Getting that Old Computer Ready for School

Last week we looked at some possible solutions for parents or students that may need to buy new computers. This week we are going to look at the other side of the coin. Those of you who may need to give your computer a quick once over to get it ready for the school year.
I would start by saying that if you have purchased a new computer in the last couple of years then you should have all of the processing power and hard drive space that you need. This is assuming of course that you haven’t spent the summer starting your own media empire by downloading vast numbers of mp3 and movies files. Nevertheless, we are going to start with the inside and work our way out. If your computer is showing any type of error, you should address it immediately. Next, look in the Control Panel and select the Performance and Maintenance option. You then need to select the Systems option. From there choose the Advanced tab, and then the Advanced tab again. You want to ensure that processor and memory settings are both set to allow the best performance of your programs. If you have a large hard drive, you can adjust the amount of your hard drive that is used as virtual memory. This too will help with the performance of your programs and computer.
You may want to perform a defrag on your system and then back up system. Establishing regular schedule for these tasks may also be a good idea. Now we are going to take a look at the outside. If you are comfortable taking the case off your computer do so, but only after unplugging the computer and if it will not void any warranty on the system. With a can of canned air, remove any deposits of dust around your fans, drives, and areas on the motherboard. You may be tempted to use a vacuum but do not. Vacuums can generate static electricity that could potentially damage your computer. Replace the case and make sure that there is enough distance between the computer fan and other objects like walls. I recommend no less than six to eight inches. Proper airflow will allow the computer to cool itself more efficiently.
To clean your CD/DVD drives, you can buy a CD/DVD ROM cleaner in most department or electronic stores. If you have a LCD flat screen monitor, you can clean it by pouring rubbing alcohol onto a clean cotton cloth and wiping the screen. Do not use glass cleaner. You can use a lint free cloth with glass cleaner poured on it to clean CRT or older non-flat screen monitors. In both cases, pour the liquid onto the cloth. Never pour liquid on your monitor. Whether you have a new computer or a not as new computer, performing these maintenance tips on a regular basis can extended the usefulness of your computer, and its ability to perform at a high level.