Computers come in many shapes and sizes and keep us connected to the digital world. Keeping your laptop in pristine, flawless condition is of the utmost importance, whether for work or play. A well-cared-for computer lasts longer and performs reliably.
We give you these ten essential computer maintenance tips.
1. Protect with padding
Drops, bumps and slips cause unsightly dents that make your computer look old. Protecting your PC from the elements starts with a protective case. There are a few different styles of protection. These include:
skins
Hard snap-on covers
covers
Handbags
2. Organize cables
Taking the time to clear and organize the mass of snake-like cables that spawn from your PC’s power strip and ports is a significant first step for desktop and laptop users. Try these cable management tips:
- A rotating ruler
- Color coded cables
- cable clips
- organizer panel
3. Update the operating system
If you are looking for the essential computer maintenance, keeping your operating system up to date is one of the most straightforward solutions. Whether you’re loyal to Windows, Mac, or Linux, updating your PC when new patches are available ensures your PC stays ahead of the curve in performance power.
Windows 11 is known for keeping users in sync with once-a-day update checks.
4. Unplug to avoid overload
Optimizing battery power is a priority with increased reliance on wireless devices. Few things are more infuriating than a battery that dies when you have hours of work or play. It’s best to resist the urge to plug in your computer when it has less than 50% battery power.
Unnecessary charging can lead to overload, leading to regenerative capacity deterioration. To avoid a dire fate for your battery, unplug your device after it reaches 100% charge and doesn’t plug it back in until it’s shallow.
5. Purge your system files and junk programs
Useless programs and old junk files are probably taking up more space than you think. From old versions of software to retired versions of your resume, your PC is bound to have its fair share of digital debris on your desktop or in your start menu. Before your computer reaches a point where it begs for more storage space, use these PC purge tips to relieve your system.
- Uninstall trial software
- Run disk cleanup software
- Empty the recycle bin
- Delete temporary files
- Clear cache of offline web pages
6. Run regular antivirus scans
Malware attacks can sneak up on you at any time, and just in case they do, having an intelligent antivirus on your PC will protect you from the damage caused by viruses. Weekly antivirus scans ensure that your computer is always free from malware infections. Make sure you choose a virus scanning service that scans all your downloads.
7. Clean the keyboard and case
A lot of dust, food residue and crumbs accumulate under the keys of your keyboard. Anything that can fit between the keys and various dirty particles can clog the keyboard. This makes the buttons sticky and hard to press. Cleaning these hard-to-reach parts of your laptop or desktop setup is most easily done with a can of compressed air, available at office supply stores, computer stores, and hardware stores.
8. Update your passwords
Believe it or not, updating passwords is just as crucial a task as backing up your data. Bad password behavior covers everything from using the same password for every account to simple, easy-to-guess passwords like “password” or “123456.”
9. Organize your data
Dealing with cluttered desktop or computer folders can be daunting, but with these tips and tricks, you’ll be well on your way to an available file and folder system.
- Create big parent folders
- Create small subfolders
- Empty your downloads folder
- clean your desk
- Choose thoughtful file names
10. Back up your data
Sudden crashes, untimely crashes, and random hardware failures all have the potential to corrupt the data sitting on your PC. File backup is one of the most critical computer maintenance procedures that PC users can perform independently. That is why we have ranked it in last place. Your computer is replaceable, but without a backup, your data isn’t.
Full backups are usually done to external hard drives with lots of storage and to the cloud.
From conanexiles-database, we are specialists in computer maintenance. Contact us if you need help.