How to Keep a Healthy PC

Keeping your PC healthy is one of the most important functions when working with a computer. If your PC doesn't function properly, your entire life slows down, especially if you work from home and are on the computer a lot. Caring for your PC doesn't involve much but you do need to observe these steps.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Install as few computer programs as possible. Downloading or taking a program off a friend's CD uses up space on your hard drive, and eventually your computer slows down.
2. Build a wall of protection. Protect your PC from vandals like viruses and hackers by installing an anti-virus program and a firewall software.
3. Clean out the programs you don't use anymore. Programs take up a lot of space in your hard drive. Simply use the "Add/Remove" option listed under the Control Panel.
4. Schedule weekly or monthly defragment sessions with your PC. If you use your PC every day, defragment the hard drive weekly, and if not, defragment monthly.
5. Maintain a clean computer on the inside and the outside. Vacuum the inside of the computer every other month because dust collects inside from the air vents. The air vents need to be kept open, clear of blockage from the outside. Avoid covering them or placing the air vent side against a wall. Air vents need to "breathe" to keep the computer cool.

Tips & Warnings

• Use a second computer to practice new programs before putting them on your main computer.
• Downloading programs off the Internet opens the door to viruses, which slow down the PC or crashes the hard drive.
• When a hard drive files information, there is no order to how it files. The file just takes the next empty space available on the disk, and the PC slows down. Defragmenting the hard drive solves the disorganization problem.
• Back up your files--always. If the PC crashes, the files are saved and time is save.

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