easy to find.
• Remove unnecessary programs from your device to free up more RAM. If you sort your apps by size, you can discover which ones ingest the most memory and select what to delete.
• Remove temporary internet files and clean your stash to help your system run faster.

Safely Turn Off Your Computer

First, do not switch off your computer presently from the main switch or by unplugging it. Always close all the programs and then shut them down properly. The only time when it is okay to close the computer off directly is if the screen freezes and the hard drive is unresponsive. If your computer turns too often though, get it seen by an expert. There is a risk of irremediable damage to your computer each time you shut it down directly.

UPS (Uninterrupted Power Supply)

One of the easiest tips for people who own a computer is to have a UPS. A UPS supplies power to your PC in case of a hasty power cut and this assures your data isn’t lost and that your system doesn’t crash. It even shields your computer against low voltage or when there are fluctuations in voltage.

Task Manager

If your system freezes, try reviving the operation by pressing Ctrl + Alt + Del together before anything else. This will take you to the task manager from where you can end the faulty programs without doing any damage to your computer.

Data Backup

Simple computer maintenance also includes the storage of data. To ensure your data is stowed securely, you should always have a backup hard drive. You can even set your computer to take automatic backups so that you don’t have to bother yourself with this all the time. A better option would be to get an external hard drive. Create backups for all your files and folders regularly and you will never have to worry about data loss if your system impacts.

Scan Disk and Defragmentation

Running scan disks and defragmenting your drive is something you should do monthly. If you’re too lethargic to do this on your own, you could install a program that does it for you. This is a very simple step that goes a long way in keeping your computer in good running condition.

Dust

Assure dust doesn’t get into the back of the computer and cover the fan. If air isn’t allowed to flow freely through your computer, it will heat up and this slows down performance.

Programs

If you are short on space and feel it is affecting the performance of your computer then try running only important programs and the programs you are working on instead of having everything open simultaneously. This will help free up system resources and make your computer run faster until you can free up some space.

These simple computer maintenance tips will go a long way in ensuring your computer is in top condition for the foreseeable future.