The Spring 2017 semester is fully upon us, and this time is always busy with activity. From finding your new classes to sorting through all of your freshly printed syllabi, it’s a time of fresh starts. Your computer may need a fresh start, too!
As the days, weeks, assignments, and lectures roll by, your computer may not be as snappy and responsive as you’re used to. Here are a few tips on how you can keep your computer in tip-top shape for the new year.
Freshen Up Your Hard Drive with a Disk Cleanup.
One of the easiest things you can do to put some vigor back into your computer’s life is a simple disk cleanup. Windows versions all the way back to Windows Vista have a built-in Disk Cleanup utility, which removes and compresses unneeded or unused files. Macs don’t have a built-in cleaning utility, but the How-To Geek has some recommendations for third-party software you can use.
Run Updates to Freshen Up Your OS.
Updating y
our computer has in many ways become much easier than before. Windows 10, for example, applies most important updates automatically, and Macs utilize the easy-to-use App Store to manage software updates.
If your computer isn’t running as it should, it’s possible that a non-essential update may need to be applied that will resolve it. Even if your computer usually updates on its own, go into the settings and check periodically for any updates that were not automatically installed and see if they are relevant to what you use your computer for. A good example of a non-essential update could be an update to allow your computer to communicate with new digital cameras that use the RAW format, or an update that may add a new feature to your favorite software that will make your life easier.
