Maintaining your PC is essential to keep your computer running smoothly and efficiently. There are several types of maintenance that you can do including cleaning your hardware, software maintenance, and backing up your data.

Why is it important?

Performing regular PC maintenance helps to prevent issues such as system crashes, slowdowns, and software errors. Hardware maintenance includes cleaning and dusting your computer’s components, checking for loose connections, and replacing worn-out parts. Software maintenance involves updating your operating system, drivers, and other software programs. Data management includes regular backups of your important files, organizing files and folders, and running virus scans to protect against malware.

Remember, your Seattle Built Computer comes with a 2-year parts and builder warranty! So, if you have any questions or issues, reach out to us at support [at] seattlebuilt.com.

Backing Up Your Data

Data loss can happen for a variety of reasons, such as hard drive failure, malware infections, accidental deletion, or theft. By backing up your data regularly, you ensure that you have a copy of your important files in case of any of these scenarios. This means you won’t lose your important documents, photos, music, or other files if your computer experiences a problem.

How to Back Up

There are two primary methods for backing up your data: using redundant drives and using cloud storage.

  1. Redundant drives involve using an external hard drive or flash drive to store a copy of your files. You can use software to automatically back up your data to the external drive on a regular schedule. Redundant drives are a good option because they allow you to keep a physical copy of your data that you can access even if you don’t have an internet connection. However, they can be prone to failure if not maintained properly, so it’s important to keep them in good condition.

  2. Cloud storage involves storing your files on a remote server via the Internet. Many cloud storage providers offer free and paid options, and you can choose which files to back up and how frequently. The advantage of cloud storage is that your files are accessible from anywhere with an internet connection, and the provider typically maintains the hardware and software to ensure your data is safe. However, you need to have a reliable internet connection to access your files, and there may be costs associated with using cloud storage. Windows comes with its own cloud service called “OneDrive”. In addition, you can use Google Drive to store files.

Overall, it’s recommended to use a combination of both redundant drives and cloud storage for your data backups. This way, you have a physical copy of your data and a remote copy in case of any disasters.

How to Clean Your PC

Dusting and cleaning your PC every 3 to 6 months can help avoid performance drops due to issues like thermal throttling. In addition, your CPU’s thermal paste can dry out over the course of a couple of years, decreasing the thermal effectiveness of your CPU cooler.

  1. Disconnect your PC from its power source: Make sure to turn off and unplug your PC while cleaning to avoid any risk of electric shock damage to your components.

  2. Gather your supplies: You’ll need a few items to clean your PC, including cans of compressed air or electric air duster, and microfiber cloths. Avoid using a vacuum cleaner, as this can generate static electricity that can damage your components. If you plan on changing out the thermal paste, make sure you get thermal paste, paper towels, and isopropyl alcohol.

  3. Use compressed air to remove dust: Using your can of compressed air or an electric air duster, blow out any dust or debris from the components inside your PC case. Focus on the dust filters, heatsinks, and fans. Make sure you hold the fan so it doesn’t spin while blowing air, it can hurt the fan if overspun. Hold the can or duster upright and use short bursts of air to avoid damaging any components with excessive pressure.

  4. Clean the case dust filters: Most filters can be detached by sliding or pressing on the clips securing the filters in place. The filters can be found on the top, side, front, and bottom of the PC. You can either use a soft brush, compressed air/electric duster, or a microfiber cloth to clean the filters. If you’re having trouble locating the filters on your PC, please reference the case manual or reach out to us for help.

  5. Clean the exterior of the case: Use your microfiber cloth/towel or your compressed air to dust off the exterior parts of the case, like near your I/O ports, and all panels of your PC.

Updating Drivers and Software

Updating your drivers and software is an important part of maintaining your PC’s performance and security. Here’s how to find and download updated drivers and software, and how to install them:

Finding and downloading updated drivers and software

The first step in updating your drivers and software is to identify which components need updating. You can check device manager to see which drivers are outdated, or you can check for software updates within the programs themselves.

To update drivers for your motherboard, such as the BIOS or chipset drivers, you’ll want to visit your motherboard’s manufacturer’s website. Locate your motherboard’s model and look for a “support” or “downloads” section. From there, you can download the latest BIOS and driver updates for your specific motherboard model.

To update GPU drivers, can visit 1 of 3 of these websites to download drivers. You’ll have to select your model of GPU and Operating system. If you are swapping GPUs it is recommended your run a GPU driver uninstaller like DDU before installing your GPU/drivers.

How to do a Motherboard BIOS update

Please note, we do not recommend updating your system’s BIOS if there are no issues present with your PC.

