Your computer could probably use some attention. Cleaning out your computer and maintaining it properly will speed up performance and help you get more done. A well-maintained computer can even last longer, and that means less money out of your pocket.
There are a number of things you can do to spring clean your PC and make it run like new again. These steps will allow you to speed up your computer and get off to a fresh start.
Check Out Your Program List
You can start by looking at the list of installed programs. Go to the add and remove program applet to see a list of installed programs and the last time they were used, or just click the Start button and go through the list.
Look for programs you do not recognize, or programs you downloaded and never used. Removing these unneeded and unused programs can free up more resources on your computer and lighten the load on the operating system.
Defragment Your Disk
When you save a file, the operating system does necessarily put the files in sequential order. Instead, the computer looks for open sectors and saves the files where it can. That means a single file could be scattered all over your hard drive. If that sounds inefficient, it is because it is.
Defragmenting your hard drive takes all the non-sequential files and puts them in a more sequential order. That can help your operating system run more efficiently and make your files load more quickly. Defragmenting the hard drive is easy; just look under tools or accessories and find the defragment option. The defragmentation program will first analyze your disk to see if it needs help. If the disk is badly fragmented, fixing the problem will improve performance and speed up your computer.
Remove Temporary and Auto-Save Files
When a program shuts down unexpectedly, your computer can save a temporary file to preserve the data. The computer can also create auto-save files to protect you in the event of an unexpected shutdown or restart.
Those files stay on your hard drive until you delete them, taking up space that could be used for other purposes. Finding and deleting temporary and auto-save files should be part of your cleaning program. Just search for files that begin with ~ or end with tmp.
Clear Away the Dust
While most of your cleaning involves the software and files on your computer, other aspects are more literal. Over time, the fan that cools off your computer can suck in dust and dirt from the surrounding air. The accumulation of dust and dirt can make the computer run hot and even damage internal components.
If your computer has been shutting down unexpectedly, excess heat could be to blame. If you notice this symptom, you should open the case and look for a build-up of dust. Use an air duster to blow away the dust and keep your computer clean.
Even if everything seems fine, opening the case once a year and looking for dust is a good move. It just takes a minute to open the case and look inside, and cleaning the computer can keep it running cool and help you avoid future problems. Just make sure your computer is powered down and unplugged before removing the cover and blowing out the dust.
