Excellent Tips For Maintaining Your PC In A Healthy Condition For Long
When you buy a new system, you are naturally making a huge investment. You would certainly like to maintain your computer in a healthy condition for a long period of time by avoiding issues such as system crashing, hard disk failure, CPU overheating etc. A healthy system always works faster, breaks less and offers better productivity to its user.
Here are 12 useful tips that can make your computer trouble-free and ensure its long lasting health.
1) Clean the System Registry
We keep adding and removing programs from our computer which generally leads to a mess up in the entries within the Windows Registry. When your Windows Registry gets clogged up you can expect your PC to take longer time to boot up. Clogging of the Registry also consumes a lot of system resources.
Therefore it is very important for you to use Registry tools like Registry Mechanic that can clean up your system registry safely. You should never try cleaning the Registry yourself if you do not have proper knowledge of what you are doing. To maintain your computer in a good state, you need to maintain an error-free, compact and healthy Windows Registry.
2) Use Disk Cleanup Tools
Eventually, as you use your PC, you tend to store numerous unwanted files on your hard disk. You need to clean your hard disk from time to time in order to free up hard disk space which would in turn increase the speed of your PC.
The Disk Cleanup tool on your PC helps you compress old files, delete/remove unwanted Internet Explorer (IE) files, files and folders from Recycle bin as well as unnecessary program setup files. To open this utility, you need to go to Start Menu and click on Programs. Then go to Accessories and select System Tools.
By using this tool, you can also uninstall unwanted Windows components and applications and delete unnecessary System Restore snapshots. You may also use third-party tools like CCleaner.
3) Carry out Disk Defragmentation
Once you free up hard disk space, you need to now defrag your computer. Defragmentation helps you make files/ folders on your PC contiguous. This process basically collects bits/ pieces of a file which is stored all over your hard disk and puts them together in adjoining data blocks. Disk Defragmentation lessens the load from the disk and speeds up your PC thereby offering a faster data access.
4) Use a good Anti-Virus Program
The process of speeding up a computer can never be complete until and unless the computer becomes free from spyware and virus infections. When a virus affects your PC, it adds several malicious files to your system Registry and tries to infect your important applications with harmful codes in order to alter their regular functioning and generate errors.
These viruses and spyware not only affect the speed of your computer but also steal some critical data and sell it to external sources. This is the reason why you need to completely scan your PC on a regular basis using a reliable Anti-Virus Program. You need to also make sure that these Anti-Virus/ Anti-Spyware tools always remain updated with latest virus definitions.
It is also advisable that you turn on Real-Time Protection feature present in these Anti-Virus/ Anti-Spyware programs.
5) Keep a check on CMOS battery
In case your computer is four to five years old, you need to check its CMOS battery that is present on the motherboard. As soon as the system clock starts showing a wrong time, you get the first signal that your CMOS battery has worn-out and needs a replacement.
6) Check the Hard Drive
Windows XP or Windows 7 users can easily check the health of their computer’s hard disk by using an error-checking utility. You need to simply go to Windows Explorer, right-click on the icon of any drive and choose Properties. Go to the Tools tab and click on the Check Now button. If you notice several errors in the results, your hard disk could contain a lot of bad sectors.
In such a case, it is a better idea to backup all the important data and get it repaired.
7) Buy Uninterruptible UPS
When the power goes off all of a sudden, an UPS keeps your PC running. The amount of time for which an UPS can keep your system running after a power cut depends on its power and brand. This generally helps you prevent any data loss or harm to any of the components because of the power failure.
UPS also works as a shield to computer’s power supply thereby preventing it from getting damaged due to the drop in electricity supply or surges, especially during thunderstorms. Some UPSs have additional software that allows you to monitor the UPS status, load levels, battery charge, power grid voltage etc.
Always buy a UPS of a good brand to protect your PC and prevent your hard disks from getting ruined due to unexpected power losses.
8) Buy good-quality power supply
Your PC needs to be well-equipped with a good-quality power supply. Even though cheap supplies have an elevated theoretical output, they have capacity to handle only a portion of that. They generally show poor results when you put load on them. The good ones come with a powerful fan which keeps dust and heat at bay and also last longer.
You should never skimp on the computer’s power supply when you buy a new system. The power supply you choose should exceed maximum theoretical load of your system by a minimum of 30% in order to avoid wear and stress.
9) Put off the Monitor When Not In Use
Never waste the power of your monitor when you aren’t using it. You need to specially keep this in mind when using LCD monitors as there are chances that they may get burnt out or get awful pixels with continuous use. So, if you are just listening to some music, always remember to put off your PC monitor.
10) Protect PC from Dust
Dirt and dust are the two main causes behind your system getting overheated. You have to keep the system clean from inside as well as outside. Keep the monitor, CPU, keyboard and printer always covered with dust covers. These covers filter the incoming air and keep your PC protected even in harsh conditions.
Always keep your PC away from windows to avoid dust from being collected in the fans and further getting moistened by air. Ultimately, a thick layer of dust will get accumulated on the fan thereby causing it to make an eerie sound. You need to always ensure that the fan in the CPU turns smoothly.
11) Maintain the Mouse and Other PC Components
Mouse is one PC component that you use the most. Over time, you mouse keeps getting dirtier if you do not clean it on a regular basis. Within no time your mouse is full of grime and dirt. In case you use a mechanical mouse, you realize that it has become dirty when it starts moving erratically.
In order to clean the mouse, you need to unscrew it and scrape out the dirt from its two plastic rollers using a small scraper. You need to also clean its scroll wheel if present. In case of optical mouse, you do not need to worry about cleaning the internal rollers. You need to just clean its scroll wheel.
Apart from the mouse you may detach the other removable components, clean them and reattach them. You need to remove dust from main board, sound card, video card, keyboard etc using a soft brush.
Wipe off the screen of your monitor with a soft cloth to get rid of any dust. 3M Synthetic chamois also act as excellent wipes leaving no streaks. It is better to carry out this maintenance routine once in every two months.
12) Keep Your Cell Phone Away From Desktop Computer
A cell phone is likely to cause interference to your PC. You will notice that when you place a cell phone close to the computer, the cursor starts running wildly. If you receive a call or a message when your cell phone is kept close to your PC, you will notice bands on your monitor screen.
This happens because desktop PCs have sensitive electrical components and there are high chances that your hard drive may get damaged. Hence it is recommended that you keep you cell phone at least two meters away from your PC.
If you apply the above mentioned tips, you will certainly notice a difference. You need to remember that your PC also requires lot of care for which you do not need to visit tech shops all the time. You can maintain your PC yourself and eventually spend least on repairing it.