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Basic Computer Maintenance

Read more articles on Computers.

July 29, 2006

Posted by Emma

About This Editor: 32, full-time freelance writer living in New Zealand

         

Computers can be capricious beasts. Particularly with older models, or older versions of software, problems can arise with little warning. Luckily, there are lots of simple things that you can do to keep your computer running in great condition, even if you don’t have a lot of technical knowledge. By spending 30 minutes or so each week (and an hour or two once a month) on a few simple tasks, you can keep your computer from turning into a sluggish monster.

1) Disk Cleanup — As you use programs on your computer, it creates temporary files which are normally deleted when the program stops running. This doesn’t always happen though - if your computer hangs or crashes, or you don’t shut it down properly, these temporary files can end up getting stored permanently, and as the files pile up, they use up hard disk space and cause your computer to slow down. Getting rid of them is easy by doing the following:

Start => Accessories => System Tools => Disk Cleanup

From here, the computer will take a minute or two to scan your drive, then you will select files to remove from a list of options. Select Downloaded Program Files, Temporary Internet Files, Recycle Bin, and Temporary Files.

2) Start-Up Programs — Programs that are selected to start when Windows boots can slow down the boot process and eat up memory too. For example, programs such as iTunes and AOL software startup with Windows by default, and use a substantial amount of memory, because they are running in the background even if you are not using the program. Do the following:

Start => Run => type msconfig in the box and hit enter. Click the start-up tab and then uncheck any items you do not want to load with Windows. For the most part, the programs listed here aren’t needed at start-up, but if you see anything you’re unfamiliar with, you can do a google search to find out what it is.

3) Removing Unwanted Programs — Over time you will probably end up with programs that you no longer need. Most software has a built-in uninstall option, however this isn’t always the case, and even programs that do can sometimes leave files or folders behind. To get rid of unwanted programs, do the following:

Start => Control Panel => Add/Remove Programs

From here, you can select programs to remove. Again, search on google for programs you’re unfamiliar with, to make sure you’re not removing anything important.

4) Run Spyware, Adware & Virus Checks Frequently — There are some great free programs you can download and use to get rid of spyware and other nasties. Two good ones are AdAware (http://www.download.com/3000-2144-10045910.html) and Spybot (http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/index.html).

These two programs are safe and reliable, but be warned - not all such programs are. Before you download any programs like these, do a quick Google search to see what people are saying about them. For example, BraveSentry and Spyware Sheriff offer free scans and then falsify scan results to scare you into buying the full version of the product.

5) Hard Drive Defragmentation — On a clean drive, your computer saves files to the first available area. Over time, as you create new files and delete old ones, your drive becomes fragmented. This means that different parts of the same file will get stored on different areas of the hard drive - it will take longer to retrieve files, and your computer will start to slow down. When you defragment your computer, the files on the hard drive are rearranged into logical groups so that the computer does not have to go hunting all over the hard drive to open files. To defragment your drive, do the following:

Start => Programs => Accessories => System Tools => Disk Defragmenter

Note that while you are defragmenting, you should not be using your computer for anything else, as it will interfere with the process. Defragmentation should be done at least once a month (if you’ve never done it before it can take several hours the first time).

6) Cleaning Your Computer Case — A build-up of dust inside your computer case will eventually cause overheating & computer slow-down. Removing dust is easy with a couple of simple tools - a small soft-bristled brush and a can of compressed air. This should be done every 6-12 months depending on your environment - for example if you smoke or have pets, cleaning should be done more frequently.
Start by unplugging your computer from the power source, then open up the case. Starting from the top, gently brush all the dust you can from the fittings inside, working your way down to the bottom. Let the dust gather on the bottom of the case, then use a piece of paper as a dust pan to remove it. After that use the compressed air to blow out the CD drive (and floppy drive if you have one), then start at the top again and blow dust from the fittings. Use a Q-tip to keep blade fans still while you are blowing the dust from them. Every 10-15 seconds use a slightly damp cloth to wipe the bottom of the case, and keep going with the compressed air until no more dust is blown out. When you’re done, wipe the bottom of the case with a clean dry cloth.

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Finally, here are some quick Do’s and Don’ts to help prevent both software & hardware problems.

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