4 Basic PC Maintenance Steps You Should Do More Often
If you are someone who uses a computer on a regular basis, it goes without saying that you want the system to be always in tip-top shape.
However, with continued use, your PC will eventually dip in terms of performance and stability. This is the main reason why knowledge of basic PC maintenance is a must for all users.
If you want your PC to keep working at its best, you need to perform maintenance on a regular basis. Regular PC maintenance will not only ensure optimal performance, but it can also significantly extend your computer’s lifespan.
For today’s post, we discuss a number of easy computer maintenance steps that even beginners can do.
1. Update Your Operating System
Keeping your operating system up to date is one of the best ways to ensure that your PC runs properly. If you are using Windows, Microsoft does a good job of rolling out updates that are designed to improve the overall user experience.
Fortunately, most modern operating systems are great when it comes to updating itself. For instance, the Windows system will notify the user if there’s an update available.
You can choose to update once you receive the notification or postpone the activity for a later time. We know that constant operating system updates can be very annoying since they usually require a restart, but it’s never a good idea to hold out on your OS updates.
2. Uninstall Programs You Don’t Use
If you have programs that you don’t really use, you should consider deleting them out of your PC. Unnecessary software can and will slow down your computer over time.
They take up storage space which can be used for programs that you actually use. Trust us.
You won’t miss programs like Quiktime or Microsoft Silverlight. If there’s ever a time that you will need such programs, you can simply download and install them again.
This also applies to manufacturer junk and bloatware that come pre-installed with new computers. You should remove them as soon as you can.
Laptops from brands are more prone to this issue:
- HP
- Dell
- Toshiba
- Lenovo
3. Update Device Drivers
Your computer has many different types of components connected to it. The PC needs to communicate with these hardware components through device drivers.
To ensure that your PC performs at its best, you should make sure your drivers are updated. You can install drivers by using the CD/DVD that came from the manufacturer, but you can trust that such drivers are updated.
If you want to update your drivers to the latest version, you need to manually download them over the internet.
But why do it manually when you can have a tool that will do it automatically? With Driver Support, you have a painless way to download and install the latest drivers for your hardware.
To update your drivers using Driver Support, follow the steps below:
- Give DriverSupport | ONE a try today! and install on your PC.
- Launch Driver Support and perform a quick scan of your system. All the drivers that need to be updated will be listed.
- Click the “Fix it!” button to automatically download and update the drivers. However, it might require you to register for a premium account.
4. Clean Up Your Disk
Over time, your PC will be filled with unwanted junk such as temporary files, offline web pages, thumbnails, old Windows installation, and many others. These files can really add up and take up too much space which can slow down your PC.
If you’re on Windows, it’s recommended that you use the Disk Cleanup utility. From the Start Menu, simply type Disk Cleanup to access the utility.
Regular Computer Maintenance Makes All the Difference
These regular computer maintenance steps should help keep your PC in top shape. Therefore, it pays to do these steps from time to time.
Proper computer maintenance will reward you with better user experience and a longer lifespan for your machine.
