If you want your computer to run smoothly and efficiently, you need to optimize and maintain your system regularly. This means performing tasks such as cleaning up disk space, updating drivers and software, removing malware, and defragmenting your hard drive. In this article, we will show you how to do these and more with some simple steps and tools.
One of the easiest ways to optimize your system is to free up some disk space by deleting unnecessary files and programs. You can use the built-in Disk Cleanup tool in Windows to scan your drive and remove temporary files, system files, recycle bin items, and other clutter. To access it, go to Start > Settings > System > Storage > Free up space now. You can also uninstall any programs that you don't use or need from the Control Panel > Programs and Features.
In most cases, this works but in more unique cases I have seen massive ost and pst files, locally run Access DBs, and corrupted Windows Update cache. Each of these instances will require some more digging.
Another important step to optimize and maintain your system is to keep your drivers and software up to date. Drivers are the software that allow your hardware components to communicate with your operating system and applications. Software updates can fix bugs, improve performance, and add new features. To check for driver updates, go to Device Manager > right-click on the device > Update driver. To check for software updates, go to Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update. You can also use third-party tools to scan and update your drivers and software automatically.
Most manufacturers have built in tools for driver updates such as HP Support Assistant and Dell Command Center. Both will keep your stuff up to date.
Malware is any malicious software that can harm your system, steal your data, or compromise your security. Malware can slow down your system, cause errors, or even prevent it from booting. To protect your system from malware, you need to use a reliable antivirus program and scan your system regularly. You can also use a malware removal tool to detect and remove any malware that your antivirus might miss. Some examples of malware removal tools are Malwarebytes, AdwCleaner, and HitmanPro.
Detection and removal is important, but best practice is prevention. Don't download attachments or click links in emails from people you don't know. Verify the from address to see of it is a legitimate source.
Disk defragmentation is the process of rearranging the data on your hard drive so that it is more organized and efficient. When you save, delete, or move files on your hard drive, they can become fragmented, meaning that they are stored in different locations and not in a continuous sequence. This can make your system slower and reduce the lifespan of your hard drive. To defragment your hard drive, you can use the built-in Optimize Drives tool in Windows. To access it, go to Start > File Explorer > This PC > right-click on the drive > Properties > Tools > Optimize.
This has become slightly obsolete now with SSD however I do advocate for chkdsk as it repairs ntfs errors that cause some fragmentation in the first place.
System maintenance is an important practice for preventing problems, optimizing performance, and troubleshooting issues. You can check for errors and bad sectors on your hard drive using the Error Checking tool in Windows, and clean your registry with a registry cleaner tool such as CCleaner, Wise Registry Cleaner, or Glary Utilities. Additionally, you can adjust your system settings for optimal performance using the Performance Options tool in Windows. This allows you to customize your visual effects, processor scheduling, memory usage, and virtual memory. Doing these tasks regularly can help ensure that your system runs smoothly.