How to clean and set up your PC – Guide
Your computer is probably the piece of technology you use the most, besides your phone. You must take care of him, if only for another reason. Not only will it last longer, it will also perform better over time if you keep it. Let’s show you how to take care of your computer in this manual. Of course, it’s hard to cover every aspect of this subject, so consider this a primer rather than a comprehensive guide. ..
How to clean your computer and peripherals
If you have a desktop or laptop computer, here are some tips to help keep it clean and running smoothly:
- Clean the computer regularly using a dust cloth and a can of compressed air.
- Remove any unnecessary files and folders from your hard drive by using Windows’ Disk Cleanup tool.
- Check for viruses and malware infections regularly using antivirus software or online scanning services.
- Keep your computer’s hardware in good condition by regularly cleaning the fan and heat sink assemblies, checking the power supply, and replacing worn or damaged components as needed. ..
If you have a keyboard with key covers, it’s important to clean them if they become dirty. You can use a cap extractor to get at any debris and dirt that has built up, and then use warm water and a toothbrush to remove the build-up. Give the covers plenty of time to dry before reinstalling them on the keyboard. ..
- Disconnect all cables and equipment from your computer.
- Turn off the power to the computer by turning off the switch on the wall or by unplugging it from the outlet.
- Discharge any static electricity by touching an metal object before touching your computer. ..
If you can, try to do most of the steps we will describe outside. The last thing you want is to take the trouble to clean your computer and then let it dust off again. ..
Remove the side panels of your computer by using a screwdriver and a 4-inch Phillips screwdriver. Most modern cases allow you to do this without any tools, but you’ll need at least one screwdriver for most of the work we’ll detail shortly. Torx screws are not included in this guide, so be sure to have a set of screwdrivers if you plan on disassembling your computer. If you don’t already have a decent set of screwdrivers and have something DIY about you, an iFixit driver kit is your best bet.
If your computer has dust filters, remove them now and wash them in the sink before letting them dry. Depending on how long your computer has been gathering dust, you can remove some components, such as the GPU, to make everything easier to clean. If this is something you feel comfortable doing and it’s your first time removing any of the internal components, use your phone to take pictures of the interior. The images will help you put all the pieces in their original places on the final. This is important as there is an ideal way to install many of the components on your computer. For example, you always want to install your GPU on the fastest PCIe lane available. When it comes to removing any PCI card, first unscrew the mounting bracket and then push the corresponding release on the motherboard before pulling the card out. ..
A can of compressed air is an option, but I like to use a Giottos rocket blower. It is designed for cleaning camera sensors and will not damage any of its components. It is also a one-time purchase. Whatever you have on hand, use it to blow away the dust that has been forming on your computer’s internal components, fans, and grilles. up on your computer’s internal components, fans, and grilles. Pay special attention to heatsinks installed on your PC’s CPU, GPU, chipset, and voltage regulators. They will likely have most of the hardest-to-remove dust in their system, thanks to their tight fin piles. What’s more, especially bad build-up can make them ineffective at cooling these components, which in turn affects their performance.
When cleaning any exposed PCBs, use an antistatic brush (like this one from OXO) instead of a microfiber cloth. This will avoid damaging any of the sensitive components on the board. You can wipe over any non-electronic parts with a damp microfiber cloth. ..
If you have a desktop setup that doesn’t allow you to move your computer off the floor, a PC tower stand can be an effective way to help remove less debris.
How to organize your PC’s storage units
Task Manager is a great way to see how much of your computer’s resources are being used by specific processes. If you haven’t audited your software in a while, it might be a good idea to start with Task Manager. There, you can see which processes are using the most resources on your computer and make decisions about whether or not to keep or remove certain applications. However, there are no guarantees that removing an application will improve performance. In general, the two main culprits for slowing down computers are bloatware and antivirus software. ..
If you bought your PC from a system integrator like Dell, it is almost certainly going to include software that your computer doesn’t need to run. So, you can safely uninstall these apps to improve performance and save space.
Windows Defender is a good antivirus program that is affordable and does not slow down your computer. ..
When you’re in the task manager, you’ll want to click on the “Startup” tab to see what programs your computer is starting up when you turn it on. You can speed this process up by limiting the list of applications to as few as possible. As for the actual process of deleting any software you don’t need, always uninstall Control Panel programs first. If you’ve been using Windows for a while, you’ll have the wrong files, folders, and registry entries everywhere. It’s possible to separate them manually, but doing so can be time-consuming. Therefore, we recommend using a program like Iolo System Mechanic or CleanMy PC to complete a deep clean of your system. ..
If you have mechanical drives installed on your computer, it’s a good idea to defragment them regularly. First, launch the integrated Defrag & Optimize Drives application and click the “Optimize” button button. Depending on the size of your hard drive, this process may take a while. Do not defrag your SSDs as you will only shorten their lifespan for little or no performance improvement.
How to organize your apps, tabs and other windows
Windows 10 comes with a number of features that make it a great choice for desktop users. One of the most popular features is the Snap feature, which lets you quickly move windows between different parts of your screen. You can also customize how windows open and close, and even set up rules to keep certain windows open at all times.
To use virtual desktops, first make sure you’re using Windows 10 and the Multitasking section of the System menu. Under the heading “Virtual Desktops,” change both settings to “All Desktops.” Then use the Alt-Tab shortcut or taskbar to switch to any application on any desktop.
Different browsers have different ways of fixing tabs, but the most popular ones include a feature that allows you to keep your favorite sites at the top of your tab bar so they’re always easy to find. This way, you don’t have to search through a long list of tabs to find the one you were looking for. Another way to speed up finding a tab is by using keyboard shortcuts. Brave, my browser, has some handy shortcuts that make it easy to get to my favorite tabs quickly. ..
Final note
How to clean and set up your PC This guide will show you how to clean and set up your PC. If you have any query regards this article, please ask us. Additionally, please share your love by sharing this article with your friends.
