How to clean and set up your PC – Guide
Your PC is probably the most important piece of technology you use, aside from your phone. You must take care of it if only for another reason. Not only will it last longer, it will also perform better over time if you keep it. In this guide, we’ll show you how to take care of your computer in a simple way. 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, heat sink, and other components with a can of compressed air or a vacuum cleaner. ..
It is possible to write a guide about how to clean keyboards, but the main point is that you will want to choose up a cap extractor and use it to give you unobstructed access to any debris and dirt that has formed. Under your keys. If the key covers have a lot of dirt and debris, the best option is to dip them in warm water and use a toothbrush to remove the build-up. Give them plenty of time to dry before reinstalling them on the keyboard.
Turn off your computer and disconnect everything connected to it. Turn off the power supply unit (PSU) by turning the toggle switch on its outside to the “O” position. Push down on power button sometimes to discharge any static electricity you may be carrying.
If possible, please clean your computer and then let it dust off.
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. ..
Whether you decide to keep all of your computer’s internal components in place or not, you’ll need to clean them. 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. When it comes to cleaning your computer’s internal components, fans, and grilles, be especially careful about the dust buildup on its heatsinks installed on its CPU, GPU, chipset, and voltage regulators. This type of dust can make these parts less effective at cooling down and can even lead to decreased performance. So if you notice any build-up on these parts, take action right away by using whatever tool is available to you. ..
When cleaning PCBs, use an antistatic brush instead of a microfiber cloth. You will avoid damaging any sensitive components on the board and avoid causing any damage to non-electronic parts.
If you have a desktop computer, the easiest way to keep it clean is to put everything back in place after using it. If you can’t do that, use a PC tower stand to lift your computer off the floor and help remove less debris. ..
How to organize your PC’s storage units
If you haven’t audited all the software installed on your computer in a while, the best place to start is by looking at Task Manager. This will give you an idea of which applications are slowing down your computer and how much of your resources are being dedicated to specific processes.
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. ..
In the task manager, you will want to click on the “Startup” tab to see what programs your computer is starting when you turn it on. You can accelerate up this process simply by limiting this list to as few applications as possible. As for the actual process of deleting any software you don’t need, always uninstall Control Panel programs as this will leave minimal leftovers when all is said and done. If you’ve been using Windows for a while, you’ll have the wrong files, folders, and registry entries everywhere. It is 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 some of the best window management tools built into an operating system. You don’t need to download any additional software to organize your desktop, but there are some settings you can tweak to get even more of its unique Snap functionality. ..
As you may already know, you can press Windows and Tab keys at the same time to bring up up the Task View panel. This is where you can add additional virtual desktops. If you’re not already using virtual desktops, they’re great for organizing your active windows so you don’t have to constantly rearrange them when you’re trying to find a specific one. You can quickly press the Windows key, Ctrl, and the left or right arrow keys to move between desktops. But to make things even simpler, go to the Settings app and the Multitasking section of the System menu. Under the heading “Virtual Desktops”, change both settings to “All Desktops”. Now you can use the Alt-Tab shortcut or the taskbar to switch to any application on any desktop. ..
When it comes to changing your tabs, a lot of it will depend on the browser you use. But as a decent starting point, all the most popular ones include a feature that allows to fix guides. I use this to keep the sites I visit most often during a workday (in my case Gmail, Trello and Google Drive) open all the time and at the top of my tab bar. That way, these guides never get lost among the countless other sites I may have opened for a story I’m writing. Also, in the case of Brave, the browser I use, I can use some keyboard shortcuts to get to these 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.
