As the temperatures start to rise here in Nebraska, we look forward to Spring. Oftentimes this leads to decluttering and spring cleaning. Consider decluttering your technology too! It is the perfect time to do this. And it will improve not only the efficiency of your device but also your productivity. Here are a few basic things to Spring Clean your Computer.
Backup your Data
Before you begin it is a good idea to take a backup of your files. You can use an external hard drive or cloud storage. This way if you accidentally delete something you need you can recover it without much heartache.
It is always a good idea to keep a current backup of your computer. There are lots of affordable options out there. If you need help with this give us a call we can help.
Clean up your Hard Drive
Go through your desktop and document folders to delete files you no longer need or transfer them to a disk or external hard drive
Perform a disk cleanup to safely remove unnecessary files from your PC.
Organize Your Desktop
A messy desktop decreases productivity. Move files to folders, remove unnecessary files and shortcuts for a less stressful and more productive workspace.
Delete Unnecessary Software
Scroll through your installed programs and see when you last used them. Be careful not to remove anything that may be important, if you don’t know it is better to leave it. However, if you find a game that you haven’t played in years or out-of-date programs, remove them.
If you are using a PC, use the Add/Remove Programs tool in your control panel to delete programs you are certain you no longer need.
Change Passwords
Over 80% of people use the same passwords over and over. 21% of people have been using the same passwords for a decade or more. It is a wise choice to change passwords( at the bare minimum) once a year to help you avoid becoming a statistic.
Note: Random strings of letters and numbers are ideal.
Two-factor Authentication
Two-factor Authentication will cost you some time when logging in, but it can go along way in protecting your data. Consider enabling it when available.
Clean out your Mailbox
This is generally the messiest place on our computers. It can easily get out of control with spam, unimportant emails. Spend some time sorting through your inbox. Cancel any email subscriptions that are adding to the clutter. Utilize folders to organize emails, structure your folders in a way that works for you.
Check for updates
It is easy to ignore updates when you are in the middle of something and you can’t stop for a long update and a reboot. However, it is important to keep your system up to date. Often these updates protect you from system vulnerabilities, add functionally, or correct errors.
It is also vitally important to ensure your antivirus and malware protection is up to date and your subscription is still active.
Clean your Computer – Literally
Wipe your computer tower or laptop with a dry microfiber cloth and used compressed air to clean your computer. Sanitize your mouse or trackpad. You can usually clean your screen with a household glass cleaner, but you should check your instruction manual before using any type of solvent on your device.
Once the exterior and peripherals are clean, it is time to turn your attention to the inside. You would be amazed at how much muck can build up on heatsinks and cooling fans, it can be particularly bad if you smoke or have pets. Even a thin layer of dust can reduce the effectiveness of the cooling system. If you are a do-it-yourselfer you can do all this yourself, if not bring it to Quick Connect and we can help with all your technical spring cleaning.
Consider Upgrading
If your computer is not meeting your needs, consider adding more RAM (random access memory) or upgrading to a new computer. Quick Connect can advise you of options and help with the upgrade. Also considering having us upgrade the hard drive to a solid-state. Even if you have a solid-state hard drive, there are much faster NVME M.2 drives to consider if your computer is new enough.
