Computer Maintenance: 7 Essential Tips for Your Laptop
Basic computer maintenance steps can extend a laptop’s life by several years. That’s why maintaining a computer’s hardware and software is vital – and wise!
Here are a few tips of things you can do safely yourself. If you are unsure, please call us.
1 – Clean your keyboard regularly
How do you clean your dirty and dusty keyboard safely? Did you know that a laptop keys can become inundated with bacteria and grime? The best way to clean your keyboard is using a damp, lint-free cloth. A weekly clean is enough to restore computer cleanliness and peace of mind! Make sure the computer is OFF when you do this, or you may type all sorts of things.
Is there dust underneath? Or is it hard to press down keys? It’s likely they’re clogged with dust, dirt or gunk. In this case, compressed air is the solution – you can pick these up from most computer places or hardware stores.
- Turn your laptop off and unplug any USB and power plugs.
- Turn the laptop upside down and give it a gentle tap to the bottom to dislodge any debris.
- Put the laptop in its original position and spray the can of compressed air between keys from a distance of about an inch.
- Spray the air in short bursts moving from one side of the keyboard to the other and back again, if necessary.
2 – Keep cables organised
Ever noticed how cables seem to have a talent for getting tangled and mixed up? We’ve all been there. Thankfully, there are a few solutions.
Organise cords by type, grouping them with zip ties – though this is semi-permanent. If you have a large number of computer cables, try labelling cords so you know what each is for.
You might even decide that a PC cable management system, our Easy Cable Management system, would work for you. They are neoprene sleeves with a zip down one size so you can easily ZIP UP your computer cables.
3 – Wipe down monitor
How many times do you touch your screen? Fairly often compared to how often they are cleaned. You’re asking yourself how to safely wipe a computer screen to remove fingertips. The answer is a lint-free microfiber cloth slightly dampened with purified water OR with a special screen cleaning kit. These often come in a tub of wipes – but don’t use any old wipe, as it may do permanent damage to your screen.
Never use bleach or hash chemicals of any kind. Avoid using a round or circular motion when you clean. Long, gentle side-to-side or top-to-bottom strokes are safest. And to avoid certain screen damage, never apply pressure!
4 – Purge Your Computer Of Junk Files & Programs
Finding your computer unusually sluggish or slow? Then it’s time to get rid of junk files and unused programs to free up drive space and improve performance!
The first step would be manually uninstalling unused programs from your Control Panel or Apps settings then emptying the recycle bin. Secondly, you can run disk cleanup software such as CCLeaner to remove any unnecessary files.
5 – Keep Your Computer Cool
Hot computers are slow computers. When a PC’s heat-dissipating system malfunctions, the device can overheat, leading to crashes, sluggish performance and other problems. Every month check he first defence against overheating is working - the fan. Make sure it’s spinning correctly, and remove dust using compressed air. (Some fans only run when under computing load) These devices require adequate ventilation so don’t put your laptop on a soft surface such as blanket or couch. Keep in mind that flat, hard & clean surfaces are your best bet. Try to keep at least 5cm of space on both sides of your laptop, avoid direct sunlight and always store in a cool, dry place.
6 – Update Windows and Apple OS
Updates are pretty much compulsory these days. But why should you update? Because the benefits of updating your operating system include improved computer security and performance. Often, updates are release to fix security holes that hackers can exploit.
Use the Windows Update feature, that will just pop up on it’s own, to keep Windows updated. Or if you have a MacBook or iMac then look out for the alert in the Apple menu.
7 – Backup Your Data
Here’s the final step, and probably the most important, of your computer cleaning routine. You must back up your data. You can always replace the computer but you cannot recreate those photos, emails, essays or other documents.
Cloud storage services such as Google Drive or OneDrive are okay but have certain limitations. An external drive is a great way too but also has a limitation. We recommend a combination of both cloud and local backup. Specifically, use i-drive for your cloud backup which covers the total loss of your house and an external hard drive with Veeam as the backup software for cases of crypto viruses or hackers. We can’t write more detail here but our team can explain this more to you if you call.
We hope you use this helpful info to improve the lifespan of your devices – a laptop or a desktop.