Tip of the Week: 5 Ways You Can Observe National Clean Out Your Computer Day

Did you know? Today is National Clean Out Your Computer Day! As technology buffs ourselves, we want to spread the word about this annual opportunity to clean out the technology that your business uses on a daily basis. Here are five great ways to make sure that your computers are being properly maintained.

Update All Software Solutions
The programs that you use to get work done should all be updated to ensure they are secure and operating with maximum functionality. Developers of enterprise software issue security updates and patches for two reasons: to improve security and make features more useful for you. This means that they should be implemented on your network as soon as possible. One thing to think about, though, is legacy app compatibility. You don’t want to update your apps while risking incompatibility with other parts of your infrastructure. The best way to avoid this threat is by reaching out to Horne & Benik for a network audit, which can help show you which apps should be updated in the first place.

Eliminate Unnecessary Applications
Your business likely has unused apps and programs installed on your network. This is a natural part of running a business, but it can also hinder your devices in the long run, taking up valuable resources and storage space. Furthermore, you might be wasting money on these apps that you don’t use, or use only once every couple of months. In cases like this, it’s in your best interest to remove this software before it puts an even bigger dent in your budget.

Clean Up Excessive Dust
How long has it been since you gave your computers a nice, thorough cleaning? Dust is one of the major problems with owning computers, as it can collect around vents and fans, affecting airflow. Use a can of compressed air to blow it all away, being careful not to blow it inside of the machine. You should also clean your keyboard. Do this by turning it upside-down and shaking it. You might be surprised and grossed out by the skin particles and food crumbs that fall out, but you’ll be glad they’re not in your keyboard anymore.

Clean Up the Insides
Cleaning up your computer’s internal components is just as important as cleaning the outside. You may not realize it, but the internal cavity of your PC accumulate a ton of dust, thanks to the fans. All of this dust can cause major problems by seizing up the fans and overheating critical components, which can cause your machine to crash. Before getting started, shutdown your PC and be sure to disconnect it from the outlet. Take a can of compressed air and clear the internal components of dust and dirt, but do be careful not to handle sensitive components directly with your hands if you haven’t washed them thoroughly first. The natural oils on your fingers could damage them. If there’s any question as to what you’re doing, always take a low-risk approach to maintaining your technology by letting skilled technicians handle this responsibility.

Run Defrag Software
You know better than anyone just how much work you place on your hard drive. You’ve saved, moved, and deleted files, which leaves traces all over your hard drive that makes your computer work harder than it needs to. Running defrag software will essentially organize all of your scattered pieces of data, which can give your PC a nice performance boost. Also, if you’ve got a solid state drive, then you don’t have to worry about defragging, since this process only applies to hard disc drives. Additionally, if you’re running a newer version of Windows, then it should automatically defrag your hard drive when your computer isn’t being used. If you don’t know how to defrag your hard drive, we recommend reaching out to Horne & Benik for assistance with this somewhat intensive process.

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