PC Health Check Tips and Tricks – Ways To Keep Your PC Healthier

Quick Tips to Health Check your PC and Get it Running as Smoothly as Possible

You might think that your PC is healthy as you run virus and malware checks like clockwork, but computers need more attention than that to reach their peak performance. Computers are a lot like cars, in which they need regular upkeep and love under the hood to be at their best at all times. To help you with this, here are a few tips and tricks to keep your computer in tip-top shape so you can maximise your performance and stop pulling your hair out in frustration over your slow PC speed.

1.  How to check your temporary files
Temp files take up a lot of space on your C drive if they aren’t taken care of regularly. They are files that appear when a file is created to hold information. These files are unnecessary and you should delete them. To do this, head to c:/Windows/Temp and get rid of them to free up space on your hard drive. You can use programs such as CCleaner too which will also get rid of these files if you aren’t comfortable doing it yourself.

2. Empty your Recycle Bin!
Once you delete a file, you might think it’s gone forever and forgotten about but you’re wrong! Once files have been deleted, they go into your recycle bin which holds the files you’ve deleted just in case you need them back. The recycle bin is a handy tool but if you don’t empty it regularly it can take up a lot of space which you don’t realise has been taken up. Emptying your recycling bin is easy, simply right-click on your recycle bin icon and click empty. This will get rid of your files sitting in the folder and will free up the space that it was taking up.

3. Get Rid of that Pesky Dust – How to Clean your Computer
Dust causes a lot of issues inside your PC if it’s not cleaned out regularly. It can clog up your fan and outlets which can cause overheating as your computer isn’t able to pump out hot air. You’re able to get all the funk out by using a soft cloth and wiping, or grab an air canister and blast it away.

4. Uninstall programs you no longer use
Parting ways with programs can be difficult, especially if you’ve used them in the past. You may be thinking ‘but I might need it again’, but your PC will be thanking you after the deed is done. Freeing up that space that programs take up will help your PC speed up and it will also give you more space to play with. If you haven’t used the program in the past year, get rid!

5 . Keep your computer updated!
This point is really important, not only for your PC’s overall health but your personal safety online too! Microsoft release patches fairly often, and if not applied to your computer, you could be at risk for hackers to grab your data. Make sure that you have automatic updates turned on so you don’t miss out on new patches. You can do that by heading to Settings > Update and Security > Advanced Options, and make sure you have Automatic in the drop down box.

6. Keep your anti-virus up to date and running
Scanning for viruses and malware can be quite frustrating and you might think you don’t have the time, but running regular scans and updating your software will keep you free of any unwanted viruses you may have picked up. Keeping your software up to date means that the software learns about new viruses and malware to scan for, which gives you an extra layer of security and stops hackers in their tracks.

Following these steps will help your computer stay healthy and protected at all times. These housekeeping rules can give your PC a new lease of life if it is sluggish – so give them a go. It also helps to back up your data too just incase of any unfortunate events.

In addition, to help you out and make you more efficient in your daily tasks, we have compiled a short list of quick and easy shortcuts that you can make use of each day.

Ctrl + C = Copy
Ctrl + V = Paste
Windows Key + L = Locks your computer
Ctrl + Z = Undo last operation
Ctrl + Y = Redo your last operation
Ctrl + T = Opens new tab in your internet browser
Ctrl + Shift + T = reopens your last closed tab in your internet browser

For more of these types of shortcuts, head over to our article which gives you more controls to choose from.

Your security and PC maintenance is priority for us at CSE as we know how important technology is to keep you driven and active. If you need any help with these steps, or if you have any other issues that you want our advice on don’t be afraid to give us a call on 01444 238070 or contact us and we will be happy to help.