Written by Vanessa Santilli on Bankrate Canada on Sept. 8
From work files to financial spreadsheets, we depend on our computers for managing and storing important personal information. And at most jobs, computers are what allow us to get our work done. But in our busy lives, it’s all-too-easy to forget to regularly care for our computers.
“Computer maintenance is a very important activity that many people forget about but in today’s electronic world, it’s a task that can prevent wasted time and unnecessary hassles, says Robert Mezzavilla, an analyst at Sobeys.
While replacing a hard drive can cost about $250 — depending on your computer model — an unexpected computer crashing can sometimes result in the worst-case scenario of having to buy a brand new computer.
Dustin Quade, an architectural technologist, suggests thinking of a computer’s maintenance routine like that of a car: to keep it running you need more than just putting gas in the tank. “Simply downloading a virus protection software is good but it’s useless if you don’t run it or update it.”
Avoid preventable expenses by following these techie tips to keep your computer running in top shape.
Keep an eye on your clicking habits
Pay attention to what you click on, suggests graphic designer Nicola Gravina. “I have helped lots of people clean their computers because they clicked on ‘download free smiley faces now.'”
Quade echoes this sentiment: Never open emails that were automatically put in your junk folder, never open any attachment sent to you by someone you don’t know and never click a website link in an email from someone you don’t know.
“You may not notice anything at first but a lot of malware isn’t designed to hurt your computer — it’s designed to hurt you by spying on your every computer action and sending it off to people who can either use it or sell it to people who can use it.”
Be wary during installation
Keep an eye on the installer when you install software, adds Gravina. “Pay attention to the installation wizard. Sometimes it will try to slip things in that you don’t need on your computer, like search bars and other useless software that will just slow your machine down.”
Backup everything, backup often
“Backups are the most neglected and most important strategy to protect your digital assets,” says Michael Krieger, trustee in bankruptcy and assistant vice-president at BDO Canada Limited. While using a USB is a cost-effective option, it’s worth it to invest in a larger hard drive that can frequently back up all the contents on your computer. If your computer bites the dust, this route ensures your files will always be retrievable. Strong passwords are another way of protecting yourself.
Reassess what you’re storing
While it’s easy to accumulate files and new programs, it’s a good idea to clean up what you’re not using. “Go through your programs and back up or remove anything that is no longer of use to you,” says Mezzavilla. “The fuller the hard drive, the more sluggish your computer has the potential to run.”