Did you know
that like human beings, computers
need preventative care to stay
“healthy”? That’s correct, computers need to be
maintained regularly, to ensure that they
continue working in peak condition for years to come. No, I don’t
mean wiping your computer clean with a cloth!
(Actually that IS a small part of it
though). There are many “tips” on keeping your
computer fast and efficient, many methods should be
performed by a skilled user only, but there are many
that the average home user can handles with no problems.
Follow these tips below, and your wallet will be glad
you did:
1.) Ensure
that you are using antivirus and anti spyware
applications, and you computer is scanned at LEAST once
weekly. Make sure that the definition files are set to
“automatic update”.
AVG free
, is
a good antivirus program,and can be downloaded, by clicking here !
Malwarebytes, a good anti
spyware app, can downloaded directly, by
clickinghere !
2.)
Make sure that you are using a firewall at all times
when on the internet, and you are using WEP or WPA
encryption, to thwart online intruders from invading
your computer.
Hardware firewalls
are the best option in my opinion, but “Zone Alarm”
is an excellent free software choice, I use it myself.
To download the free version of Zonealarm, go
here: http://www.zonelabs.com
.
On a side note, the Windows
firewall currently included with Windows 7 appears to be
more secure than previous Windows versions and is
effective also.
Defragmenting is the process in which Windows
optimizes your hard drive(s) by rearranging the files on your
hard drive so they are back in order. As
clusters of files on your hard drive become fragmented, they
grow further apart and it takes longer for your computer to
find and assemble the pieces necessary to run your programs. Your
version of Windows has a help file, that will show
you how to defragment your drive. Do this at
LEAST once a month.
( To defragment in Windows XP:
Open My Computer, and right click on your "C" drive.
Select Properties, then click on the Tools tab and
select Defragment Now. )
5.)
Be weary of installing software that will not be used
regularly.
Many
people install software daily, only to find that Windows
“runs” slower, as more software is installed. Most
software creates entries in the “Registry”, and when
most software is un-installed, the registry entry stays
– thus slowing down computer performance. Have you ever
wondered why your computer seems so fast when it is
brand new, or Windows is freshly installed? More
software installed usually equals slower speed.
6.)
Do not allow too many programs to load up when Windows
start.
You know the
little task bar at the bottom of your screen? The right
side of that taskbar usually has a few icons. Many
people ask “why is my computer loading so slow?”
Many times, it’s because too many programs are set
to load at startup, and you will have to
wait while each icon shows up in your task bar,
and the respective program loads.
When you install software, if given the option, only
choose “startup with Windows” if it is mandatory (such
as antivirus, firewalls, etc). The more programs that you
load at startup, the more resources you are using, thus
slowing down your computer significantly.
Always have as a rule of thumb, make sure
that you have 700MB of free space (700 megabytes) on
your hard drive. Why…. you ask? There should be at least
300-500 megabytes of free space to allow for “disk file
chores”. Simply put, if you don’t have enough free space
on your drive, Windows will get slower, due to certain
tasks that run in the background, and utilize a
300-500MB of your hard drive’s space.
Always backup your
files. What is backup? It is the process of saving your
important files to an external medium such as CD, DVD,
external drive, tape, etc. Digital data doesn’t really
“exist”, it consists of “1s” and “0s”, and when your
storage medium dies due to power outage, hours of usage,
damage; your data is gone.
Data recovery is expensive,
and it isn’t guaranteed. Always be on the safe side and
save your important files, and store your backup in a
place where fire, water etc, won’t damage it.
-------------
Now you have learned a little
about computer maintenance. Check back next week as we
explore more tips to keep your computer running in good
shape. We will show you how to physically clean
your computer, how to prevent heat from destroying
your hardware, among several other vital tips!
Did you know
that like human beings, computers
need preventative care to stay
“healthy”? That’s correct, computers need to be
maintained regularly, to ensure that they
continue working in peak condition for years to come. No, I don’t
mean wiping your computer clean with a cloth!
