Computer Cleanup

Here we are going to look at simple, safe ways to cleanup and organize your computer. If your computer is very old or is used a great deal then it will not take long for it to become cluttered and disorganized and need a good computer cleanup.

Easy Computer Cleanup Steps You Can Do Yourself

• Keep All Updates Current

Updating programs is crucial to keeping your PC health. All programs should be kept updated regularly for several reasons. The most important is the fact that computer and the Internet change very fast and possible problems or outside infections can take over a program very quickly. Most programs are set to do automatic updates unless you or whom ever loaded the program opted out of the auto feature. If it is not set automatic updates the program should pop-up a notification that it needs to be updated. Always follow through on these updates if it is a program that you use. If you don’t use the program anymore then it would be best remove it (see number 3 below).

The Windows operating system is even more important when it comes to updating. If you are not sure if your PC is set to do automatic updates of the operating system go to Start and then Windows Updates or Check For Updates. You should be taken to a screen that will tell you if all the updates are current. If not you may need to set your computer to automatic as shown above. This can be found to the left under “Change Settings”.

For more information you can go to Microsoft’s Windows Update page.

• Run A Complete Computer Virus Scan

Probably everyone has some form of virus protection today but a lot of the free, home computer anti-virus programs will only scan what is new as it comes in. Your computer needs a complete scan every so often but if your program is not set for that it may never ask you to let it run it. Double click your anti-virus now and see if it has done a complete PC scan lately. It is not an “update” but it should show the date it last did a whole PC scan.

Some anti-virus’ now will run a “boot” or “root” scan of the computer. This is a scan done before Windows starts up or in DOS. These seem to be more affective finding certain types of worms and viruses.

• Manually Un-Install Old and Unused Programs

To uninstalling a program may seem a little dangerous to us and certainly there needs to be some caution before doing so. But it is also a very important part of maintaining a computer. Fact is as we don’t need or don’t use programs we should remove them. And you can’t remove a program with a “delete”. It has to be done right.

If you will go to Control Panel and find the “Programs” icon and double click it you will be give a list of the programs on your computer. On the example above there was an old inventory program and a couple of old printer drivers that needed to be removed. You simple select them and click uninstall. You can also disable a program here if you might think you’ll need it again one day.

The printers are one thing that does need to be removed or disabled in a good computer cleanup. These driver are set to come on when you start your computer so they will be ready to do your printing. When you no longer use that printer they are still coming on at boot up and slowing your PC’s start up down. Also these printer drivers will almost always be set to automatically update and will constantly be check for updates. That to is wasted capacity.

Find more information on the Windows Uninstall and Change Feature Here.

• Let Windows Do A Disc Cleanup

Finally let your operating system do a disk cleanup and a disk defragmenter. These will remove and/or organize the data you have stored. As with any type of storage facility your computer will get cluttered and disorganized over time. The amount of mess you have is based on the age, the use and the amount of downloads. Simple go to the Programs menu and into Accessories and then into System Tools and find Disk Cleanup and run it. After it has finished do the same with the Disk Defragment tools at the same location.

One of the main ways of helping a computer that needs to be faster is with the use of registry cleaning software. See more on this here: Registry Cleaner

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