Switchfast Blog: The Future of IT
Three easy habits to keep your system up and running
Wednesday, July 01, 2009 by Michael Holley
It may come as no surprise to you, but most people do not bother
to take the necessary steps to prevent their computers from
breaking down. According to a recent survey from Staples "EasyTechs," in
fact, about 80 percent of all users skip even the most routine
maintenance steps on their computers, instead opting to wait "for
disaster to strike" to take action.
In the interest of preventing downtime and costly repairs,
however, here are some simple tasks that you can perform to ensure
the long-term health of your computer:
- Get a good antivirus and update it frequently
- Most people understand the importance of having antivirus
software, but few understand the importance of keeping it updated.
The only way that antivirus software can spot a given threat is if
its definition file includes the appropriate diagnostics. Hundreds
of new viruses, trojans, and worms are introduced every day, so if
your antivirus's definition file isn't updated, it will only
protect you from old threats. Fortunately, most modern antivirus
software can be set to update automatically each day. Take a moment
to set the update schedule for off peak times and leave you
computer running in standby to ensure that you're always protected.
- Defragment your hard drive regularly -
Defragmenting your hard drive is absolutely essential for
maintaining peak performance and can solve strange bugs too.
Although your computer's self-diagnostic tool is hesitant to
recommend it, you should get in the habit of doing it once a month
anyway to keep things in top shape. You can run it overnight to
avoid any interference with your daily routine.
- Physically clean your computer - Dust build-up
can be a death knell for any electronic device, and your computer
is no exception. You should clean the inside of your CPU tower
at least twice a year. It really isn't as difficult or
time-consuming as it may seem, but there are some things you should
know before trying it. Use
this link as a resource.
Follow these tips and prevent hassle down the road!
Best,
Michael Holley
Switchfast Technologies
Chicago IT Support
& Consulting
Rochester
IT Support & Consulting
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