Regular Computer Maintenance

Like your car, your computer needs proper maintenance to perform at its best. Knowing your way around your PC and conducting routine repairs will keep it in good working order.

Backup - Backup - Backup

Warning: Do not read this paragraph out loud. You’ll awaken the Disk Drive Demons and bad things may happen.

If your hard drive fails, what will you lose?  The short answer is everything, which for most people is years of essays, projects, music, and maybe your finances. In short, it’s a catastrophe.

To avoid this, you should backup your computer often. Windows XP comes with a disk backup utility, but it does not automatically install itself-it must be manually added from your Windows XP CD. Schedule a backup of your data to a CD, hard drive, or another computer. easyTechCare can help set this up so your backup runs automatically and informs you if it was successful or failed.

Viruses and Spyware

Every computer must have anti-virus and anti-spyware software. You’re not safe unless you have both, and both must be running and “active”.  Ensure that your programs are protecting you from threats on the internet by checking the settings of your software.

In addition to constant protection, you should also run a full virus scan and full antispyware scan at least once a week. Better programs will allow you to schedule scans so that you won’t have to remember.

Update your virus and spyware signature files constantly. Most programs will allow you to set your computer to automatically get updates on the internet.  Many people think their old anti-virus program that came with the computer will still provide protection.  This is not true! If your software is not registered and updating regularly, you are under threat from viruses and you have no protection.

Windows Updates

Microsoft offers regular updates for your operating system(s) via the Microsoft Windows Update site.  easyTechCare recommends that you opt to have all updates automatically install on your computer.-this way you will be safer and your operating system will be current.

Clean Your Computer

Use your system's built-in utilities to:  

Clean Your Hard Drive - Just like your desk, a clean computer runs better. Run the Disk Cleanup program monthly.  You can find it under Start/Programs/Accessories/SystemTools/Disk Cleanup.

NOTE:  Check your Recycle Bin to verify you want to dispose of everything in it.
 
Disk Defragmenter - An orderly computer runs better. Run the Disk Defragmenter monthly. You can find it under Start/Programs/Accessories/SystemTools/Disk Defragmenter. This program will organize the data on your computer, making it run a faster and more reliably.

Add/Remove Programs - You've got junk on your computer you never use. These programs take up disk space and sometimes steal your computer's power. When you know you will never use a program and/or you have the original disks, remove the program from your computer. You can do this in Start/Control Panel/Add-Remove Programs. You will see a list of all programs on your computer. Click on the program and press the remove button.

NOTE: Programs do not go to the Recycle Bin. Be sure you don't want it before you click "Remove".

Use good work habits and shut down your machine properly. If something goes wrong - Call or contact EasyTechCare.

 

For more Tips and Help, call EasyTechCare at 416-987-EASY (3279)