February is often seen as the month of love, making it the perfect time to show your pc or laptop how much you care with some simple maintenance. We’ve put together a handy list of quick and simple things you can do that will leave your device looking tip top, feeling refreshed and loved and hopefully running faster and more reliably for you! |
- Clear your Desktop- If you often save random files and downloads to your desktop so you can see them but then forget to move them, delete them or back them up. Then now is a good time to get on top of it. Delete unwanted files and downloads then make some new folders and archive the rest of the files into the appropriate ones. Be sure to then move those folders off your desktop to a suitable location.
- Delete Emails- If you currently have 100’s (dare we say 1000’s) of emails sitting in your Inbox then now is definitely a good time to get rid of some or at least organise them into relevant folders. Check out this handy guide to attain the elusive Inbox Zero! Once you’ve got a bit of a handle on things try to stay on top of your inbox by addressing them as they come in and either responding or deleting as appropriate.
- Delete/Uninstall Unused Apps- Remove any apps you downloaded that you no longer use or need but take care when removing software that you don’t recognise as it may be important for the running of your operating system. When in doubt ask a professional for advice first!
- Check for Viruses- Make sure you have up to date antivirus software installed and switched on! And check regularly for viruses. Try to run a weekly or bi-weekly virus scan as part of your maintenance routine.
- Clean Your Hardware- Dusty air vents can cause real damage to your components so keep them dust free. Take care when dealing with laptop air vents and consider asking a professional for help and advice if you are at all unsure. Wipe over monitors or laptop screens with a lint free cloth and lens cleaning solution.
- Backup your Data- Undoubtedly one of the most important tasks to do regularly. It’s worth remembering that while your hardware is relatively easy to replace, your valuable data is not. For most of us storing essential data to the cloud would be more than sufficient but if you run a small business we’d highly recommend storing your data to an external hard drive as well as the cloud.
If you follow these simple tips, you’ll soon have your computer running as efficiently as possible and it will hopefully continue to run smoothly.
As always, if you have any concerns about your tech or need some professional advice please get in touch.