Prepare for Back To School: Computer Set Up and Maintenance

Whether you are buying a new computer or continuing with an older model, make sure you are getting the most from your investment, and that it is protected from viral attacks and spyware, and that it is set to perform well with minimal frustrations for your student returning to school.

Just like your car or home, regular maintenance and upgrading is a good idea.  This will help you get more life out of your computer, protect your data, and ensure optimal performance.  UplinkSpyder offers affordable solutions and maintenance plans without any discomfort...we can perform most set-up and maintenance remotely at any time of day or night. 

Click here to schedule remote support.

At the very least, for you do-it-yourself types, make sure that before your student starts a busy school year, that you take the time for some basic drive maintenance, beginning with a good old fashioned defragmentation.  Just by using utilities that are built in to Windows, you can improve your user experience, prevent system crashes, and extend the life of your drive.

The Windows operating system places files and programs on your hard drive wherever there is space. Over time, your hard drive becomes fragmented with hundreds of files broken up in many locations, which slows down your computer’s response time as it accesses information.

Running the defrag program connects all parts of a file together in the same place on the drive. It organizes all directories and files according to how you use your computer. After this process is complete, your computer will most likely run faster.

Here is the step-by-step process for running a defrag:

1. Close all programs currently open, including virus software and other programs that have icons in the system tray (right hand side of the task bar).
    
2. Assure your computer has a constant source of power. In the case of a power outage, you should be connected to a Universal Power Supply (UPS) so you can stop the defrag process. If your computer does shut off while defragmenting, it may crash the hard drive or corrupt the operating system.
    
3. Click the Start Button
    
4. Click the Programs icon
    
5. Click the Accessories icon
    
6. Click the System Tools icon
    
7. Click the Disk Defragmentation icon
    
8. Click the Analyze button to analyze your hard drive
    
9. Do what the result screen says – if it says your hard drive does not need defragmentation, you probably will not benefit from doing it and you can close the program.
    
10. If the program says your hard drive needs defragmenting, click on the Defragment button. It will take anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours to defragment your hard drive. Walk away from your computer and do not touch it until it is complete.
     
11. When the program has completed, close the window. If there are any error messages, make note of the error and contact Uplinkspyder. We can help you to correct these errors either over the phone, or in some cases an affordable house call.

• Manny SEO Rivera's blog
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