The computer is always your work and study companion. It is important to take good care of your computer to keep it running well. It's true that nothing lasts forever, especially electronic devices, but your computer can last for a few years if you handle it knowledgeably. If your laptop tends to crash earlier than you feel, there is a chance that you are helping it by adopting some bad habits.
surely!
We all strive to make our computers last forever, but if your computer seems to
have been damaged before its time, admit that your habits are to blame.
Therefore, in this article, we will help you by highlighting the most prominent
daily bad habits that damage our devices in the long run, and you should avoid
them. Building good computer habits will not only increase your productivity
but also help you lead a healthier lifestyle while ensuring a longer,
trouble-free computer.
Use the keyboard as a dining table
Yes, do not be surprised! Many of you probably eat and drink in front of your computers. This is bad for two reasons: First, there is a hygiene issue. Several surveys show that keyboards are one of the primary sources of bacteria, dust, and dirt that we are exposed to on a daily basis. Second, you may destroy your computer by accident. How many people paid so much money to fix a computer just because a cup of coffee was spilled on top of it?
So
please, do not use the computer keyboard as a dining table, and frequently
clean it of dirt and dust with a clean, dry brush. Dust buildup over time,
causes computer components to overheat and make these fans work harder,
potentially damaging buttons. Whereas, cleaning it regularly can help you
effectively.
Leaving the computer on for a long time
Computers
are just like us; When we are tired, we need to recharge to work more
productively. And sometimes, if your computer is running slow, it may just need
to restart. I personally have had this bad habit. So if you feel your computer
is slow, restart it. If you finish your work at the end of the day, turn off
your computer. Don't just turn off your laptop, as that will only put it to
sleep.
Is
it safe to leave the computer running 24/7 without any downtime?
Bad laptop battery management
Just
because your laptop battery starts needing "eight hours of charge"
doesn't mean it's going to stay that way forever. You might get eight hours of
full charge when you first buy it, but after a few years, that might degrade to
six or seven hours. A low battery is inevitable, but you can cause it to
deteriorate faster than necessary if you always turn your laptop on to 0% or
keep it charging past 100%.
Run too many programs simultaneously
Here's
another similarity that computers share with humans. When you multitask, you
will involuntarily become less efficient. In life, we are less likely to reach
our goals when we are working on many projects simultaneously. Likewise, when
you are running many programs on your computer at the same time, it is likely
to slow down, depending on the CPU and RAM usage.
Even
worse, your computer may freeze motionless, forcing you to force restart it. A
slow computer is not only a waste of your valuable time but also a health
concern. So try not to multitask both at work and on your computer.
Do not remove unused apps or plug-ins
A
clean computer is much better than a computer cluttered with files and
applications. We all download multiple apps. Over time, many of these apps and
extensions become outdated and remain unused in some corner of your hard drive.
Thus it is easier to ignore it than to spend time getting rid of it.
But
this habit is very dangerous, as it can mess up your device system. Some
applications may run unknowingly in the background and consume valuable
resources. In addition, clearing these applications and plug-ins can free up
hard disk space, giving your computer space for the things you already use.
Leave the laptop on a cloth surface
Heat
is the archenemy of your computer. If your computer is too hot, the processor
may slow down, or throttle itself to maintain reasonable temperatures, causing
it to crash completely. Running at high temperatures for extended periods can
also shorten the life of your processor, fans, and battery, not to mention make
your computer hot to the touch.
On
the other hand, laptops require more care. Its portability leads to a lot of
bad habits, like putting it on a blanket or any other plush surface. This
prevents air from flowing under the laptop, thereby increasing its temperature.
Be careful not to leave it in hot places such as a car on a sunny day.
Not backing up your data
I
cannot stress enough the importance of backing up your data. We keep a lot of
precious data on our phones and computers, but we fail to think that all
storage devices have a limited shelf life. You never know when they will start
getting rid of this data and once that happens, often without warning, it can
be a disaster for your important data if you don't back up your files.
So,
make multiple and frequent backups of all your important data on an external
hard drive, or via an online backup service like Dropbox or Google Drive. And
if you want to clean your hard drive, use Windows' built-in Disk Cleanup tool
and delete any movies, music, and other files you don't use.
Use one password for everything
Think
about the passwords you use to log into your computer, Facebook, or online
banking accounts. How many of them are the same? You will be surprised to know
how most hackers get into your online accounts. They take advantage of weak
passwords; Once they get a word, hackers will use it to log into other accounts
thus damaging your device and your intertwined accounts. So I suggest creating
at least three types of passwords; A strong password for online banking and
shopping, a fairly strong one for email and social media, and a generic one for
forums or news websites.
Connect cables to computer ports by force
Although
damaging the USB port or cable is not as dangerous as mishandling the power
adapter, it can still cause damage to your computer which you can avoid. This
may sound obvious, but don't force cables into ports if they don't slide
properly, especially when plugging in flashes. Be careful to place them
correctly. Likewise, if you leave something plugged into the power supply, be
careful not to bend it, as it may damage the outlet over time.
Browse the web without protection
Even
safe websites can get infected with malware, passing these problems on to you,
and browsing carefully won't save you. You need to use an antivirus on your
computer. Therefore, keep your software updated; From Windows to the software
you use, use a good password manager instead of using the same password on
every site, and learn how to spot phishing sites.
Don't
hack software that often contains malware that sneaks into your device, and
keep your home Wi-Fi secure with WPA2 or higher encryption depending on what
your router supports. This may seem insignificant, but a bad bit of malware can
seriously harm your computer.