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Computer Maintenance
 A well-maintained computer is a system that is optimized for performance in its given tasks, secured against online threats that can cause massive frustration for the user, and checked for potential problems that may develop over time.
Optimizing for Performance
You may not be able to play the latest games on your old laptop, but there's no reason why it should not be effective for Office and browsing the Internet. Perhaps it needs more memory (it's cheap these days, and takes barely any time to install!) But even if you are not willing or able to get new hardware, there is a lot that can be done within Windows to make it more efficient at what you actually use it for.
Windows is a memory hog. Couple that with commonly used programs that apparently believe they should run 24/7, whether you need them or not, and very quickly a formerly responsive machine can turn into a sluggish nightmare. Is the computer too old? Not at all. More often than not, a simple cleaning will restore it to its prime. There are also alternative programs many users are not aware of that will get the job done more efficiently, made by programmers that get just as annoyed as you do at slow, bloated commercial software.
Even machines designed to be gaming tanks can benefit from some optimization. Do you have any idea how much of a difference an updated graphics card driver can make in Half Life 2? Setting your computer up so that it can focus exclusively on what you're playing and not on that "helpful" popup message from RealPlayer can mean the difference between winning and losing that round of Counterstrike.
Secured Against Online Threats
Windows is insecure. You don't need me to tell you this, all you need to do is try installing an unpatched copy of Windows XP and hook it up to your cable or DSL connection. Within an hour, your computer will likely be drowning in virii and spyware.
Bringing Windows and Office up to date can help with these problems, but for those few that do get through, you need to have an anti-viral and anti-spyware solution. I can help you make sure your computer is protected with freely available tools for non-business home users and can also make recommendations about what to buy/install.
Preventing Problems Before They Happen
This is one of the main reasons for having regular maintenance done on your computer. Drivers are updated, software checked, and scans are run to make sure there are no existing issues and nothing likely to develop. Helpful tools like automatic updates for Windows and Office can be enabled to save you the hassle of having to check for them yourself. I am also happy to help you find the less user-friendly updates such as chipset drivers, fixes for problems with a specific model, or video card drivers. In addition to resolving issues, these updates often have a significant performance benefit.
However, in spite of your best efforts, problems do still occur, and grow severe over time. What begins as a small unexplained popup ad on your screen could turn into an epidemic of windows, dialog boxes, sound effects, and blue screens that makes your computer unusable. Software conflicts, poorly written programs, power failures, suspect websites, bad emails, new (or old) hardware, the list of possible problem sources is almost endless.
Unfortunately, these problems often begin life as small "quirks" that may not seem like a big deal until it's too late.
Keep an ear out for any unusual sounds or odd behaviors you notice - these can be signs of something bad about to happen. Your computer might take longer to boot up. Or maybe your system might freeze for thirty seconds and then snap back to normal. Too many times, a customer hears a strange clicking noise coming from their hard drive and disregards it until suddenly the disc crashes and their data is no more. Don't let this happen to you! Early maintenance can save data, time, and money.
Want to know more?
Regular maintenance can uncover situations like these before they turn into actual problems or before they progress to something truly serious. Gain the peace of mind that comes with knowing your computer is in its best condition.
Have questions about my computer maintenance service? Give me a call at 571-345-6191. I'm here for you.
Please note that due to class schedules I may not always be able to take your call immediately. If this is the case, please leave a message and I will get back to you as soon as I can!
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