Computers are an integral part of our daily lives. There are various kinds of computers available for various use nowadays; with a vast range of extensibility and price range, be it mobiles, laptops, or personal computers. But with all these variables, one thing remains constant: its care and maintenance. And this is what you’re going to read about in the following article.
It is pretty obvious, and comes within the realm of a normal person’s common sense that one needs to protect and take care of their computers. Some of these tips would be pretty obvious in nature too, but many people tend to ignore these methods which lead to decreased longevity of their computer. For this article, I’ll be talking about laptops, personal computers, and mobile phones.
Laptops, Mobile & Personal Computer Care
- Install a good Anti-Virus software – the internet is full of fishy websites and spammy downloadable data. And these create the risk of virus infecting your computer. Some anti-virus software are free, and some are paid. Choose whatever good suits your budget and requirements. But nonetheless, investing in a good anti-virus is never a bad idea, both for your computers and your mobiles.
- Back up files – it is always advisable to back up your data, in case something happens to your computer. Good quality hard drives go a long way; encrypted, better. If you’re looking for secure encrypted hard drives, you could check out our drives at RankSecure for options that suit your need. If not hardware based back-ups, you could also opt for software based back-ups which allow you to go back to your workstation’s timeline in case of a glitch.
- Use a Surge Protector – relatively inexpensive, but even cheap surge protectors help protect your laptops from being fried if you plug in during a power surge.
- Avoid high temperatures – sometimes you leave your laptop in your car parked in the sun, or you perhaps work at home in hot conditions. These are absolutely a big no, as far as your computer health is concerned. Extreme cold temperatures are also not favourable. Ideal moderate temperatures range around 20 – 25 °C. Keep your laptop and/or CPU well ventilated, and this leads us to the next point. In case of mobiles, make sure your mobile battery is not overheating while usage and when charging.
- Clean your vents and fans frequently – dust and particles can get accumulated in the vents or fans of your CPU and/or laptops. These vents and fans help ventilate your computer and prevent overheating. Accumulation of dust may restrict fan movement or block vents and may lead to overheating.
- Clean your screen – screen care is also important as that is directly the output you get and interact with. Use proper cleaning liquid and cloths made specially for cleaning electronics.
- Battery life – For devices especially mobiles and laptops, take utmost care of your battery. Charge your device as prescribed by the manufacturer. If you notice overheating or rapid battery life decrement, take your device to a laptop or a mobile shop to check it up. Don’t charge your laptops of mobiles in a hot enclosed environment. Ensure ventilation and a cool, dry environment.
- Avoid eating and drinking near your computer – quite often, we tend to eat and drink while working on our computers, and this may lead to contamination by food crumbs or liquid. There’s also a risk of liquid being spilled. Food crumbs and liquid will damage your internal keyboard and electronics. So, keep that bagel and coffee away for a while!
- Perform regular software updates – Keeping your software updated ensures that if your software has any bugs or glitches, they get fixed, and this helps in a smoother operation of your computer. You may also get better security updates.
- Running Computer Maintenance – Computer maintenance is a vital step in protecting your computer. On a personal computer, defragment your computer regularly and clean the registry. Scan and update your computer from time to time. Consider it as your computer’s health check up!
- Store or carry your computers carefully – Laptops should be kept in proper laptop bags. Personal computers to be covered with monitor covers, or CPU covers when not in use for a long time. Don’t use your mobiles or computers in a wet or hot environment. Either extremities are bad for your devices. Treat your laptop, PC or mobile as you would treat your baby; with care.
The above were just simple ideas that you could keep in mind when taking care of your computers or mobiles. Of course, this isn’t a complete list, and there would be innumerable things to focus on. The above tips hopefully covered major issues and ranged the maximum. Prevention is always better than cure, and the same would definitely apply for your electronic devices too.
Aditya Khedulkar
