Our computers have become almost an extension of ourselves in the modern age. These contain much of our personal data, and we use them for work and recreation regularly. With the price of components today and the usefulness of your PC in daily life, it’s simply a must to take proper care of it.
When it comes to basic computer hardware maintenance, there are a few actions that people tend to leave to the wayside but shouldn’t. Here are some things you should never skip if you want to extend the lifespan of your PC.
Cleaning the Inside of Your System Regularly
Despite most PC cases having glass panels, there is still a tendency for users to have the “out of sight, out of mind” way of going about things. However, dirty PC interiors can lead to general slowness in your PC and cause more serious damage over time.
Even if you clean the environment well, it’s the nature of your cooling that dust and grime will get caught in the system. Check underneath the power supply and look in your chassis to see the build-up of dirt that needs to be cleaned.
It’s a good idea to do a thorough clean every few months, with cleaning done no less than twice a year. If you smoke or have pets, it may be wise to increase this cleaning to a monthly endeavor.
Rebooting Your Device Regularly
A reboot is crucial to keeping the memory of a computer clear while also reviving processes. This will clear the memory of current processes and remove any bugs that may cause problems later on.
Although modern PCs are built for longer uptime than older systems, it’s still a good idea to shut down your computer and have it boot back up regularly.
It should be noted that you don’t want to overdo this, either! Booting causes a power surge that, if done repeatedly every day, can shorten your PC’s lifespan. A good rule of thumb is to not go more than a week without a reboot but to avoid doing a full shutdown more than once a day.
Backing Up Your Data
Losing your data would be one of the worst things for a PC user to go through, no matter the cause.
People often neglect the idea of backing up their data, but this is a yes-no question that shouldn’t be ignored. Whether through cloud services or USB flash drives, you need to back up your data often.
Updating Your Computer
Enthusiasts tend to be wary of updates because of the compatibility problems and issues that crop up, and basic users tend to forget about the need to check for updates.
Either way, you need to remember to apply updates regularly. More often than not, you have the option to roll back to an older version anyway. It’s just better to stay updated to keep your system efficient and secure.
Dusting and Wiping Your Peripherals
Your mouse, keyboard, headphones, and monitor should get a good dusting and wipe-down every week. These are some of the most used items on your PC, and they will get a lot of build-up over time.
It’s not just a matter of hygiene and germs, either. Dirty peripherals will hurt your performance over time.
Conclusion
If things get too overwhelming, you can always get a computer cleaning service to get everything back in working order. However, these steps should help you keep things maintained so that you don’t run into unnecessary problems.
Finchum Fixes It takes care of all your computer needs, whether personal or business-related. Contact us for maintenance and computer repair in Indianapolis.
