This year February 9 was National Clean Out Your Computer Day. This is one of those goofy days that you can find on those “Every day is a holiday” calendars. This one allows me to mention some very important computer maintenance items that most people overlook. All of these things are fairly simple but can make a big difference in the performance of your computer.
- Unnecessary and temp files – Just by using your computer on a regular basis your computer will start to accumulate files that you really don’t need or want. These are temp files created during updates and installs. Sometimes these are removed by the process that created them but many times they are not removed and just sit there taking up space. Also, many people are not aware that if you delete a file, it doesn’t really get removed from your computer, it goes into the recycle bin and it will stay there until you empty the recycle bin. This can be helpful if you accidentally delete something. You can go to the recycle bin and retrieve it. I have worked on computers that ran out of space due to these types of files. Windows has some built in tools to help solve this issue, but I like a free program called CCleaner which does a better job at this. They have a “Pro” version also, but the free version does enough.
- Desktop – It is very easy to use your desktop for file storage since it is right there, so you don’t have to go looking for all of your files, but when your desktop is full of files and other icons it is easy to miss a new icon that just shows up one day. This happens a lot when you get adware or sometimes even malware. If your desktop is only holding a few shortcuts for programs, it is easy to find those pesky adware icons so you can remove the adware before it causes you problems. I can certainly help with this if it happens.
- Backup – Are your files only on your computer? Do you use cloud services like iCloud, OneDrive, Google Drive, or Dropbox? This is a good time to verify any backup. I can also help with this and get you set up with a good local or online backup if needed. If your files are in the cloud, it is important to know that cloud services are not backups but syncs. Here is a video that explains the difference –
- ANTI-VIRUS – First of all, do you know what anti-virus you are using? This is a very important question since the biggest phishing scams involve fake receipts for antivirus. These scammers will send a fake invoice for hundreds of dollars and the only information on the email is a contact phone number. They use very large amounts hoping you will get upset by it and call the number to complain. Once you call, you will connect to a very nice and helpful person who will handle all of this for you. They simply need to get on your computer to remove their product. Once on your computer they can do many things to steal from you. If you know that you do not have this particular program, it is harder to scam you. As I have stated before, never call the number in the email. If it looks like you paid something you shouldn’t have paid, the best thing to do is call your bank to dispute the charge. Of course, you can also look online, and you will see that there was no charge. But there are other reasons to check your anti-virus. Sometimes malware is successful at getting on your system and the first thing it will try to do is turn off your anti-virus. So, it is important to check it occasionally to make sure it hasn’t expired, is on, and running a daily scan.
So, there it is, how you can celebrate National Clean Out Your Computer Day! As always, I am available if you need help with any of these items or anything else computer related.
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