When you buy a computer, I imagine you envision yourself using it for many years. To do that one needs to be deliberate in terms of how well they take of their computer to get as many lives as they can out of it.

Here are some basic tips to help you maintain your computer at home:

1. Install an antivirus and firewall

Using your computer without any protection from malware and computer virus, is one mistake you do no want to do. It helps you to clean up any viruses from external hardware such as flashes and external hard rives. It also gives you security from threats that emanate from online sources like specific addresses and emails. We spoke about the in the last blog we did, you can reads it here.

2. Regularly update the software

Every computer comes with a software system that allows you to install and run certain programs. Without updating that host software, you won’t be able to access your files. In actual fact, you run the risk of losing you files if you don’t update your software before it expires.

3. Don’t eat on your keyboard

Your keyboard area is a sensitive place and pretty much allows you to use the computer most of the time. Despite the temptation to grub over your keyboard as you chase a deadline, be severely warned that crumbs and liquids that spill over your keyboard can affect the performance of your keyboard or potentially ruin it.

4. Clean the screen

There’s something about a clean computer screen that says, ‘I’m ready for work.’ Isn’t that a feeling you want to inspire you whenever you get to your computer? Texts and pictures are so much clearer. No fingerprints, trails or distractions. Best practice is to use a damp but not wet cloth to gently wipe off any dust that may sit on your computer overtime.

5. Remove dust and lint

As you carry your laptop around with you, keep it in your bag, set it ups n you desk and bag again the bag, it will collect dust and lint in some of those places. There are now professional cleaners who can deep clean your computer to give it some good old loving and help it last longer in efficient mode.

6. Use on surge protector

Consider the incessant power cuts and faults that currently plague us, the last thing you want is for your machine to be ruined by a surge in the power. A feat which is more common than not. A surge protect will absorb that shock and ensure that your machine is not affected by an untimely changes.

7. Defragment your hard drive

The only thing half as scary as losing your computer, is having it physically but losing all your files! Defragmenting your hardware protects you from just that as it allows you to host your operating system on one part of the hardware and your large file reserves on another. Thereby when the software fails, it will not corrupt the stored files.

8. Clean up your disk

With a disk clean up, you will be able to free up space on your hard disk for improved system performance. A cleanup searches for temporary files, internet cache files and unnecessary program files that can be safely deleted. This helps your machine to do its task efficiently.

9. Uninstall programs that aren’t in use

All the programs on your computer do take up some much needed disk space. Therefore if you keep  programs that will use up disk space, the result is that it affects how well your machine operates overtime. Freeing up the disk space will inevitably give the computer the chance to perform well.

10. Don’t use too many programs at once

The last rule of note is that close programs that aren’t active. Or rather keep them at a minimum. When you do that you allow your machine to process data properly and at a good speed.