Clean Out Your Computer Day: Avoid Computer Repair
By Distributel
How often do you take your car in for a tune up? Your car and your desktop computer may not seem to have a lot in common, but both are very important devices used on an almost daily basis. They are both subjected to the same stresses that comes from constant use, but most people are far more likely to take their car in for a regular oil change than to clean up their computer’s inner components or run a system diagnostic. Interestingly, “how to speed up computer” ranks very high in monthly Google searches, so either people are performing maintenance only when they experience a slowdown, or else there are already a bunch who have learned how important it is for peak performance.
On every second Monday in February since 2010, people all over the world observe Clean Out Your Computer Day. The day is all about taking the time to both physically and digitally tune up your computer. Like other chores, it’s ideal if you can remember to maintain things consistently throughout the year so that you keep your computer running smoothly all year, but if that’s not in the cards – mark your calendar on the 2nd Monday each February and make it a priority. This way, you won’t be asking yourself “why is my computer so slow?”.
We thought we’d suggest some tips and explain some of the benefits to help get you motivated. These will also save you time and money on computer repair.
How to physically clean out your computer to avoid costly computer repair bills
How long have you owned your desktop computer? Do you often ask yourself “why is my computer so slow”? If, during that time, you’ve ever had to crack open the case and take a look inside, you probably saw a great deal of dust and debris lining the inner components. That dust and debris can definitely affect your computer’s performance. Follow these steps on how to make your computer fast by ensuring it is spic and span in less than 30 minutes.
First, you’ll want to have the right type of cloth on hand – one that won’t transmit a static charge. We recommend a micro cloth like the kind used for delicate photography lenses. Next, buy an aerosol can of spray duster — any kind will do. You can certainly shop around for computer cleaner alternatives, but this with these two items on hand, you’ll be just fine and ready to begin.
After you have powered your computer off, open up the outer case to get a good look at the components inside.
Begin by spraying off the cooling fans and wiping them clean with your cloth. These are usually the dirtiest components because this is where air passes through the computer’s cooling system.
Next, spray off any ports or other connections that are covered in dust. Depending on the brand and model of your computer, there may be dust on the motherboard or optical disk drive as well. If your graphics card has its own cooling fan, carefully spray and wipe it down.
Wipe off the case and put it back together. Now you can spray off your keyboard and mouse; you’ll probably find a great deal of debris hidden underneath your keys, so be sure to clean thoroughly.
With this short process complete, you should be ready to turn the computer on again and look for any noticeable improvements in speed or efficiency. One of the most common benefits experienced is an increased resistance to processor overheating — all that dust loads down the cooling fans and makes them work less efficiently.
I have a laptop, though…
If you have a laptop computer, the first area to tackle is the lid and bottom panel. First, mix a couple drops of dish soap with a couple cups of warm water, dip a lint-free cloth in the soapy mixture, wring out, and wipe down the surfaces. Rinse out the cloth with clean water and wipe down again. Lastly, to avoid water streaks, wipe down a third time with a dry cloth. You can use the same method to clean the display.
Next up: the keyboard. Use your can of compressed air to remove any crumbs that are lying in the crevices in between the keys. After that, dab a lint-free cloth in isopropyl rubbing alcohol and gently rub your keys
Lastly, if your laptop has large side vents, you’ll likely find that they are a magnet for dust bunnies. (Same goes for expansion ports.) Use a can of compressed air to blow the dust bunnies out; this will not only make your laptop look better, but it can also improve performance by letting your laptop better regulate temperature.
Optimize Your PC
Now that the hardware is spotless and purring like a kitten, we need to tune up your computer digitally. Some companies offer PC repair services to do this for you but there are some really simple ways you can do this yourself:
- Remove unnecessary software and programs
Just as though you were Spring cleaning, go through the list of programs running on your computer and uninstall the ones you don’t use anymore. Be aware that some of the application names may not be familiar to you but may still be critical to your operating system. Make sure to Google the name first to make sure it’s safe to purge.
- Clear some disk space and defragment your computer
Are you really going to watch all those episodes of The Big Bang Theory again? They’re probably taking a lot of space on your hard drive so consider either parting with them or getting an external hard drive so they don’t negatively impact the performance of your computer. You can also run a free utility program like CCleaner to find and get rid of other files you no longer need. Click here for the CCleaner free download.
Now that you’re running a lean computer, we recommend that you also defragment your computer. With all these processes carried out regularly, you will never have to Google search “how to speed up computer” again.
Get the Right High Speed Internet Plan
Now that your computer is looking brand-new on the outside and inside, you’ll need a dependable High Speed Internet plan to truly get the most out of your computer.
Distributel is a modern independent High Speed Internet provider that offers the best range of services, ensuring we deliver the right technology to the right address every time. With almost 30 years of experience providing telecommunications services to Canadians, Distributel offers a unique consultative approach to the service we offer. We aim to always provide the service that is the ultimate connectivity solution for each individual customer. Distributel offers the best overall value in the industry, delivered through a combination of service quality, range of offered plans, network infrastructure and price.