Treat Your PC Like You Do Your Car

A few reasons why it's good to treat your computer like your car
June 2010
by Robin Wark

You would never think of skipping your new car's oil change. You might spend a Sunday morning giving it a good wash (even if it doesn't need it). Your computer deserves the same care and attention.

Regular maintenance helps your PC perform better and last longer. By following the recommendations below, you can help ensure your computer will work well for years to come.

  1. Scan with anti-spyware and anti-virus protection

    Would you leave your car unlocked with the engine running? Of course not. But many people leave their PCs unprotected. Viruses, spyware, adware, keyloggers, Trojans, pop-up generators and other malware attack your PC in many ways. They can swipe your personal information, take control of your PC, use your machine to spam others and perform other devious tasks. As well, malicious code eats up Central Processing Unit (CPU) power and Random Access Memory (RAM) space that you need for your actual programs. Malware can also make your PC unstable.

    Protect your computer and yourself by using anti-spyware or anti-virus solutions. The best products offer Active Protection. This will block any incoming malware that is trying to download without your knowledge. It is also a good idea to get a security solution with free, frequent, automatic updates so that you are protected against emerging threats. Check out ParetoLogic's full line of security products.

  2. Don't let clutter build up

    Extra files and programs eat up disk space and resources while just getting in the way. By routinely decluttering, you can help your PC perform better.

    Most of this cleaning you can do yourself. After first backing up key documents, toss unneeded files into the Recycle Bin. Remember to empty the Recycle Bin. Next, through the Start menu, you can uninstall unwanted software. In Windows 7 (other Windows operating systems are similar), go to Control Panel and, under Programs, select Uninstall a program.

    You can also use various software to do even more cleaning. Programs such as PC Health Advisor can get rid of your temporary and duplicate files. As well, it can scrub away your Internet browsing history and cached information, which protects your privacy and improves browser performance.

  3. Clean your Windows registry

    The Windows registry is a large, complex database that contains the settings and preferences of your PC. This registry is crucial to the operation of your PC, but it can grow large and unstable over time. This impacts performance, as does corruption, malware infections and orphaned registry keys due to program uninstalls. Regular cleaning of the registry keeps your PC running right.

    It is not advisable to attempt to clean the registry yourself. One wrong move can prove to be very destructive. PC Health Advisor and other software have innovative registry cleaners with the safety of restore points to do the job for you.

  4. Use disk defragmenter

    When files are saved on your hard drive, parts of the information are often saved in different physical locations. If you need the file, its data must be retrieved from those different areas. That can slow things down. The Disk Defragmenter reunites all of the data in one place.

    The Disk Defragmenter utility is built right into Windows. In Windows 7, it can be found by going to the Start menu, select All Programs, click Accessories, then System Tools and click Disk Defragmenter.

  5. Stop unwanted programs

    Your computer has enough going on without unneeded programs hogging resources. When your PC launches, several programs and processes start. However, you might not need your Media Player to be ready you first boot up. You can improve your computer's startup times by stopping unwanted programs like these from launching at startup. This can be done through system tools such as the System Configuration Utility to Services Console or software such as PC Health Advisor.

  6. Keep everything updated

    Your computer is a work in progress. It constantly needs the latest information. By continually checking for Windows updates, security solution updates, program updates and new drivers, you can maintain protection, performance and stability. It can be helpful to have software to assist you with the device driver updates, because they occur frequently and can be hard to track down.

  7. Keep it looking nice

    Just like cleaning your car, you can also make your computer look good on the outside. Some basic steps are:

    • Clean your keyboard with compressed air
    • Wipe the case of the computer components with a damp (not wet), lint-free cloth
    • Use a lint-free cloth or Swiffer-like duster to clean your video display. Stay away from paper towels, which can scratch the liquid crystal display (LCD)
    • Use cotton swabs to clean around ports, vents and fans

Whether it is a car or a computer, regular maintenance will improve your machine's performance and longevity.

Microsoft is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.