How to Make Your PC Last Longer

4 Rules to Ensure Your Computer is at its Best
April 2009
by Robin Wark

In today's economic times, many people are trying to avoid unnecessary purchases. This includes new computers: users are looking for ways to extend their PC's life. As well, there is the growing problem of e-waste. An estimated 70 per cent of heavy metals in United States landfills come from discarded electronics. Revitalizing your old system will save money and save the environment.

There are several things you can do to try to prolong the life of your PC.

1. First of all, you need to free up memory. When you are running out of hard drive space, things slow down and your performance is severely affected. One way to avoid this is to de-clutter regularly. Remove the files and programs you do not need. Make sure what you have deleted is permanently gone. When you put something in your "Recycle Bin" it is not gone until you empty the bin – maybe. Even once that is done, some items still hang around. You can use a privacy controls product to make sure your information is gone forever. This will not only free up memory space, but also protect your privacy. You can also add RAM. The more Random Access Memory you have, the more programs you can run. RAM can have a major effect on performance and, thus, the longevity of your PC. While it is true that "the more RAM the better," there is an upper limit. For example, most Windows XP and Vista operating systems can only make use of 3GB – more than that is useless.
2. Secondly, you need to keep your registry clean. The Windows registry is a large database of advanced settings and preferences which your PC refers to constantly during its operations. Over time, the use of programs and the addition/removal of software cause the registry to swell in size, which can lead to instability. As well, adding and deleting software and other changes can cause unneeded items to be left behind, which can scramble the registry. The registry is very complex and one wrong move could cause a serious problem. It is best to invest in a registry cleaner which can scan for and fix errors automatically. The best of these programs include backup and restore functions, as well as dedicated support teams which ensure mistakes can be quickly corrected.
3. Next, you need to keep the bad guys away. Viruses, spyware, adware, Trojans, keyloggers and other malicious malware can hurt your computer. As well as direct damage to your PC, these pests also eat up valuable memory space and can have code that inadvertently interferes with your computer’s operation. You must have trusted spyware and virus solutions installed. In the best case scenario, you would purchase one product that can thwart a wide variety of malware.
4. Lastly, keep your drivers updated. Drivers are programs that act as translators for important communication between your hardware, software and operating system. When you have an incompatible, , out-of-date, or missing driver, the communication becomes garbled or non-existent. This causes hardware errors and can affect the stability of your PC. It is best to download the latest drivers for all of your hardware and software. There are now innovative products that will do this for you, without you having to spend hours searching on the Internet. As well, some will notify you when an update is available, which means you will always have the latest drivers.

You want to keep your PC working at its best for as long as possible. These tips will help you do just that.