Simple ways to take care of your computer

When you purchase a brand new computer, it normally runs pretty fast and you don't have some of the error messages that occur with older models. This is because the computer does not have all the programs you plan to install and the hard drive is pretty clean from temp files and other files that slow down your system. Computers will need upgrades eventually as the hardware gets older, the fans inside the computers break, and malicious viruses take their toll on the computer. While there are many causes to be concerned about our computers crashing, we can do some daily maintenance procedures to take care of our computers and help them last a little bit longer. In order to take care of your computer, follow some of these tips:

• Keep the room cool. Overheating can cause the computer to malfunction and you can lose your files. By keeping the room a little cooler, the computer will run better. The internal temperature of a computer should be below 70 degrees in order for it to function at its best. Although computers come with fans, they don't always do the best when you keep your home warm. You can download software that will monitor your computers heat level so you know if you need to shut it down for a few hours to cool off.
  
• Place the computer on the desk; never place it directly on the floor. A computer that is on the carpet almost always overheats. Placing it on the desk allows air to circulate underneath it and it will run better.
  
• Shut down your computer at night or when you aren't going to be using it for an extended period of time. Keeping your computer on all the time will waste energy and it can cause the computer to overheat.
  

• Always install anti-virus to keep your computer safe from harmful threats. Most computers will come with anti-virus software like McAfee or Norton but you will need to pay yearly fees to keep it. If you don't want to pay, you can download antivirus software that works just as good. Always make sure you run daily scans on your computer to check for viruses and malicious files that could corrupt your system. Another thing you need to do is install new updates from the anti-virus software maker so your software can protect your computer from the latest threats to your system. 
  
• Steer clear of sites that are questionable. Pornography sites almost always will install adware or spyware on your system. This could cause your personal information to be compromised and your system could become corrupted.
  
• Clean out the temp files from your computer often. When you clean these files off your system, it will run faster. The downside is that you will need to reset your saved passwords, especially on web sites that have secure information like your bank account and insurance web sites.
  
• Use a registry cleaner to help you decide which old files need to be dumped from your system. The cleaner will also repair some of the files that may be damaged or corrupted, causing your system to run slower.
  
• Stop the programs that are automatically running when your system start-up. If you have to wait 10-20 minutes before you can use your computer because it has a lot of programs on the start menu, you need to go through the start menu and stop these programs from automatically starting. Doing so will allow your system to run faster and you can use it within a few minutes of powering it up.