Now that new computers come stocked with gobs of RAM and hard drive space, replacing them every 2-3 years is no longer a necessity. Of course, that also means we have to stop treating them like rental cars. Keeping your computer running well over the long haul means preventative maintenance and regular check-ups. So if your computer is performing more like a Kia than a Tesla, it's probably time for some cleaning and fine-tuning.
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Do some basic maintenance on your PC. Clean Windows Registry , Run Disk Defrag, a scan disk, a virus scan, a malware scan, and clear your recycle bin. An unusually slow Internet connection experience is often the only sign that your computer is infected with viruses or other malware. Delete old files and temporary files. Never allow the free space on your C: drive to be less than 10% of the total size or twice the installed RAM (which ever is larger). A well maintained PC will operate much better than a PC that has never had any maintenance. Google or your local computer repair store should be able to help you with this if you don't know how.
The longer you use a computer, the more your files become disorganized, applications stack up, and viruses or spyware find their way in. To keep malicious programs at bay, make sure your antivirus software is up to date and running. Spyware and viruses not only can damage your computer, but they can also eat up loads of processing power while they do their thing.
If your C drive is loaded to the gills, go through and find files and applications that you no longer need and show 'em the door. Every year or so, it's a good idea to defragment your hard drive, which allows the computer to reorganize files so that it can access and retrieve them more efficiently. To keep your browser running fast, make a habit of cleaning out your temporary files, downloads, history, and cookies.
The more applications you have open at the same time, the slower your computer will perform. If an application hangs up, be patient and let it recover; if it's hung up for more than a few minutes, use Ctrl-alt-delete or Force Quit to shut it down. If your computer freezes or slows down to a crawl, use Restart instead of doing a hard reset.
Over time, we all collect random, unnecessary programs — you know, the media player that you downloaded from 20 different sites. Some of these are startup programs that sit in the background and quietly munch up RAM as you struggle to use other programs. If you want to weed these out, do it carefully, as some are part of the OS — find some detailed instructions on the Web for your particular operating system.
Windows Update service is a free, regular service that will send updates to your computer for the OS and Internet Explorer. Security patches are the most important part of this service, which you can configure to download and install updates automatically.
Better still, install Linux on your machine. You'll never have to defragment your drive, worry about too many startup applications running in the background, or spend much, if any time and money dealing with viruses. If you install with separate /home and / (root) partitions you'll never have to "wipe" your machine again - even installing a completely different distribution will be possible while preserving all your desktop data and settings.
Two of a computer's biggest enemies are heat and dust. When dust clogs up fans or piles up on circuits inside, it can overheat your computer, which can cause malfunctions. If possible, keep your computer off the floor and in a well-ventilated area. A few cleanings every year will also go a long way to keeping a computer running cool and happy.
Drop by a computer or electronics store for basic cleaning supplies — screen wipes, dry dusting clothes, and canned air with a straw nozzle to reach into tight areas. After shutting down the computer, you can get started.
To clean the monitor, use a moist wipe first, followed by a dry dusting cloth. Always be careful wiping down LCD screens and other monitors — they're not the same as glass, and Windex isn't the answer. Next, clean your keyboard by blowing out dust that's inbetween the keys and in the crevices. Use the canned air blower to get dust from the fans and I/O ports on the back of the computer, and on any other air vents you can find.
If you have a desktop and are feeling especially ambitious, get out a screwdriver and open up the case. Inside you'll probably find thriving dust bunny farms, which can be carefully blown out using the compressed air. With paper towels and cleaning spray, you can wipe down the case and other metal parts. Use your air can to carefully blow out dust from nooks and crannies around the circuit boards.
The compressed air can also be used on Laptops, however these are generally more complex to get into. This is worth doing if you've noticed that the fan on your system is powering up more often, and running for longer (indicating dust buildup in the system). Start by looking for the servicing guide on the manufacturer's website - then carefully remove components until you can get to the main fan and processor heat-sink or grills.
Whenever working on a laptop or desktop with the case off, it's best to use an antistatic mat and wrist strap to prevent static damage to the components. Likewise, one should NEVER use a vacuum cleaner with any sort of attachment inside or on the back panel of a computer! These devices are not protected against static discharge. They also tend to be made with lots of plastic and have very powerful motors inside to move all that air, which makes them powerful static generators. The only type of "vacuum cleaner" one should ever think about using is one of those tiny battery powered devices, and they generally don't work as well as the compressed air anyway.
When using canned air always try to keep the nozzle end up. Allowing the can to turn sideways or upside down will allow the propellant to come out in liquid form, which will cause the can to empty sooner and will freeze whatever it hits. As you use the compressed air the can will become colder and, as it does, the pressure will also fall; stick the can under warm water a few seconds and the air will blow with much more force. You can repeat this cycle of warming as many times as you need to clean the guts of your PC.
With more self-activating diagnostic tools, next-gen computers will be able to alert users to potential problems and recommend solutions. Next-gen users will be alerted ahead of time to spyware and virus threats identified and tracked from online databases.
Software is also getting more self-aware in terms of updating itself. As soon as you launch an application, it will typically check with online services to ensure you are using the latest, greatest, bug-free version of the software.
