All computer users, including the ones who take care of their computers, have to go through computer repair some time or the other. Being a machine, a computer is prone to damages. However, we can minimize the need to seek help from computer repair services if we follow certain computer maintenance tips.

Keep your computer clean.

Do not let dust settle in the nooks and corners of the CPU, monitor, keyboard, or the mouse. Follow the steps to clean these devices. Do not clean these the way you would clean your refrigerator or television.

Get the latest virus definitions.

It is extremely important that you keep updating your anti-virus on a regular basis. An outdated anti-virus program is as good as none.

Clean the system off unnecessary files.

If you are one of those who never bother to delete anything from your computer, you may be running the system at a speed much lower than its potential. Delete temporary files and other unused files at once, and notice the improvement in the system’s performance.

Get a regular check done.

Seek professional help to get your system checked at least once every year.

Nobody wants a situation when the computer needs a repair. However, most of us forget to take care of the basic things. Let us look at some basic computer housekeeping tips.

- Delete all unnecessary files regularly. Also uninstall and delete all the unused programs that take up a lot of space on your computer.

- Defragment your hard drives at least once every month. This activity compresses files and makes some extra space on your hard disk.

- Always switch off the system only after shutting it down properly. Keep the monitor switched off when not in use.

- Keep your operating system updated. This keeps your system healthy and helps improve its performance.

- Update your anti-virus and anti-spyware as and when updates are available. You do not want new malicious viruses beating your old anti-virus.

- Keep your desktop clean. Do not make it a dumping ground for all downloads.

- Delete old and unnecessary mails from your operating system’s mail client. Too many mails in your inbox can slow down your system to a great extent.

Apart from the above-mentioned tips, make sure you ask the computer repair service team to visit you once a year for a ‘check up’ of your computer.

Who really wants to call the computer repair service apart from for the regular check-ups? By adhering to a few simple rules, you can avoid the need for a computer repair. However, you should make sure that your computer gets its regular ‘health check’.

Following are eight golden rules that can keep your computer healthy.

1. Perform disk cleanup once every month.

2. Perform disk defragmentation once every month.

3. Perform a system scan every fifteen days to find if there are any viruses, spyware or adware on your system.

4. Update Windows as and when an update is released.

5. Update the Anti-virus software regularly.

6. Use strong passwords for your computer.

7. Switch off your monitor and computer when not in use.

8. Use authentic software only.

1. Keep your anti-virus and firewall software updated. The malicious minds behind those viruses and harmful programs move very fast; they come up with viruses that outdated anti-virus software cannot detect. So, seek the experts’ help and update your anti-virus software and firewalls regularly. Updated software will keep harm at bay.
2. Keep your computer in a dust-free area. Dust is not good for a computer’s health. Keep your computer away from sources of dirt.
3. Keep your computer away from devices that emit electro-magnetic waves. Keeping electronic and magnetic devices near the computer is not a good idea.
4. Keep your desktop clutter-free. Avoid saving files on your computer. Perform a desktop clean-up operation and keep the unused shortcuts in one folder.
5. Do not take off a plug from the CPU when the computer is on. This could be dangerous not only for your computer but also for you. Switch off your computer before attempting to unplug a cable from your system.
6. Switch off the system only after the computer has properly shut down. This is important if you want your computer to function smoothly.
7. Use a UPS. A sudden power outage can not only result in a loss of data but may also harm your computer.
8. Remove unnecessary files from your system. This will improve the performance of your system. Click here to learn how.
9. Opt for selective startup. Select only necessary programs to start during the boot-up process. Click here to learn how.
10. Install Windows updates regularly. Keep your operating system updated for smooth functioning of your system. Click to learn how.

A computer sometimes needs repair regardless of the amount of maintenance. If you think seeking expert help for computer repair involves hassles, call the experts home.