Types of Computer Maintenance

When it comes to how to maintain a computer, you should consider this case: both hardware and
software of your PC should be maintained since they are important and will have a decisive impact on
the operation of the system. So, computer maintenance is related to them.

Besides, there are four types of PC maintenance and here is everything you should know about it.

1. Predictive Maintenance

This refers to using a diagnostic tool to anticipate possible failures and avoid some possible issues. And
one common way is monitoring your computer system and checking whether it works properly. This tool
can control and inform you of battery levels, the temperature of the CPU, and other features.

2. Preventive Maintenance

This type is common and it is carried out to prevent possible failures, improve the function of a system
and prolong the life of various computer components. Preventive maintenance is useful since it can
detect weak points in the system, decrease the system downtime and reduce the number of repairs.

Preventive software maintenance usually includes scanning and cleaning through antivirus, the creation
of backups freeing-up of your disk space and RAM. The preventive hardware maintenance should refer
to the periodic cleaning of equipment and its components.

3. Corrective Maintenance

If the previous two types don’t work and a problem occurred, you should perform this maintenance. In
addition to solving the failure problems, you should find the cause and prevent it from happening again.

4. Evolutionary maintenance

The last type is to develop the system of your computer so it can perform more efficiently. This type
concerns both hardware and software, so you can update Windows and change various parts of the PC
for better performance.

Computer Maintenance Tips

1. Clean Your Computer

If dust is on your computer, it looks gross and the PC will trap heat reducing its performance and
lifespan. So, you can open the case (for a desktop) and blow the dust out. Besides, use a damp cloth to
wipe the case. For a desktop, don’t forget the monitor.

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Additionally, dust can clog up your cooling fans and keyboard. So, you should also clean them. A
compressed air canister is helpful. Moreover, don’t neglect ports and crevices of a laptop and desktop.

clean the dust of your computer

2. Don’t Block the Vents

Like people, machines also need to breathe. So, don’t block the vent, which aims to ensure your
computer can remain cool enough to work properly.

3. Keep Your Food and Drink Away from PCs

Don’t eat and drink over your laptop or desktop since the consequence is serious. For example, your
keyboard can be destroyed after a single spill or food residues penetrate the case of your device and
damage the internal components.

4. Don’t Overcharge Your Battery

Don’t keep your device plugged in at all times. This is because unnecessary charging can retard the
regenerative capability of the battery. And the ability to hold a charge can drop off a year later. Usually,
you can make a setting for your laptop to let it not charge when reaching 20%.
Note: Sometimes you find your PC is plugged in but not charging. This is caused by your settings.

5. Create a Backup for Your Important Files and System

As a computer owner, the most important thing you can do is to back up the important data stored on
your hard drive. This tip is also a vital part of regular personal computer maintenance since unexpected
hard drive failure, serious computer problems, viruses, etc. can cause data loss. Besides, system also
crashes and cannot boot.

Thus, create a backup now.

If you don’t know how to do this work, you can ask our professional, reliable and free PC backup
software for help - MiniTool ShadowMaker.

As an all-in-one backup software, it is designed to back up the Windows operating system, files &
folders, disks and partitions on a regular basis. Differential and incremental backup are supported. In
addition, file sync and disk clone can be realized by this software.

Now, get MiniTool ShadowMaker Trial Edition to start a backup from the following button. Note that
this edition only gives you a 30-day free trial. To use it all the time, get its Pro Edition from MiniTool
Store.

Free Download

1. Launch this software to a window where you need to choose a backup mode by clicking the Connect
button.

MiniTool ShadowMaker local backup or remote backup

2. Go to the Backup page, click Source and choose files that you want to back up.

choose files to back up

3. Click Destination to choose a target path that can be a USB flash drive, external hard drive, SSD, etc.
4. Finally, click Back up Now to immediately start the file backup.

MiniTool ShadowMaker file backup

Tip: To ensure your PC can restore to its previous state in case system crashes in the future, we
recommend you to create a system image. By default, MiniTool ShadowMaker selects system drives to
back up. For more information, refer to this post - A Guide to Use Best Ghost Image Software to Ghost
Windows 10/8/7.

6. Run Antivirus and Malware Scans Regularly

This computer maintenance tip should go without saying but we say it anyway. Any computer should
have conventional virus protection and spyware detection software to monitor the system for threats in
real time and remove them to keep the PC safe.

In Windows 10, Windows Defender can offer you real-time virus & threat prevention, account
protection, firewall & network protection, etc.

Alternatively, you can install an antivirus or anti-malware program on your computer, for example,
Malwarebytes or Avast. Just run such a tool to perform a full scan for viruses, spyware, malware, etc.

Maywarebytes

7. Always Run Your Firewall

Windows Firewall in the operating system is the first line of defense against malware. It can filter some
information from the Internet and block potentially harmful programs from installing. This tool should
always be running. It is pretty useful when you install new apps from a third-party source other than the
manufacturer or developer.

Just go to Control Panel, click Windows Defender Firewall > Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off
and ensure the Firewall is enabled.