4Maintenance
It is important that you perform simple maintenance of your computer to ensure that it works at peak performance.
Schedules and tasks
Follow these instructions at the recommended intervals for proper maintenance.
Weekly | Software cleanup | Use the Windows cleaning tool or safe |
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| files and temporary files that accumulate and slow down your system. Also, check |
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| for programs you no longer need and uninstall them. |
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| Defragmenting and | Use the Windows tool to defragment and optimize your hard drive to keep your |
| optimizing | hard disk in good condition and improve system performance. Frequently |
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| performing this task does not harm your system. |
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| Virus scan | Perform a full virus scan every week to catch viruses that might have slipped |
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| through unnoticed. Most antivirus products have a scheduling feature to keep |
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| track of this automatically. |
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Monthly | Hardware cleanup | Thoroughly clean the inside and outside of your computer. |
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| Software updates | Use Windows Update to fix operating system bugs and improve performance. |
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| Also, be sure to check for driver updates for your hardware and new versions of |
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| your favorite programs. |
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| Windows Update | Run Windows Update monthly to install updates. |
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Yearly | System Recovery | In time, your system might still get bogged down, depending on the computer |
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| usage. Use System Recovery to wipe your Windows operating system installation |
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| clean, restoring it to the original configuration when you first started your system. |
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| Make a backup of important data files before proceeding with a System |
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| Recovery. See System recovery on page 8 for further details. |
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As needed | Backing up your data | Use CD or DVD recording software that is installed on your computer to create |
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| (or “burn”) backup discs of important information, including personal files, |
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| messages, and website bookmarks. You can also move data to an external hard |
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| disk drive. |
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Keeping the computer free of dust, dirt, and heat
Keeping your computer system free of dust, dirt, and heat will prolong its life. Dust, pet hair, and other particles can build up, creating a blanket effect; as a result, components can overheat, or, in the case of the keyboard and mouse, not work smoothly and effectively. Check your system once a month for visible signs of dust and debris, and clean it about once every three months. Visit http://www.hp.com/ go/contactHP for additional cleaning instructions.
Cleaning the computer and monitor
Follow these steps to clean the computer and monitor:
12 Chapter 4 Maintenance