17 Easy, Low Cost, Highly Effective Ways to Help Keep Your PC Running Smoothly

Your Software Applications:

• For maximum computer stability and to help your computer run more quickly, try to ensure you have only one software application open at a time. If you do have a sufficient amount of RAM (see below under "General Recommendations"), the next best option is to only have open the applications you need. Close down any applications that are not relevant to the files that you're currently working with.
• If you use any Microsoft Office applications such as Excel, Outlook, Word, Access or Publisher, you can ensure these can be updated automatically by installing and turning on Microsoft Update. More information at: http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/
• Don't install software you don't need or use.
• Uninstall any and all software applications you no longer require.
• To improve the stability and security of your PC, whenever possible, upgrade to the latest version of each software application you do use. However, whenever a new version is available, I do recommend that you wait a while to ensure that most of the new bugs are fixed before you install your upgrade.

Your Computer Operating System:

• If you use Microsoft Windows, you can help ensure you have the latest updates and patches installed automatically by turning on Windows Update. More information at: http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/
• Regularly run your Windows Disk Defragmenter program to better optimize your hard drive. For more information, look for the Help and Support command from your Windows Start button, then enter "Defragmenter" into the Help and Support Search box. In Windows XP, usually be default, you can find Windows Disk Defragmenter from the Start button > All Progams > Accessories > System Tools.

General recommendations:

• Organize folders on your PC in a way that makes most logical sense to you.
• Store information once. To help prevent having multiple copies of the same document scattered around your PC, aim to have each piece of information present at only one location. Then, if you want to link to that information snippet from somewhere else, create a Windows shortcut. However, for crucial information, having at least one more copy can be useful insurance.
• Keep only the information and items you need on your PC. Delete items you no longer require. Remember: when using Microsoft Windows, items that are deleted to your Recycle Bin are not actually deleted until you empty your Recycle Bin (even when you delete a file, it is not truly deleted, however, for storage space listing purposes, once a file is deleted from the Recycle bin, Microsoft Windows will list the space that file previously occupied as available to use).
• Ensure that you back up all of your important files to a CD. Ideally, have a complete daily backup procedure in place. You may prefer to simply back up the entire PC to a second hard drive using a spare USB socket. That way, you can use a program like Acronis True Image Home to create an exact copy of your current PC hard drive, with the option to instantly restore your copy to another hard drive should the need ever arise.
• If your computer has a cooling fan installed, get into the habit of ensuring that you don't accidentally block up the air inlet and air outlet areas. Occasionally examine the inlet and outlet areas from the outside of your PC, and blow away any dust or possible cobweb build-up. Why? A blocked or partially blocked cooling fan inlet can prevent normal cooling action, or put increased load on your cooling computer system: damage to your computer could result.
• While your computer is switched on, take great care when moving your PC. Why: your computer hard drive most likely uses a spinning disk that has a read / write head that is situated very close to the disk when powered up; any sudden jolt can cause the read / write head to scratch your computer hard drive. In the worst case scenario: you can destroy a hard disk this way in seconds.
• One of the most effective ways to speed up your computer is to add more RAM memory. However, you'll need to use the correct type: discuss requirements with your computer parts supplier. As an information publisher, you may use a variety of powerful software tools. Therefore ideally today, aim for at least 2Gb of RAM.

Your Web Browser:

• Regularly delete all temporary files and history files. How: example, In Microsoft Internet Explorer, open the Tools menu, choose the Internet Options command, select the General tab, then under "Temporary Internet Files", choose, "Delete Files" button. When promoted, choose "Delete all offline content", then choose the OK button. To delete history files, with the general tab still displayed, choose the "Clear History" button, choose Yes. To finish, choose the OK button.

Your Email Program:

• Organize your email folders in a logical manner. Set up rules to have email messages automatically routed to the correct folder, when youdownload your email. Aim to clean your email box daily. Keep only items that you must have. You can save important email ezines to folders on your PC, then delete the original email message.
• Aim to deal with and delete as much email before downloading. You can do this by reading your email using Web mail before you use your email program to download essentialitems that remain.

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