How to Keep your computer healthy

This article will guide you on how to keep your computer healthy (desktop or laptop) working as its optimal performance.

Installing an Antivirus

The most important software to install is an anti virus. There is a large selection of free and paid options available to choose from. Antivirus software provides protection from a multitude of threats, such as viruses, Trojans, worms, spyware, malware and adware among others. The best free option are AVG, Avast and Avira and the best paid anti virus is Norton, Kaspersky, Trend Micro and Bit Defnder. Paid versions do provide a higher security level.

An important point to remember when you use CDs, DVDs, USBs and external Hard drives, is to scan them first with the anti virus installed on your system.

Disk Cleanup Utility

The Disk Cleanup utility is a very helpful tool, as it removes all windows temporary files from the hard drive. These temporary files slow down the system considerably.

How to use Disk Cleanup Utility

Right click on the icon labeled ‘C’ Drive (or which every drive on which the system files are installed) Select ‘Properties’ from pull-down menu. Check every option located in the “Files to delete” click “Ok”. Disk cleanup recommended to be done once a week.

Disk Defragmenter Utility

Often windows divides file information into pieces and stores them in separate physical locations on the hard drive. This process is called fragment. In order for the computer to use file, windows searches for the pieces of the file and puts them back together, which tends to slow down the hard drive. The  Disk Defragmenter Utility re-organizes the data on the hard drive and improves performance. +

How to use Disk Defragmenter Utility

 Start  Menu – Accessories – System Tools – Disk Defragmenter program

Run this program once a month.

Tips for Hardware / Software

• Keep magnets away from your computer specially hard drives. They can corrupt the data on your hard drives.

• Dust will harm the hardware, always clean your computer before use.

• The cooling fan needs to be dust free so that its performance is not affected.

• For Laptop use cotton swabs to clean the keyboard. The best way is to dab the cotton swab with an alcohol based solution and gently wipe the keyboard.

• Keyboard and mouse are also be need to cleanup regular basis. Always disconnect keyboard and mouse before cleaning.

• To clean laptop or monitor screen, it’s best to use micro fiber cloth. Soft tissues can also be used. Apply some Glint, this will help removing dirt, dust and fingerprints.

A lot of people have faced the loss of data since we did not take care of our computes. If we keep everything up-to-date, we can minimize the losses suffered and have our systems in good working condition.