Taking Your Computer Home?
The winter break is coming up very quickly and a lot of you will be taking your computers home for the holidays. If your electronic companion will be taking a vacation, too, perhaps you can pamper it with some digital spa treatments? There's no better time than the winter downtime to do software updates, back up files and clean out unwanted documents. Here are a few tips:
- That software update box that keeps getting in your way while you are trying to work? It probably has some important items to make your computer run smoother and faster. Give your machine what it wants: click the affirmative and run those updates!
- Make sure you spend time updating your antivirus and spy/adware software, too! New malware comes out frequently and your software will need the latest information about what nasty bugs are out there in order to keep you safe.
- Have you backed up your files lately? If not, you really should, especially if you are working on a thesis, dissertation, budget or next semester's syllabus. There are great built in back up tools like Time Machine on the Mac, or you can even just drag essential files to a DVD-R or flash drive for safe keeping.
- While you are sorting through files for back up, why not delete unwanted documents? Project files, rough drafts and more can quickly fill up your directories to bursting so clean them out! Same goes for your email!
- Downloads often find a way to litter our computers with unnecessary folders, zip files, disk images and more. If you've installed an application or used files in an archive, go ahead and delete this hangers-on. You'll save space and have a cleaner desktop to boot!
- Keyboard cruddy? Dusty display? Why not give your computer a wash and blow dry? Usually you can clean most computer dirt with just a soft, damp cloth but check your user guide for special instructions. And polish it all off with a quick blast of compressed air to remove crumbs and other nastiness from cracks and crevices.
posted by OIT @ 10:02 AM
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