Tips for Computer Maintenance at Home

Maintaining access online has become more important than ever. With most of our lives being impacted but technology to some degree, having some knowledge on the basic of computer repair is not a bad idea. In this article, I'll explain some basic techniques I use to help keep my computers running and some of the first thing I check when working on any computer.

Whether you're a tech-savvy individual or a novice when it comes to electronics, there are some basic tips and tricks you can follow to keep your devices running smoothly. Here are some top tips for computer repair and maintenance at home:

1. Keep Your System Updated: This by far is one of the most if not the most important step. Keeping apps and your operating system up to date is key to avoid security vulnerabilities and any potential errors or glitches.

2. Regularly Clean Your Devices: Dust is by far the biggest killer of computers and components I've seen. It's not a bad idea to for every once in a while to blow out your vents with compressed air. If you're using a laptop, you may have to use tweezers to get any dust bunnies out. I try to do this to my personal computer about once every six months at the absolute latest.

3. Antivirus Software: I'm going to keep this one short and sweet, so I don't sound like a shill. Windows Defender will work for most people, but if you really need something, BitDefender. BitDefender can catch most modern virus and malware, and it's at a decent price. I use this on my personal machines when it is needed.

4. Backup Your Data: Any essential document, photos, or anything that a user deems important should always be backed up somewhere. You never know what could happen to your devices. A digital or even in some case a paper back up is never a bad idea. If it's just documents and photos, you want to back up a simple USB drive. Any sensitive information like credit card info, Social security info, or ultimately what information you don't wish to be mad public should never be made into a digital form.

5. Be Mindful of Storage Space: Running out of storage space can not only slow down your device but also cause it to crash. Regularly review and delete unnecessary files or programs to free up storage space and improve your device's performance.

6. Mindful browsing: This sounds like a vague topic, but it's simpler than it seems. If you don't feel safe on a website, leave it. If you don't trust an email, don't click any link from it, don't reply. It sounds simple, but we all visit websites we don't fully trust, it's how we learn and explore. It's how you got here.

Hopefully some of these basic tips will help you be able to keep your system running long and out of a shop. Just like your car, no one wants to send it in to the mechanic. Some of these basics will get old hardware working a little better, and these steps will help you keep newer hardware running smoothly.