by Pamela Kay

Created on: March 10, 2009   Last Updated: July 26, 2009

A slow computer is no fun at all and can cost you precious time as well as money as you sit and wait, and wait, and wait for a page to load. Eventually, any computer will need to be replaced or upgraded but in the mean time, you can greatly enhance the performance and keep it running smoother with these spring-cleaning tips for your PC.

*Cleaning The Inside

Even the finest particles of dust will collect on the fan and internal components, which conduct static electricity and eventually clogs the fan causing your PC to overheat. After a long winter in a closed house, there is bound be a collection of dust even in the cleanest homes and it needs to be removed with a good vacuuming and an electronic components cleaner.

Unplug it before you remove the cover and be sure it's dry before you power up again. If your PC has a liquid cooling system, be sure the pumps are running quietly. If fans seem sluggish, replace them now.

*Cleaning The Outside

Shut down and turn-off the PC, printer and scanner before attempting to clean it. Use a clean cloth and a mild cleaning solution to clean the exterior of the computer and any printers or scanners that are attached.

Clean the screen with only a clean cloth and never use a window cleaner on either an LCD or CRT as it will eventually damage the no-glare coating and discolor the screen. If more than the clean cloth is required, try a solution of one part alcohol and four parts water.

Clean the mouse and mouse pad with the same cleaner and if your mouse has a ball, remove it and clean with alcohol. Using gentle pressure, clean the rollers inside with a Q-tip dipped in alcohol and replace the ball.

Clean the keyboard with compressed air to remove dust and any other debris that has found its way in.

*Cleaning Out The Hard Drive

Get rid of anything you no longer use and free up some space. Check the Programs files and take the time to look at sub-folders that might still have remaining files for removed programs. Run your defrag program and then your Disk Clean-up program. Now is a good time to update all your programs if they don't update automatically.

As with any electronic equipment, cleaning your computer on a regular basis both inside and out will enhance the performance and keep it running smoothly for a longer time with less glitches. It only takes a few minutes to use these spring cleaning tips for your PC and it may save you a bundle in the long run.

Source

http://www.extremetech.com/

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