Computer Maintenance Tips!

Key Computer Solutions is always looking at how to help our customers save money. If we are able to solve your computer problem quickly with guidance over the phone, we will do that without charge.

A lot of times performing these computer maintenance tips or installing upgrades can bring new life into your computer. KCS can help you decide what will be most beneficial and how much it may cost. If we feel your machine is not worth fixing, we will tell you that too - even if it means losing a service call.

KCS does not make any money doing all that, but we know what makes good service. Hopefully, when you really need us, you'll be able to trust that we are here to serve your best interests. Some of our oldest customers started out this way, getting free consultation over the phone.

In that same spirit we offer this information free of charge. If you are a "Do-It-Yourself" kind of person, following these steps can save you a lot. If you need our assistance we can set up an on-going maintenance plan that fits your budget.

Daily

Perform an incremental back up of your most important information (such as Documents, Email/Address Books, Favorites and your Quicken/Financial data). We recommend that you either manually perform this daily. Better still, set up an automated backup solution. Installing a secondary hard drive is an easy solution for this and can be a real life saver. If you own a notebook or do not feel comfortable opening your computer, then an external drive is another option.

Weekly

Perform a Disk Cleanup which will delete all of your unused and unwanted files. It compresses unused files and will also delete your trash and old internet files. Just click on Start >All Programs >Accessories >System Tools  then Disk Cleanup.

Perform a Disk Defragmentation which increases performance and will reclaim lost speed on your system. Over time, files get scattered all over the hard drive and then get moved, deleted, copied and so on. Fragments of unused space leave your computer with little breathing room.  Just click on Start >All Programs >Accessories >System Tools then Disk Defragmenter.

Monthly

Perform a manual check for updates to the operating system and critical software on your computer. We recommend this manual check even though it should be done automatically by the system. You would be shocked how many times the KCS technician finds the antivirus software is expired and the customer didn't know it or Windows XP is still running the original 2002 version with no service pack updates. For Windows just click on Start >All Programs >Windows Update then follow the directions on the screen. For antivirus software open the program you use and look for a button that refers to updates.

Perform an internet browser cleaning to clear out cached files, history and cookies. The browser stores this information in order to speed up web page downloads but there comes a point when it takes longer for the computer to search what is saved over just downloading it again. In your browser just click on Tools >Internet Options then under Browsing History click Delete.

Perform a check of your backup system. Too often people who set up automatic backups find out, when they really need them, the files are not there. Open the program you use and check the log files for errors. Different programs use different methods to store the backup data. Follow whatever directions came with your software to verify that your data is secure. For extra security KCS recommends that you perform a manual backup of your most critical data to a separate device or type of media (USB flash drive, CD/DVD, online service, etc...).

Quarterly

Perform a thorough cleaning inside and out. Dust accumulates inside your computer at an amazing rate. When it gets too thick it restricts the airflow which raises the temperature inside the computer. High temperatures can be just as damaging to electronic components and circuitry as power surges. KCS recommends using compressed air to blow out the accumulated dust before it has a chance to damage your computer.

Clean the keyboard with compressed air or with the power off turn the keyboard upside down and strike it several times with the heel of your hand. Clean the screen with a soft, lint-free cloth. Better still, use monitor cleaning wipes which can be purchased from where computers are sold.

Clean the CD/DVD drives with a drive cleaning kit. It consists of a cleaning disk and usually a bottle of solution that you apply to the disk. The drive collects quite a lot of dust and grime that sticks to the laser lens, so canned air alone does not remedy the problem. First, apply the solution to the cleaning disk. Second, insert the cleaning disk into the drive. Most of these disks have audio or visual prompts to tell you when the drive is clean.

Annually

Most people are surprised to learn their computer's operating system will break down over time. The system files act essentially like the moving parts of a machine. Necessary files get damaged, deleted or altered through normal wear and tear, power outages / brownouts, or undetected virus activity. This may not be noticed until you uninstall a program or make some other change. Suddenly, you can not get on the internet, your computer will not shut down properly or you can not boot the machine at all.

Computer manufacturers and Microsoft never used to admit it but now they recommend every 12 months it is a good idea to reinstall the operating system from scratch. It gives the computer a "just out of the box" level of performance and guarantees to fix any unknown errors.

Before you do this you want an up to date backup of personal data, your original, manufacturer supplied or self-created, recovery disks and copies of your installed programs. After you do this don't forget to download all available operating system and software updates. Make sure you install virus protection. Finally, you can restore your saved personal data files.