Computer Maintenance Checklist - keep your computer running smoothly

By Mitz

Free computer Tips

Isn't it just great when you get your new computer home and it is running like clock work. However after even a few weeks of use it can become slower due to the build up of data unnecessarily stored on the computer. This is why everyone needs to follow a computer maintenance checklist that will hopefully cover all the maintenance jobs that you need to keep your computer running smoothly.

Set a system restore point

When you first get your computer, I highly recommend to set a system restore point. Even before you start this computer maintenance checklist you should set a restore point. This will ensure that your computer will always be one click away from solving a problem. How and why you should use system restore in Windows XP

Check your hard disk for bad sectors and errors

This is probably the most important job on the maintenance checklist because Scandisk checks your hard drive for errors. If there is a problem with your hard drive then your in trouble. It is the main component in your computer and stores all of your precious data and files. It is always best to perform this check before using the disk defragmenter as the disk defragmenter will not work when there are file errors or hard disk errors. See more on How to check your hard drive disk for bad sectors and errors.

Defragment your computer

The Windows Disk defragmenter organizes files and data into areas that helps the computer run smoothly. It moves the frequently used files to an easy access area and the least used files, the opposite. It also gathers fragmented files and groups them back together. You should defrag your computer every 10-15 days.

How to Defragment your computer:

• Go to the start menu and choose all programs

• Then choose accessories, then system tools

• Choose disk defragmenter from the menu

Also see more on how to defrag your computer hard drive.

Remove unwanted and junk files

Windows helps you get through your maintenance checklist by providing system tools that help you clean your computer and keep it running smoothly. There are two main ways to delete files safely with the help of Windows XP.

• Disk Cleanup: This will remove such files as temporary files, the recycle bin, compressed old files, offline WebPages, and downloaded program files.

  • To get there you can go to my computer>right click on the drive you want to clean>choose properties>then choose disk cleanup. For a more detailed explanation see more about disk cleanup.

• Delete browsing history: You will be amazing at how many files you collect when you browse the internet. Temporary internet files, cookies, history, form data, and passwords. Am I joking? No this is serious. To keep your computer running smoothly you must regularly delete all of this junk. If you are a person that likes the computer filling in your passwords you should probably leave the cookies and the passwords.

  • To get there open Internet Explorer>Go to the tools menu at the top>choose Internet Options>On the General tab>next to the heading browsing history>click on the delete button. This will take you to a menu like the screenshot below. You can choose to delete all at the bottom or you can delete them individually. If you need more information see how to Delete your visited website history. If you want to get a more thorough clean of your browsing history and really make sure every trace is gone you can try a program like Winclear. The trial version will show you how many junk files you have but you have to purchase the product to delete them. You will notice the difference after you have used a program like this. It really does make a difference.

Clean out your email

This may be over done, however, if you delete an email in Outlook express, it then goes to the deleted folder. Then you have to deleted it from there. Some programs then take that email to the recycle bin, where it has to be deleted again. I know it sounds crazy, but it does happen.

Keep your programs under control

• Remove any programs that you do not use or have a trial period that has expired: There is nothing worse than having a nagging message come up saying that your trial period is over. You are wasting your computer time and energy. There are two options here, delete the program or buy the full version. If you do not know how to remove programs see how to Safely Remove or delete programs from your computer.

• Keep up to date with Windows updates: Let Windows updates do its thing because it usually keeps your computer up to date with security breaches and bug fixes.

• Register your programs: Either register your programs or tick the box that says never show this window again. If you leave this unfinished it will be another process that is running in the background, slowing your computer down.

• Don't install too many programs: You only need one program to perform a certain task. You should not be having three different photo editing programs or 2 different video editing programs for example. The less your computer has on it the better it will run.

Have an external drive for instant backup

It doesn't just have to be an external hard drive, it could also be a USB flash drive, a re-writeable DVD disc, a spare hard drive installed in your computer, or even another computer altogether. If you instantly backup you files to another device you will have less maintenance to do on your computer. You will not be clogging your computer up with files and data and if your computer crashes your files will be safe. Here's What to Backup and some other ideas on where to Backup your files and data.

Keep your computer organized

You are probably wondering why this is on a computer maintenance checklist, however it can be very important. Being organized helps you keep track of files and folders. This way you will know if you need a particular file on your computer or not? You can backup or delete un-wanted files and just store the ones you really need. Keeping your computer neat and tidy helps you with the backup process. This way you know where everything is and can copy it easily. Here's how to  Organize your Computer. And also Watch this video tutorial on how to cut, copy, and paste.

Guard your computer from viruses

If you are not sure what a virus is please visit What is a virus and how do I know if I have one? or Top 10 Tips to protect yourself against computer viruses

• Anti virus software: Always have a good antivirus software installed. The free ones do work occasionally, however you are better off paying for an antivirus that has backup support and regular updates. Here are some choices for Virus Removal Software.

• Limit Downloading: Downloading from unknown sources is dangerous because it is highly likely that you will end up with a virus. If you are downloading a program it is best to make sure it comes from a reputable software manufacturer. Do your research and you will save your computer some stress.

• Bad websites: Websites that offer things that are too good to be true or have XXXX content usually can give you a virus or a tracking cookie the instant you visit this site. the best way is to stay away from these sites.

• Suspicious emails: If you are not sure who has sent an email and it has an attachment, do not open it, delete it. If it really is important the person will resend it to you. I received one to my personal email saying 'here are your credit card records you requested...etc etc' I was really temped to open it but I knew it wasn't from my bank. I just wanted to see if they really had my credit card number, but I deleted it.. They wanted me to open it.

• Illegal software: If you don't have the real deal software you are putting your computer at risk. People have tampered and altered this software to make it work illegally and who knows what they have added to it. This software can also very easily do weird things to your computer.

Check and clean your registry from errors

You will probably have to buy a program for this. They automatically fix registry problems and prevent your computer from crashing or freezing due to hidden errors. One of the top programs that is Vista certified is

Errorsmart or RegistrySmart There is also the free program called CCleaner which you will find on our downloads page.

Clean inside your computer case

You are probably thinking 'why would I want to do that?'. Well you want to clean inside your computer to remove dust and dirt from the components inside the computer. Power supplies often blow up from being clogged with dust and processors usually overheat and die. It is a very common cause of hardware failure, and therefore prevention is better than cure. Check out these pages for more assistance: How to open your computer case safely, How to clean inside your computer case, and How to remove dust from your power supply

Notes:

• Following this computer maintenance checklist can seem daunting, however there are programs that can do most of the work for you.

• You can also set these tasks to run automatically in the Windows task scheduler.

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About the Author

Mitz Pantic wrote this article and others for http://www.tips4pc.com  Browse Tips4pc.com for more articles that are written in an easy to understand interface and FREE computer help.

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