Computer Maintanence Checklist

If you’ve never encountered a problem with your computer you probably wouldn’t be here. But since you are, we’re going to provide you with 26 tips to keep your computer running in top notch form. It seems that any time we’ve experienced problems with our computers, or customers computers, it can be related back to one of the following items. A lot of these are considered preventative maintenance issues and can be automated. If you have trouble setting this up or would like help, please contact us on from our main site at www.secureremotesupport.com.

Computer Maintenance Checklist

When you set up your new system:

1. Install a surge protector or use a power strip with emergency shutdown ability
2. Follow manufacturers recommendations on registering your products and software (ie printers, digital cameras, Microsoft Office, etc)
3. Be sure your automatic updates for Windows are configured and operating correctly
4. Read and become familiar with the regular maintenance for your particular computer
5. Choose settings in your email set-up that automatically archive your old email (if using Outlook, Express, Windows Mail, etc)
6. Install and setup an effective anti-virus software
7. Install and setup an effective anti-adware software
8. Save your hardware drivers disk that came with your machine in a safe place

Weekly:

1. Run CHKDSK to scan and check for any hard drive issues
2. Defragment your computers hard drive using the on board utility Disk Defragment
3. Run Disk Cleanup to delete any inused or temporary files
4. Back up your files to a remote location
5. Empty your recycle bin
6. Delete your Internet files
7. Erase your browsing history
8. Delete your cookies
9. Update the software in your anti-virus and anti-adware programs
10. Start and Run a full disk check using your anti-virus and anti-adware software

Monthly

1. Check for updates with Windows Update
2. Delete/uninstall unneeded or unused programs in the Remove Programs section in the control panel

Quarterly

1. Dust your keyboard
2. Dust and clean your monitor
3. Dust you peripherals (printer, speakers, digital cameras, the computer itself)
4. Rebuild your desktop
5. Change all your passwords

Yearly

1. Renew all your anti-virus and anti-adware software licenses (if applicable)

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Posted on Wednesday, September 30th, 2009   |   Filed under Preventative Maintenance.
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