Clean Up Your Computer

10 Tips to clean and organise your computer for 2016

1 Run a back up
Make a full back up of your system. A regular back up is something that we should all do but somehow gets overlooked. If you don't backup regularly and a system failure occurs, you could lose valuable documents and more. Most systems have an inbuilt backup function but you can also back up to an external disk or to the cloud. Start the year knowing that you have at least one full back up.


2 Organise your folders
Isn’t it frustrating when you can’t find that file? Creating and sorting folders can help organise and categorise files quickly and easily.


3 Delete
Delete unwanted and duplicate files. Take the opportunity while you’re organising your folders and files to delete that unwanted stuff that takes up space and gets in the way. Unused files and temporary files can clutter your disk space and slow down your system.


4 Uninstall unwanted programs
Sometimes even a new computer can be plagued with junk software, or if your machine is a couple of years old it might have a plethora of old or redundant software. Navigate to the Control Panel to dig into your programs feature to see which programs are not needed. Use the system’s program to view and uninstall the programs you no longer use or do not want.


5 Sort that Email
Take control of your email inbox. Clear out those emails that are already old. 1 year is probably more than enough to keep most email content – unless, of course, it’s important or contains essential information, in which case it should probably be copied to an appropriate folder. Mail from social media, notifications and other unimportant material can be sorted and purged quickly and easily. Use filters and email groupings to sort email and process your inbox more efficiently.


6 Clean it
Take the time to clean your machine – both inside and out? Use your systems disk clean function (or a standalone program) to clean and organise disk space and reduce the number of unnecessary files on your drives. The Disk clean function can automatically clean up your and reorganise disk space which can help your PC run faster.

7 Clean it outside
For the outside - wipe down the outside of the monitor and keyboard using a dry cloth or a damp paper towel. Use a vacuum cleaner to clear the air vents on the PC tower and keyboard. You might be amazed to see how much dust collects in these areas. Dust and dirt can obstruct airflow, which is important in controlling your computer’s temperature. If your computer is overheating it is possible that it will slow performance.


8 Sort out the spaghetti

If you’re using a PC the chances are you have a pile of spaghetti hanging out of the back. Take the time to untangle the jumble of cables but first unplug the whole system....
Sort out the mess by disconnecting each cable - preferably from both ends if possible. Place each cable next to the device to it belongs to and now you’ll be able to start making sense of the mess. Connect everything up again and you might even take time to label things to make it easier next time.


9 Scan
Run a scan on your computer that checks for malware or viruses.
Running a virus scan will ensure your computer is free of dangerous malware and Trojan viruses. Begin by backing up your computer file and run either a quick scan or a full scan. If you suspect spyware has infected a specific area of your computer run the full scan. It’s a good idea to run a scan weekly.


10 Clear Your Browser History
Web browsers log every site you visit. This log can be accessed by websites you visit and by anyone using your computer. These files remain in your computer so that your browser and websites can track your browsing sessions and save certain information, such as account names and passwords. Clear your browser cache and cookies to keep your internet surfing private and avoid potential malicious attacks.



One Stop Support
Offering complete ‘one-stop’ IT support services to ensure your technology performs well and keeps your business running. MAC, PCs & servers, networks or cloud systems; we are the experts.



Call us for a FREE IT Support Audit – worth £300 – 0844 770 0199