Maintaining computers, a way of ensuring optimized performance

Purchasing second hand computers has become a common trend in the country today. Most people, even prefer purchasing them to new ones in the belief that second hand equipments tend to last longer than new ones. But the truth is that any computer, whether new or old would crash if the owner doesn’t take necessary periodic steps to maintain it. Lack of proper maintenance on a computer system can lead to wastage of money and important data. This is because, lack of proper maintenance steps on a system can lead to system instability or crash, making needed important files inaccessible.
It is not uncommon for a computer system that responded fine a day before to suddenly crash and refuse to come on the next day. The reasons for the system break down didn’t just happen, but had amassed over a long time. The agony one faces when a system crashes and all important file and data suddenly becomes inaccessible is very painful indeed.
The common signs of a computer system, badly in needs for Maintenance are;
Increased slowing down of system processes and programs loading slowly.
Regularly freezing of the system popularly know as hanging
Your hard disc makes a lot of noise whenever you load a program or when it is about to boot.
The system suddenly shuts down and boots again on it’s own accord.
Your system start up time is very slow i.e., it takes a lot of time for the system to boot.
The steps to clean a system are not difficult to follow. you should know that since a computer is divided into hard and software, logically, the maintenance steps should also be carried out on the hard and software parts of it. To maintain a very good shape on your computer, you should always remember that the greatest enemy to your system is heat and dust. To prolong the years of tour computer you should regularly ensure the following;
That your C.P.U.. is placed in a strategic position whereby ventilation would not be obstructed, with at least 4inches of space to the rear. Also, ensure that the holes on your monitor and C.P.U. are not covered so that the heat which is been generated inside will have room to escape, the more space your system has, the better it will run.
Remember to clean the outside of your system with a slightly damped linen cloth to remove the dust accumulating on it.
Ensure you run defragment at least once a month to rearrange programs and prevent clogging of the system. To defragment, go to control panel, performance and maintenance, rearrange items on your hard disc to make them run faster and then, defragment.
Run disc utilities like registery programs and disc cleaners to speed up system speed
You should install an anti virus program into your system to prevent the introduction of viruses.
Other protective measures include; never turn off your computer from the power switch without shutting it down first. To prevent power failures purchase a universal power supply (u.p.s.) and connect to your system. Also keep at least 200mb of free space or more, on your system to prevent it from choking up.
Understanding and following computer maintenance tips, provides a long range of benefits on the long run to the user. The money many people waste on their computers either as a result of system crash or failure are very unnecessary and a waste. Computers are like any other equipments. If you regularly maintain them periodically, they will perfectly serve the purpose they were created for. But if used without regards to it’s maintenance, then, a host of problems is what the owner will derive.