Do You Have A New Years Resolution?
asks Peter Clarke of PC PAL
A lot of New Year’s resolutions revolve around adopting a healthier lifestyle. When you are planning yours please don’t forget your computer – after all it is a member of the family that can really benefit from a New Year overhaul!
Give it a detox:
- Make sure you have a virus checker which has regular updates and use it to scan your computer regularly; the easiest option is to schedule it to run the scan automatically. Even virus checkers can miss some other ‘bugs’, so use an anti-malware program to periodically scan your computer and really clean up the hard drive
- Avoid PUPs (Potentially Unwanted Programs). A PUP is a program that a user agrees to download, even though they often don’t realise it as it appears in the ‘small print’ related to a program they do want. PUPs load in the background and slow your system down but they can be removed to help restore your system's former vitality
Don’t forget a weight loss program:
- If you don’t use it - remove it. Old programs that are no longer in use still take up valuable resource so removing the program (not just deleting the shortcut) can considerably improve your computer’s speed
- Windows has several tools, such as Disk Cleanup & Disk Defragmenter, to re organise how your computer utilises space on the hard drive, hence making interactions quicker
Consider healthy supplements:
- Set your system to perform a regular back-up to safe guard all your important files and photos
- Just like your car, your computer can benefit from a regular service to identify and address all of these ongoing issues
If your computer requires a ‘personal trainer’ to help get it into shape then give me a call!
PC PAL would like to wish all our customers a Happy and Healthy New Year!
