PC maintenance and updates are tasks that are often associated with computer experts and geeks. This is the reason why most computer users, whether at business or home opt for a maintenance contract with a computer firm. This has been a widely accepted practice in the computer industry for many years.

However, computer technology is becoming friendlier every day and it is now possible to maintain as well as update your computer on your own without seeking external assistance. Here are some of the things that you should know about PC maintenance and updates.

Windows computers come with a built-in utility that allow you to perform hard disk maintenance activities effectively. These utilities are:

Disk Cleanup Disk Defragmenter

The definition and purpose of these utilities is discussed below.

What is the purpose of the Disk Cleanup utility?

The Disk Cleanup utility helps you in identifying and deleting unwanted and unused files from your hard disk. You can use this utility to free up space on your hard drive. You can access this utility by navigating through Start | All Programs | Accessories | System Tools | Disk Cleanup. It is recommended that you run this utility at least once-a-month.

What is the purpose of Disk Defragmenter utility?

The Disk Defragmenter utility facilitates the storage of data on the hard drive in an efficient way. As the name suggests, you can use the Disk Defragmenter to defrag the scattered data on the hard drive. This decreases the file retrieval time, as a result your computer works faster. The path to this utility is Start | All Programs | Accessories | System Tools | Disk Defragmenter. For the best results, run this utility immediately after you perform a disk cleanup.

Windows PCs also include a command, Chkdisk that allows you to fix file system errors and recover bad sectors on the hard disk. You can run this command from the Run utility in the Start menu. Alternatively, you can run Chkdsk from My Computer or from Windows Explorer.

In addition to the above built-in utilities, you may also use the help of third-party maintenance tools, such as Memory management and hard disk management tools to ensure your hard disk and RAM remain healthy and free from errors. Such tools also issue valuable advance warning if your hardware components are likely to fail or crash.

Why is it important to keep your operating system and software up-to-date?

Besides regular PC maintenance activities, you also need to keep your software, operating system and drivers up-to-date to ensure that your computer works at its optimal speed.

The latest computers come with a built-in feature that allows your computer to automatically download and install the latest updates. For instance, Windows XP and Windows Vista include an Automatic Update feature for this purpose. Ensure that you have this feature enabled on your system.

Like the latest operating systems, most software today either automatically install new updates or at the least prompt users to download new updates, as and when they are released. Keeping your software up-do-date is extremely essential. It improves their functionality and also prevents errors caused by compatibility issues.

Certain software, such as antivirus and antispyware tools protect your system from malicious programs. It is absolutely essential that you keep your protective tools updated as this allows them to identify and prevent the latest malware from inflicting damage on your computer.

In the end, perform regular PC maintenance activities and keep your software, and operating system updated to enjoy an enhanced computing experience.