January 01 2015
Start the year prepared. Set some time aside now to give your computer some basic maintenance, and start the year lean, agile, and in control. "Complete Computer Maintenance" is an important New Year's resolution, and we want to help you achieve it. For your convenience, we created an easy to follow checklist and broke it down to three general areas: Files, Hardware & Software, and Online Browsing. Tackle them one by one, and you'll be set sooner than you think.
Whether it is personal or professional, whether it is information about your utilities or your favorite place to volunteer, you may have a lot of data stored in your computer that you need to be able to access quickly and reliably. Set some time in your calendar to go through your files, organize them into folders and delete duplications or files that you no longer need.
There is nothing worse than losing your photos, work documents, or personal files. You can prevent future loss by taking action now.
These manufacturers' upgrades allow you to install new security patches, drivers, remove bugs, etc. Mac and Windows notify you when there are updates, and you may have already chosen the option to update them automatically. Double check that there have been no hiccups. If there are, below are some resources for troubleshooting. Also, check if there are pending updates for any software you have purchased and installed/downloaded, and complete those as well.
If you never use them, uninstall them and give your computer some extra space. Here are instructions to permanently uninstall programs and apps that you no longer use:
Windows users accumulate quite a bit of temporary files and system files over time; it is very easy to delete them.
Because Mac's Operating System works differently than Windows, this is not a task that Mac users usually have to do. There is nothing native to the system as there is on Windows OSs. However, if you want to use a third party provider, keep in mind that MacKeeper is not from Apple.
Unplug your computer and very gently, wipe-down your computer with a microfiber cloth. Refrain from spraying liquids directly onto the machine; rather, mist your cloth and gently wipe all components of the machine.
Make sure your provider has given you a password. If they haven't, call them and ask them to set you up with one.
This task not only improves security, it also improves the speed of your searches.
Create new passwords for your bank, credit card and other websites that hold personal information. Set yourself a quarterly task to create a new password if your website does not already prompt you for one. I know; we cringe at the thought of having to do this, but it is worth having that extra layer of security. Guard your passwords as carefully as you do your money.
This is particularly important for Windows users.
Need assistance with any of these tasks? Give us a call! We'll be happy to help you.
Be a hero this year: Have any family or friends who aren't tech savvy? Help them give their computers maintenance as well. It is very likely that they need it and will appreciate your help.
Wishing you all a fantastic New Year!
To view the original article, visit the Tech Helpline blog.