There are certain things you should be doing with your computer every single day, and there are other things that you should be doing every few weeks. It may seem like a hassle, but in the long run it will save time and money. Consider a few of these tips to computer maintenance:
1. Files – What your employees do with their files is important. If you want a computer to run faster and easier, it’s important to store all of the files in one place. It’s important to remember not to store files on the “C: Drive†and “My Documents†because this can easily cause errors and slow the entire system down. You may even consider purchasing document management software if you have a lot of documents on one machine.
2. Downloads – While downloads eventually turn into files, it’s important to delete the download once you’ve extracted what you need (this is particularly common when someone downloads a “Zip†file). It’s also important to remind employees to stay away from suspicious files. If you don’t know who sent it, trash it.
3. Anti-Virus Software – This is one aspect of computer maintenance that companies often miss. Many businesses take this seriously at the start of a business, set up anti-virus software on all the computers, and then forget about it. The truth is, viruses change every day. According to Kaspersky Lab, there were “238,045,358 malicious programs were detected and neutralized on user computers.†For this reason, it is important to update the software each morning. Although it may seem like a lot, it doesn’t take long to update the software if you do it every day. At the very least, try to make this a monthly priority. Also consider running a full anti-virus scan on each computer a few times each year.
4. Emails and Passwords – This is the part of computer maintenance that many would call “nerve-racking.†It’s important to delete old emails and change passwords every few months. If you have thousands of emails stored on the computer, you will certainly see your computer begin to slow down when trying to open websites and documents. It’s also important to change your password frequently in order to keep all of your information safe from hackers or outsider interfere You may want to consider purchasing encryption software for an extra layer of protection.
5. Cleaning – Not many people realize the importance of keeping a computer dust free. If a computer is full of dust, it can overheat and will then eventually break. This is difficult for many companies to remember because dust can be difficult to see. If your employees keep their computers on the floor, no one really thinks to even look down. For this reason, you may want to consider a 15 minute computer cleaning break every few weeks.
