To prevent avoidable problems and improve performance, a few simple jobs should be done on each computer periodically.  Many people choose a frequency of one month to do these things; depending on personal circumstances, others undertake this more or less frequently.  A more comprehensive preventive maintenance service is highly recommended annually.  As with any equipment, routine maintenance will prolong its useful life and rectify the gradual performance loss which all systems experience. 

If the following tasks are more than you are willing or able to do, I offer to undertake most of them remotely - perhaps while you are out at work: I can do many of these things each month without entering your house.  And after 11 such checks, I will undertake a complimentary annual service.  Essential checks are shown in red.

Confirm latest Anti-virus data files are loaded

 Patch Operating System

When Microsoft have their attention drawn to a vulnerability in Windows or Internet Explorer they issue a critical or security update to rectify the problem by preventing malicious code exploiting the flaw.  This should be done automatically but it is good to check.  Get the latest free patches by running Windows Update from  http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/

 Remove Spyware/Adware

This is software that runs on your computer for the author’s benefit and at your cost.  It is delivered by many Web sites, file sharing programs, chat rooms and included in many CD-ROMs that come free with magazines.  The aim is usually to collect information about you with a view to targeting advertising to maximise sales.  Quite apart from privacy issues, this code will at best, degrade the performance of your PC, and often causes ‘legitimate’ programs to fail or give unexpected results.  Note that removing some malware may cause the delivering host program to produce unexpected results or fail. See example report produced for a recent client to see what harm some of these things can do.   See here for additional information.  Frequently used free removers include:

SUPERAntiSpyware	http://www.superantispyware.com/index.html) and
Spybot	http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html) and
Ad-Aware	http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/)

Prevention is a good idea, two popular free programs that will help limit problems and should be confirmed to be updated are:

Microsoft Defender	http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx) [included with Vista]
Spyware Blaster	http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html)

Delete temporary files, browser cache & trash

These files waste space, and slow file access and therefore negatively impact system performance.  There are numerous free programs to help with this, such as CCleaner  (http://www.ccleaner.com/)

Take and verify Backups *

Sooner or later, your hardware will fail.  Also, despite taking all reasonable precautions many people fall foul of malicious code or install software incompatible with their computer.  In such situations having a second copy of your favourite photos, address book entries or secret password document will save a lot of anguish and money for data recovery.  The backup copy should ideally be on a different medium than the original, perhaps a USB memory stick, CD or floppy disk.  Please see our Guide to Backing up Computer Files. 

Ensure Surge Protection is Effective *

If you have already received a spike you may not notice that your equipment is unprotected unless you check that the appropriate LED is still illuminated.  Often an amber LED indicates that power is connected, and a green LED is illuminated if your appliances are protected. If there is no green LED then you have taken an electrical hit large enough to cause the surge protector to save you - there is no further protection until you replace the surge protector or fit a UPS.

Hard disk error check

By resolving logic errors now, future corruptions may be avoided.  Access via Windows Explorer, right click the device, Properties, Tools tab, Error Checking. Tick the first checkbox only to run the 3 phase repair.

Inspect event log files

Failing components often give early warning in these log files.  These are accessed via Control Panel, Administrative Tools.

Defragment system volume

By making all files contiguous, disk reads are minimised as split I/Os are avoided and performance therefore improved.  Do this via Start, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Disk Defragmenter.