Preventive Maintenance for Laptops and PCs: How to Keep Your Devices Running Smoothly

Poor and improper handling of devices may soon cause serious damage when not properly and immediately addressed. Your computer devices or laptops will slowly start to show signs of malfunctions that you should be aware of. It is important to be conscious of the small details that your laptops are trying to convey to you. One of the most important methods to keep in mind is to do troubleshooting.

The main goal of troubleshooting is to maintain a system or piece of software in the proper state, particularly when a problem occurs or becomes apparent. Depending on the severity of a task, troubleshooting is a systematic strategy that is carried out across one or more phases. Troubleshooting enables repairing and restoring a computer or piece of software when it starts to break down, stops working, or behaves abnormally.

Basic troubleshooting execution helps you to diagnose issues on your own when your computer behaves poorly. You won't need to rush to the computer repair shop every time a problem arises if you do it in the right way.

Your computer may be experiencing several issues, but you can typically identify and resolve the issue on your own. Below are some of the troubleshooting methods that you might apply, the following method could be more on preventive maintenance so you could avoid much more complicated errors in the near future.

1. Check for updates
Make sure your operating system and other software are up to date.
If you are experiencing slow feedback from the software that you are using, this step might help you, outdated software can cause a lot of issues especially when you are trying to venture advanced features from that software.

2. Check for malware
Malware (viruses, trojans, etc.) can cause all sorts of problems on your device. Run a malware scan to see if that might be the issue, you can buy a licensed anti-virus for this or simply enable your Windows defender, it’s built into your computer. Keep in mind that no malware scanner is perfect, and it's always possible that new or unknown malware could evade detection. It's important to practice good cybersecurity hygiene to protect yourself from malware, such as keeping your software up to date, using strong passwords, and being cautious when downloading and installing programs.

3. Check your storage
If your device is running low on storage, it can cause all sorts of problems. Make sure you have enough free space available. You can free some space if you delete and uninstall unnecessary programs and files.

4. Check your connections
Make sure all cables are securely connected and not damaged. A lot of end-user find this very basic yet very crucial it deals with the user's safety and convenience, so don't forget to double-check your cables, especially cables that are connected to the outlet.

5. Check for overheating
Overheating can cause all sorts of problems on a laptop or PC. Make sure your device has proper ventilation and isn't getting too hot. Dust and debris can block the airflow in your PC, which can cause overheating. Make sure to regularly clean out your PC to ensure that it has good airflow.
If you are using a PC for gaming, editing and other heavy software you might want to invest in liquid cooling, this type of cooling system uses a combination of water blocks, radiators, and pumps to circulate coolant over the components and dissipate heat. Liquid cooling is generally more effective than air cooling, but it's also more expensive and requires more maintenance.

6. Use system restores
If your device was recently working fine and then started experiencing issues, you can try using the system restore function to roll back to a previous point when things were working properly.

7. Check your power supply
If your device is having power issues (e.g. turning off unexpectedly), make sure you have a stable power supply and that your battery (if applicable) is fully charged.

8. Reset your device
If all else fails, you can try resetting your device to its factory settings. This will erase all data and reinstall the operating system, which can sometimes fix issues.

If you've tried all of the above and are still experiencing issues, it might be time to seek professional help. A trained technician will be able to diagnose and fix any underlying issues. Luckily at Wizmaster Corporation, there are a lot of certified computer technicians that are handling expertise in troubleshooting and repairs from different PC and Laptop brands. 

Resources:
https://www.hongkiat.com/blog/pc-hardware-problems-solutions/