  1. Download the latest BIOS update: Visit your motherboard manufacturer’s website and download the latest BIOS update for your specific motherboard model. Make sure to download the correct BIOS file for your motherboard, as using the wrong file can cause permanent damage to your motherboard.
  2. Prepare a bootable USB drive: Most BIOS updates require that you create a bootable USB drive to run the update. This will require you to fully wipe the USB flash drive. If you right-click the USB drive and select “Format”, you’ll want to select and apply the file system “FAT32”. You can also use software such as Rufus to create a bootable USB drive with the BIOS update files.
  3. Back up important data: Before updating the BIOS, it’s important to back up any important data on your PC, as a BIOS update can sometimes cause data loss.
  4. Restart your computer and enter BIOS: Restart your computer and enter the BIOS setup by pressing the key indicated on the screen during startup (often F2, F10, or Delete).
  5. Start the update process: Once you’re in the BIOS setup, navigate to the “BIOS Update” or “Flash BIOS” option and select it. Follow the prompts to select the BIOS update file on the USB drive and start the update process. Be patient and do not turn off your PC during the update process, as this can cause irreparable damage to your motherboard.
  6. Turn on your PC: After the BIOS update is complete, restart your PC and enter the BIOS setup again to check that the update was successful. You may need to reset some of your BIOS settings, such as boot order and time/date settings. From here, you should be all set!

Diagnostic, Repair, and Malware Scanners

Windows comes with a variety of built-in diagnostic programs, repair tools, and malware scanners that can help you maintain the health and performance of your computer. There are a handful of tools at your disposal if you are facing problems.

Windows Task Manager

The Windows Task Manager can help identify and troubleshoot issues with your computer’s performance. To access it, press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard. In the Task Manager window, you can see the processes and applications that are currently running on your computer. You can also use the Task Manager to end processes, check CPU usage, and view performance statistics. Are there any that don’t look familiar? You can right-click the program and select “Search Online”. Knowing is half the battle!

Disk Cleanup

Over time, your computer can accumulate unnecessary files that take up valuable disk space and slow down your system. Disk Cleanup is a tool that allows you to remove these files. To access Disk Cleanup, type “disk cleanup” in the Start menu and select the program. The tool will analyze your system and show you a list of files you can safely delete.

System File Checker

System File Checker (SFC) is a tool that checks for and repairs corrupted system files on your computer. To run SFC, open the Command Prompt as an administrator by typing “cmd” in the Start menu, right-clicking on “Command Prompt” and selecting “Run as administrator.” In the Command Prompt window, type sfc /scannow and press Enter. SFC will scan your system and repair any corrupted files it finds.

Furthermore, you can run a DISM scan. In the same way you start “Command Prompt” as administrator, type in DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth. Wait for that to scan, then type, DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth and DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth.

Malware/Virus Scanners

Windows Defender is a built-in antivirus program that can help protect your computer from malware and viruses. To access Windows Defender, type “Windows Security” in the Start menu and select the program. From here, you can run a quick or full scan to check for any malicious software on your computer.

In addition, Malwarebytes is a popular third-party malware scanner that can help you identify and remove malware from your computer. To use Malwarebytes, download and install the program from the official website. Once installed, run a scan to check for any malicious software on your computer. Malwarebytes will then give you the option to remove any threats it finds.

Resetting Windows

Sometimes, things don’t work out, and resetting Windows can be your final option. If doing so, it is recommended to do a full reset, deleting all system files. But, it’s just as important to back up any files you find important before resetting. You can either reset your PC through Windows or go through Windows installation media.

Reset your PC -

  1. In the Windows search bar, type “Reset this PC”
  2. Choose either “Keep my files” or “Remove everything”
  3. Confirm reset and wait.

Windows Installation Media -

  1. Download the Installation Media: On your PC or a separate computer, download this tool. Start up the program and choose either a flash drive, external hard drive, or DVD to install Windows onto. Once the setup is complete, insert the boot device into the computer.
  2. Change the boot order in BIOS: To boot from the installation media, you may need to change the boot order in your computer’s BIOS. This can usually be done by pressing a key (such as F12 or Delete) when your computer is starting up.
  3. Begin Windows installation: Once your computer boots from the installation media, you will be prompted to begin the Windows installation process. Follow the on-screen prompts to select your language, time zone, and keyboard preferences.
  4. Select installation type: You will be prompted to select the type of installation you want to perform. You can choose to upgrade your existing version of Windows or perform a custom installation to install a fresh copy of Windows.
  5. Partition your hard drive: If you choose to perform a custom installation, you will need to partition your hard drive to allocate space for Windows. You can choose to create a new partition or install Windows on an existing partition. From here, you can install Windows.
  6. Wait for the installation to complete: The installation process may take some time to complete, depending on your computer’s hardware specifications. Once the installation is complete, you will be prompted to set up Windows by creating a user account, selecting your preferences, and installing any necessary drivers and updates.

In Conclusion

Maintaining your PC through regular backups, updates, cleaning, and running diagnostic tools is crucial for optimal performance and a smooth computing experience. By utilizing these maintenance tasks, you can extend the lifespan of your PC and ensure that it continues to meet your needs reliably.

If you have any questions or issues, reach out to us at support [at] seattlebuilt.com.

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