Each year January is viewed as an opportunity for a fresh start. That applies to people. It can also apply to your technology. We have spent more time with our technology than we have with friends and family as of late. My suggestion is you take some time and give your tech some TLC.
Clean your Hardware
Spend a few bucks and get a can of compressed air. If you have a desktop, power it off, disconnect it from the power cord and the other peripheral devices. Take the sides of the computer off and blow it out in the garage or the driveway. Avoid breathing in any dust. Dust is your computer’s deadliest enemy. Dust lays like a blanket on your components, causing them to overheat. Excessive heat shortens the life span of your devices.
Make sure you did not dislodge anything plugged into the mainboard. Once the dust has been removed, then put it all back together and start it up.
If you have an older or larger laptop, you likely have a fan. Please turn off the device and let it cool. Once cool, then blow out the vents on the sides, back, and bottom of the laptop. Take the machine outside to blow it out. You don’t need to add any more dust to your home.
Wipe your screens and keyboards off. You will need a lint-free cloth or microfiber cloth. I bought a small five-pack from Harbor Freight for less than five dollars. My point is that these clothes are common and not that expensive anymore.
Get the cloth wet, then wring out all the excess moisture. You do not want ANY free moisture dripping into the keyboard or some other gap within the case. Free water can cook the electronics in a hurry. If you do drip into the keyboard or computer, make sure it is unplugged and wait at least a day for the water to evaporate. Then pray, plug it in, and power it up.
If you use a cleaning cloth such as Clorox wipes, wring them out (NO free moisture) and carefully wipe your keyboard, mouse, and case of your device. I DO NOT RECOMMEND USING ANY CHEMICALS OTHER THAN WATER ON YOUR SCREEN. Only use a damp, lint-free cloth on the screen. Allow everything to dry before powering up again.
Check your hard drive. Open your Windows Explorer (Windows + E keys, Not case sensitive). Go to each hard drive and right-click on it. Then click properties and see how much free space you have. If you have less than 10% of your drive available, then you really must clean your software and make more room (see next section).
Should your hard drive become full, many things can happen. The results will range from unstable or unusable software to total loss or corruption of your data.
Clean your Software
Download and install the free versions of Revouninstaller (www.revouninstaller.com). If necessary, find a tutorial and use it to remove any outdated or obsolete software.
Do the same with CCleaner (www.ccleaner.com/ccleaner/download) and use CCleaner to remove the junk files your computer accumulates over time.
Then look at your documents, photos, and videos. Delete the stupid stuff and keep that which brings you the most joy. Reminisce, then remove the unimportant files.
But I have a smartphone or a tablet. What do I do?
The principles still apply. Treat the outside of the device as described above. Then do a little research and find a reputable app to clean out the junk files store on your device.
Starting fresh often gives you a sense of accomplishment and hope for better things. Let’s start 2021 on a positive note.
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