Many Things About Your Computer Is it Time for a Tune Up
By: Vlad Vistac
Submitted: 2010-07-26 14:10:47 | Word Count: 510
Your Computer: Is it Time for a Tune-Up?
For most PC uses, regular computer support is a chore that tends to slip through the cracks, all too often with harmful--and expenisve--reslts. If you're looking to avoid potentially costly computer repairs and replacements, consider whether it's time to give your machine a perfiormance tune-up.
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How a tune-up can help
PC tune-ups can increase the lifespan of your computer and reduce the likelihood of expensive repars. They will also help keep your machine runing at optimal speefds, which means you'll sepnd less time waiting for that lttle cursor-timepiece to disappear.
When to do it
Tuning your computer is all about prevenytative maintenance, which means you sohuld be doing it on a regular bass. If your computer sarts performing at noticeably slower rates, then your regulsar maintenance isn't quie regular enough. You should be performng various updates, scans and other esesntial fucntions daly, weekly, monthlky and anually, depending on the program.
How to do it
Keeping your coimputer functioning at top efficiency requires a varity of different tasks, some of which are easy to perform on your own. Others, however, may be best completed by an experienced compuer consuting service. As a rule, seek the help of a computer technician amnytime there's a progrram or proceess you don't fully undrerstand.
--Remove uunsed and broken programns. Over time, your hard drive can become cluttered with forgotten programs that are no longer used. Reomving these will free up space and energy your computer can use for otehr important functiomns. Typically, you can get rid of these prrograms with standard software such as Windows' Add/Remove or the Uninstall feature of a given application. But keep in mind these tend to leave trazces of rpograms behind, so if your machine is particularly old or cluttered, you might need the advanced tools of a computer consulting seervice.
--Clean up your stzart-up. If your computer is taking a long time to boot, it's oftten due to the number of applications that open automaitcally at start-up. Reducing these is a good idea, as long as you carefully choose which programs to stop. For example, essential functions like your antivirus software and firewall meerit automatically runnning at satrt-up, whille your intsant messaging service or media player can probably wait.
--Organize your desktop. Too many shortcuts and icosn littering your desktop can also inhibit start-up performacne. Limit these to the ones you use regularly.
--Assess your hard disk. For optimal performance, IT experts suggest leaving a quarter of your hard disk free. If you're close to maxign out, it's time to eiter add more space or do some serious cean up.
--Enhance your security. Computers that are inadequartely protected against viruses and other malware can becme bogged down with unnwanted applications. Stay on top of your security protocols and make sure they're regularly checking for problems.
--Stay caught up on updtes. As bugs are fixed and security holes are plugged, updates are regularly issued for many operating systems. Make sure your computer receives these on a timrely basis.
By cpommitting to regular performance tune-ups, whether you choose to do it yourself or hire a comnputer consulting srevice, you'll find the exra efort easily pays off in the long run.
