Basic Computer Maintenance Tips

Nobody wants to spend an arm and a leg on computer repair. Most of the time, the average computer user does not know what to do or how to even go about fixing their own computer. A lot of computer repair can be prevented by maintaining your computer so that it is always in working order. There are some basic computer maintenance tips that even the most technologically challenged person can follow to keep their computer running well.

First and foremost, when you purchase a computer, it comes with an instruction manual. Familiarize yourself with the basic functions and components of your system. You want to learn how to plug everything in and unplug everything in the event that you need to move your computer down the line. Every month or so, you will want to check your computer and make sure that everything is plugged in securely. Make sure to turn off your system first, then check each cable and cord to ensure its in its slot or spot snugly. If it is not, you will want to push or connect it so that it is. Many types of connection problems, such as a monitor displaying a picture of a keyboard not working, can be solved by simply checking the connections and making sure they are connected properly.

Hard drive maintenance, virus protection and spyware prevention are all basic computer maintenance tips that will keep your system healthy. When it comes to your hard drive, it is always a good idea to defrag it regularly. Once a month is the suggested timeline. Since you continuously write data to the drive, it is constantly saving information over empty spots and this causes your hard drive to have to read information in a variety of ways. By defragging your hard drive, you are compacting that data and filling in blank holes and gaps so that the hard drive is not continuing to write in random places that are empty. There are many products on the market that will do this process for you, and you can schedule it to do it overnight so you do not have to monitor the defragmentation process during the day.

Having an anti-virus program constantly running is a necessity nowadays. Viruses and worms are everywhere on the Internet and by being proactive, using anti-virus software is the best way to keep yourself protected from harm. There are many types of software for you to use, finding the right one is a matter of research and the specifications of your particular system. Run anti-virus scans once to twice a week, if not more frequently, most programs have a scheduling system so that you do not have to manually set-up a schedule. Make sure to update your anti-virus program and detection parameters daily.

When it comes to spyware, everywhere you go on the Internet leaves your computer open to being infected by adware, spyware and malware. These are sometimes in the form of cache cookies, other times the form of trackers that want to see where you are going and what you are doing online. While these can be harmless, for the most part, the more spyware on your computer, the slower your Internet browsing experience will be. Eventually, if you accumulate enough spyware in the background, your entire computer will run like a snail. Programs, such as Ad-Aware and Spybot, offer free alternatives to scan and eliminated spyware from your computer. These programs are updated frequently, so that you can take advantage of scanning for new forms of spyware. It is suggested you scan your computer once a week, but depending on how much you surf the web, you may find two to three times a week better for your computer.

Every two to three months, you should use a can of compressed air to clean out your computer tower. You want to point the can six to eight inches from the surface, upright, if possible and spray the areas that are dusty. Fans, heat sinks and open holes in the computer's protective cases are the must vulnerable to dust. This dust will cause a lack of circulation and if accumulated can cause your fan and heat sinks to short circuit from an overload. The clearer you keep your fans in particular, the cooler they will be able to keep your system and that will be good in the long run for keeping your computer healthy.

Basic computer maintenance is easy for any user to take on themselves. Sometimes, however, the problems you run into are beyond the scope of your knowledge. Never try to fix or repair your computer without knowing what you are doing. If you are unsure, do not attempt any sort of repairs, because you could cause a lot more harm than good. Following directions, instructions and learning the most you can about your system is the only way to know for sure whether or not you will be able to repair the problems you encounter. When in doubt, ask for help, you could be saving yourself a headache down the line by doing so. The Internet, a computer repair shop or your manufacturer are excellent sources for determining what you can and cannot do to fix your open computer.