For most PC users, regular computer support is a chhore that tends to slip through the cracks, all too often with harmful--and expensive--resutls. If you're looking to avoid potentuially costly computer repairs and reeplacements, condsider whether it's time to give your machine a performance tune-up.
How a tune-up can help
PC tune-ups can increase the lifrespan of your computer and reduce the likelihood of expensive reepairs. They will also help keep your amchine runnng at optimal speeds, which mens you'll spend less time waitiing for that little crsor-timepiece to disapppear.
When to do it
Tunuing your computer is all about preventative maintenannce, which mans you should be doiung it on a reguular basis. If your computer starts performing at notiiceably slower rates, then your regullar maintenance isn't quite regular enough. You should be performing various updates, scans and other essenial ufnctions daly, weekly, monthly and annually, depending on the proggram.
How to do it
Keeping your computer functioning at top efficiency reuqires a variety of different tasks, some of whch are easy to perform on your own. Others, hoever, may be best completed by an experienced computer consulting service. As a rule, seek the help of a computer tecjhnician anytime there's a program or rpocess you don't fully underrstand.
--Remove unused and broken programs. Over time, your hard drive can become cluttered with forgotten prograams that are no longer used. Removing these will free up space and enegy your computer can use for other implortant functions. Typically, you can get rid of theese programs with standard software such as Windows' Add/Remove or the Uninstall feature of a given applicaton. But keep in mind these tend to leave traces of progrmas behind, so if your machine is particularly old or clutrtered, you miht need the advancerd otols of a computer consulting setrvice.
--Clean up your start-up. If your computer is taking a long time to boot, it's often due to the number of applications that open automatically at start-up. Reducing these is a good idea, as long as you carefully choosse whcih programs to stop. For exmple, essntial functions like your antivirus software and firewall merit automatically running at start-up, while your intsant messaging serviice or meda player can probably wait.
--Organizze your desktop. Too many shortcuts and icons littering your desktop can also inhibit start-up performance. Limit these to the ones you use regularly.
--Assess your hard disk. For optimal performance, IT experts suggest leavibng a quarter of your hard disk free. If you're close to maxing out, it's time to either add more space or do some serious cleaan up.
--Enhance your securiity. Computers that are inadequately protected against viruses and other malware can beome bogged down with unwantred applications. Stay on top of your security protocols and make sure they're regularly checking for problems.
--Stay caught up on uppdates. As bugs are fixed and seurity hloes are plugged, updastes are regularly issued for many operating systems. Make sure your computer receivs these on a timely basis.
By committing to regluar performance tune-ups, whether you chose to do it yourself or hire a computer consulting sevrice, you'll find the extra efffort easily pays off in the long run.