My guess is that it suits the computer retailers if we remain ignorant. That way when our computer slows down and doesn’t seem to work as well anymore, we may believe we need a new one, right? We all know we have to change the oil in our car, have it “tuned” periodically, ensure it has water and gas and is “road worthy” don’t we? But when we buy a computer, no-one explains that we need to maintain it to keep it good running order.So let’s wise up!
Those of you wanting to start your own home business and/or those already operating a home business will want your business tools and equipment to be up to scratch and keep them that way so let’s what we can do with what we’ve got.
To enable us to use the rapidly evolving technology available to us (videos, audio, graphics etc) we need to have certain specifics on our computers, and I’ve covered those in another post. The following tips are for everyone, regardless of what you use your computer for.
Does your computer have enough spare memory?
Your computer needs 40 GB of spare memory space on your hard drive, in order to be able to use video streaming tools, and as video streaming is the now, and next, big marketing tool, I’m writing this post with video streaming technology in mind.
How to Check Your Memory
Check to see how much memory your computer has by clicking on Start, Computer, and right click on Local Disc (C:) and then Properties. Here you’ll see how much free space your (C:) drive has. If you’ve got 40 GB or more, you’re ready to rock ‘n’ roll. (While you’re there, you may as well do a “disc cleanup” by clicking on “disc cleanup“).
Now for your Regular Housekeeping Chores
In Windows, you have at your fingertips, free tools which will keep your computer in shape (if you use them!)
Every couple of days: Clear Recent History. Firefox gives a very clear explanation on what this means and why you should do it. Internet Explorer users click on Tools (top right hand of the Task Bar), Internet Options, Delete, and choose Temporary Internet Files, Cookies, History and then Delete.
Two weekly: Disc Cleanup. I know you just did one, but you’ll want to repeat this weekly because poorly written programmes, computer crashes, hanging programmes, and improper shut-downs will always leave unneeded temporary fiiles on your hard drive. These files pile up and start eating up hard disc space and impairing computer performance.
Access this by clicking on Start. All programmes, Accessories, System Tools, Disc Cleaner. The cleanup will remove temporary files, downloaded programme files, files in the recycle bin, offline webpages, hibernation files, and thumbnail images from your hard drive.
Monthly: Disc Defragmenter. Accessing this in the same way: Start, All Programmes, Accessories, System Tools , Disc Defragmenter. This utility can arrange the files on your hard drive so that they are accessed in a faster and more efficient manner.
Remove any Unwanted Startup Programmes
Do you have a whole bunch of little icons in your task tray? (that’s the grey area right at the bottom of your screen). All of these icons represent a programme or feature which starts up every time you boot up your computer (consequently slowing down the bootup process and taking up memory). To get rid of those that you don’t need, do the following:
1. Start menu, all programmes, startup. Delete the programmes in this folder that you don’t wish to automatically start up with windows.
2. Start menu, run, type in “msconfig.exe” without the quotation marks, and click “enter”. Click the Start up tab and uncheck those programmes you donl’t wish to start up.
Note: If you’re not sure what the programme is, leave it and do a Google search on it.
Remove unwanted applications
You will have installed programmes, which will themselves have installed other programmes that you don’t know about. Unwanted programmes waste memory, and should be removed. Do the following to remove them:
Start, Control Panel, Add or Remove Programmes (if you are using Windows XP), Uninstall a Programme ( if you are using Windows 7 or Windows Vista)
You can check each programme, see when you used it last, and remove any of them that you don’t want.
Once again, if you’re not sure, do a google search to see what they are
If you’ve gotten this far with your reading, it’s probably timely information for you. Those who know all of this, will have stopped reading way back. I know that if I’d known these things when I got started, I would have been saved much time and frustration. I hope this information has helped you too.
Leave a comment and let me know if I’ve been of help to you, and let me know of any challenges you may be having. Let’s get your online business cracking along!
