Spring is finally here, and while we're cleaning our houses and throwing out things we don't need, it's important not to neglect cleaning our digital lives as well.
Files can build up quickly and have an effect on the performance of a computer and on how easy it is to find things. Here are some tips to keep your Windows-powered personal computer clean.
1. Run An Antivirus Scan
This is something that should be happening on a regular basis, but in case it's not, users should run an antivirus scan on their computer to make sure that it is free of malware. Not only can malware invade your privacy, steal your data and ruin your digital life, but it can also significantly slow down a computer. AVG Antivirus is consistently one of the more popular antivirus programs and is very easy to use.
2. Run A Disk Cleaner
AVG also offers what it calls "PC TuneUp," which could be very helpful in removing old, unnecessary files and speeding up your computer. What TuneUp and other disk cleaners essentially do is remove old temporary files used by programs that are not needed. Many would be surprised at how many of these files there are on computers after only a few months of use, making disk cleaners very important.
3. Uninstall Old Programs
Head over to the Control Panel and then to Programs. There should be a long list of all the programs that have been installed or that came pre-installed on the computer. Now, it's important to be a little careful here, as you don't want to remove something that you need or that is important for the computer to run. If, however, you see a game that you installed which you haven't touched in six months, perhaps it's time to get rid of it for the purpose of freeing up space on your computer. There will likely be a number of programs that you've never heard of, and you may not know what they do — it's best not to touch these unless you know what you're doing.
4. Put Things In Folders
Cleaning a computer isn't always just about removing files, it can also be about organizing them. While not essential to how your computer runs, organizing files into folders can greatly help you in being more productive. It makes it easier to find things when necessary, plus it just looks prettier than a long list of unorganized files.
5. Clear History and Cookies
Going into your computer browser and clearing out all the data that it has collected can also speed up your system. These small files build up over time, and if left untreated for a long time, they can greatly slow things down.
