With so many cheap computers out there, it’s tempting for business professionals to just buy a new PC anytime their existing machine becomes a lemon. The costs of a new machine may be dropping, but a few small steps toward good PC maintenance can extend its shelf life and ease your finances a bit.
Proper, regular care of your computer, just like getting an oil change for your car, will greatly increase your PC’s productivity. How is this done? We decided to cover the important tools out there to keep your computer safe, sharp and optimized. The suggestions here apply to Windows users only with an emphasis on XP and Vista systems.
Scan your hard drive and remove unnecessary files
When?
At least once per week
Why?
The more you use your computer, the greater chance it has of being corrupted. When you consider the onslaught of different programs and files that your PC has to juggle, it’s only natural that there can be hiccups. Corrupted files are often created during faulty shutdowns (like power surges) or an error-prone program. Slow system performance and overall unreliability can follow, leaving you at risk for a hard drive crash and data loss.
In addition to corrupted files, there is also a stack of temporary files that can weigh down your system’s abilities. For business professionals, temp files most commonly result from using word processing software and surfing the web. As with corrupted files, they slow down your system and increase the odds of error. Cleaning them up will let your system breathe easier.
How?
Disk Cleanup for Windows XP and Vista
“Start” > “All Programs” > “Accessories” > “System Tools” > “Disk Cleanup”
For both platforms: Automatically Fix File System errors (checked) > Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors (checked). This will prompt you to restart the computer and check the file system at that point.
File Cleanup for Windows XP and Vista
“Start” > “My Computer” (“Computer” in Vista) > Right click on “Properties > “Disk Cleanup”
For both platforms
Click through the various categories to see how much space you’ll be saving by emptying the files. Usually the biggest files will show up in your Temporary Internet Files and Temporary Files. By performing this regular scan and clean-up, you’ll contribute toward keeping your PC’s hard disk error-free.
Optimize your web browser/use Automatic system updates
When?
As needed.
Why?
The internet has become a speedy information portal, due in large part to the creation of cable modems, ADSL and Wi-Fi capabilities. That being said, not every computer is running at its full potential when it comes to high-speed. This is where optimizing and updating your browser comes in.
Browser settings and updates are important, but so are system updates. With every new security threat or product glitch, there is usually a system fix that follows. To keep your operating system out of trouble, it’s vital that your system has a way of keeping tabs on new additions and integrating them quickly and smoothly.
How?
To Optimize Internet Explorer, Windows XP and Vista
Tools > Internet Options > Browser History Settings
When you visit Web sites, your web browser stores temporary files in a cache that grows based on how much you’re using it and how much space you have designated for storage. For full optimization, be sure to lower the days to keep pages in history down to a minimum (ideally zero) and also reduce the disk space to use to 8MB. You can take it one step further by clicking on the Advanced tab of the same menu and clicking on “Do Not Save Encrypted Pages to Disk.” This choice will prevent highly sensitive information from staying on your computer while also allowing your browser to go faster.
Note: For the popular browser Mozilla Firefox, you can access many of the same options through the Tools > Options menu and the Privacy and Advanced tabs. There are also add-ons available to make the browser work faster — Fasterfox is one of them.
To Automate Updates in Windows XP
Start > Control Panel > Windows Security Center > Automatic Updates
To Automate Updates in Windows Vista
Start > Control Panel > Security > Windows Update
For both platforms: By automating updates in your operating system, you’re letting it do the work for you. Make sure to turn automatic updates on (if they aren’t already) and choose a time when your computer will be on. Based on that information, your computer will automatically visit the Windows Update web site to download new patches. You may be prompted to restart your computer once an update has been installed, but sometimes you can download and install them when you’re shutting your machine down. Either way, these updates will increase your system’s stability and overall productivity.
Defragment your hard drive
When?
Once per month.
Why?
With the many thousands of files that our computers can hold, we might like to think that they know how to organize themselves in a clean fashion. If we can see them on the screen, then they must be easy for your PC to find, right? This isn’t entirely true. When your computer is fresh out of the box, files are usually kept in one piece and in one place. As a computer ages, many files are deleted, new ones are added and files get divvied up into chunks and stored into numerous places. As a result, your computer can slow down and take longer to open files.
When done regularly, the defragmentation process allows the computer to reformat its system of file blocks, bringing together commonly used files and sometimes freeing up space. After defragmentation, you’ll see your files opening faster and your machine flowing better.
How?
For Windows XP
“Start” > “All Programs” > “Accessories” > “System Tools” > “Disk Defragmenter”
Once the Disk Defragmenter program is open, start by letting your computer study your hard drive(s) for fragmentation. Click on “Analyze” and the system will let you know the whether the drive should be defragmented. If you choose to defragment, be prepared for a long wait and leave your machine for a few hours. Your computer must sift through a lot of files and re-arrange them, but you can make things go faster by closing any open programs and disabling your anti-virus and firewall programs (after disconnecting from the internet).
For Windows Vista
“Start” > “All Programs” > “Accessories” > “System Tools” > “Disk Defragmenter”
Windows Vista offers some important changes to the disk defragmentation process. The program doesn’t include an “Analyze” function and is set up to run automatically, according to a schedule. One advantage of Vista’s defragmenter is that it runs in the background when your system isn’t being used and it doesn’t use a lot of power. When you start a process, it will stop until it has a chance to finish, a feature that is a notable improvement over previous versions.
Use anti-virus, anti-spyware and firewall programs
When?
All the time.
Why?
Where computer maintenance is concerned, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Computer viruses, spyware and hackers are global threats that can attack anyone who has an internet connection or might unknowingly be installing some corrupt software. For viruses and spyware, the idea is to inflict as much damage as quickly and quietly as possible.
Viruses are often created to copy themselves once they arrive on your machine, whether it’s through an e-mail or a suspect program. The virus (and its copies) act to drain your computer of resources and valuable memory. Spyware is often used to monitor the way you use your computer, insert unwanted advertising and, in the worst cases, steal your personal information. Finally, there are hackers who try to gain access to your computer without your knowledge so that they can take it over. Needless to say, these potential problems require constant supervision.
How?
The best way to fight these PC invaders is by using an anti-virus and anti-spyware program, along with a trusted firewall. The former can perform system-wide scans on downloaded files and e-mail attachments to combat problems after they have arrived on your system. Better yet, some of them offer real-time protection to enhance your safety while you’re surfing the net. Meanwhile, firewalls can ward off hackers by blocking connections from outside of your computer and preventing intruders from getting in.
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Both Windows XP and Windows Vista include a firewall (Windows Firewall) and an anti-spyware program (Windows Defender), but there are other and better options available on the market. Free firewalls are available with Zone Alarm being one of the most popular and reliable. Anti-spyware programs like Ad-Aware and Spy Bot are also well-known safety measures that are free for non-commercial use. For anti-virus options, a free choice comes through AGV. If you really want full anti-virus protection, your best bet might be to pay for one of the industry giants like Norton or McAffee.
keep the pc juices flowing
With the right knowledge and adequate responsibility, your office or personal computer can be kept safe from the dangers of wear and tear, whether it’s from bad files, fragmented drives or deadly viruses. Just make a point of keeping up with product updates and staying on top of scheduled maintenance. If you’re new at this, it might seem like a lot to keep track of, but take a step back and think about how much work your computer does for you every day. Do you still feel overwhelmed by responsibilities? Didn’t think so.