The Importance Of A Regular Pc Health Check

By Author: Lucy Carter
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The malware threat, as in viruses, worms, Trojans, spyware and adware, is unfortunately on the increase, putting everyone with a PC in real danger of computer malfunctions. There are also a number of issues that need to be identified and rectified to ensure your operating system performs as it should. For these reasons, a regular PC health check is essential.

The following easy guide will help you resolve the main problems you run the risk of as well as explain the steps you need to take to ensure your computer performs well.

Resolving PC pitfalls:

Hardware and operating issues

Common issues that arise when operating your PC can sometimes be easily resolved with a little bit of troubleshooting:

* Your PC won't switch on when pressing the power button - this can mean the power connection inside your computer has failed, or there could be a loose/frayed cable.
* The monitor isn't working - if your computer powers on but not your monitor, this could mean you have a loose monitor cable or that display is prevented because the monitor/graphics card has failed. The worst problem would ...
... be that your motherboard (the essential circuit board inside your PC that controls all its other components) has failed, in which case an expert will need to replace it.
* Unresponsive or jerky mouse - this problem could simply occur because of the surface you use. A PC mouse ideally needs a foam-based mouse-mat flat or at least a dust-free, non-varnished surface. You can also try to adjust its response settings in your Control Panel.
* Malfunctioning keyboard - most often the cause for this is merely that you have a build-up of dust and debris which is clogging up the keys. If not, the keyboard will probably need to be replaced.
* Unable to write and read CD's or DVD's - this problem will generally need the help of a specialist, since it often means the laser that reads data is dirty or damaged and needs repairing. Another reason could be that your firmware (the software that manages your hardware) needs updating.
* Windows fails to start - the reasons for this would be that programs or files in your system have been damaged or lost because of a malware infection or by use of your computer during a power failure. Further causes could be dirt build-up, faulty hard-drive cables or at world's worst your hard drive has failed.

Speed and reliability problems

If you find your PC is increasingly unstable or performing slowly, this often simply means that a thorough clean is in order, since a build up of dirt and dust can cause significant damage such as overheating. This would result in your PC to crashing, resetting itself or refusing to respond. Installing antivirus software is also crucial to ensure your computer is not infected by malware.

Steps to keep your PC running smoothly:

Defragment

Defragmenting keeps your hard drive tidy by placing files in their correct order. How this works is that behind the scenes, your files can be stored as separate parts in different areas of your PC, which makes your operating system work harder to locate and load them. Defragging places the data all together in a logical order, which in turn increases your computer speed. To locate this action, go to the Accessories listing in your Start menu.

Remove Temporary Internet Files

Every time you open a web page, your browser will save it in a cache on your hard drive so that it will be easier to load the next time you want to visit the site. Since most of us spend a fair amount of time using the Internet, these stored web pages can quickly use up a significant amount of your computer's storage space, which will make it function slower. For this reason, it's recommended you delete the temporary internet files cache on a fairly regular basis.

Monitor storage space

It's a good idea to keep 20% of your hard drive free - this will go a long way in keeping your PC operating at decent speeds. When you notice this is not the case, do a cleanup by removing files such as photo's, documents and music. You can always keep them on a writable CD or save them on an external hard drive.

The above advice will help you keep your PC's health in check as well as ensure it performs at its best. The importance of this is crucial, since even minor issues can create serious problems if left unattended. From simple steps such as installing antivirus software and keeping your computer free always key.
Michael Preston - IT Consultant and expert in PC help.