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As a computer owner, you want to make sure that your device is in top condition. Otherwise, you will have to deal with various issues, such as poor performance, hardware breakdowns, or loss of data.
Recovering from a problem takes resources. Most notably, time and money. It is more efficient to create a proper maintenance routine and take proper care of your computer.
Below, you will find a list of 9 potential hazards that should be avoided. Absorb the information and make the most out of it.
Exposure to Sunlight
The first one might sound a bit over the top, but it is still worth noting. Exposure to sunlight is not a thing if you use a desktop computer, but laptop users are likely to spend their time outside with a computer.
The sunlight is not good for the screen. If you are going outside with a laptop, make sure that you use it in the shade to avoid the sunlight.
Food and Liquid
Eating and drinking in front of a computer are quite common, especially now when we have so much entertainment available to us. From Netflix to Twitch TV, you can find content in a matter of seconds and watch it on a computer’s screen while eating or drinking.
Even if you are careful, food particles can still drop in the keyboard. And there is no need to tell what happens if you spill liquid on a keyboard.
If you cannot help it, at least try to move away from the computer as far as you can while drinking and eating so you reduce the odds of actually spilling liquids or getting food particles in.
Dust Inside
The dust inside a computer is another hazard that you need to maintain. It collects whether you like it or not, and the problem accelerates if you have pets inside the house.
Cleaning the dust inside a computer should be something you need to do regularly, at least once every few months. Otherwise, the amount will snowball and cause problems.
As soon as you notice that the computer is overheating or its internal fans are making a loud noise, the dust inside should be the first thing that comes to your mind.
Poor Cable Management
Poor cable management is a tricky thing because not everyone follows good practices of managing cables.
Sure, it helps if you have a laptop instead of a desktop computer. The former does not have that many cables, to begin with, especially if you are also not using an ethernet cable and rely on Wi-Fi.
In case you are struggling because you simply have too many cables, then consider looking for alternatives to reduce the number of cables or seek help to get your current setup sorted.
Overcharging Battery
Overcharging a laptop’s battery might not seem like a problem at first, but it can cause some long-term issues.
The longevity of a laptop is closely connected to its battery. Replacing a battery is not that easy, nor is it cheap.
Try to do your best and unplug the charger once the battery reaches 100 percent. Instead of overcharging, pay attention to the percentage and plug the charger back in once the percentage drops to a low number.
Lack of Antivirus Software
Cybersecurity threats are not that common on average, especially if you use a computer for simple things. Nevertheless, it is still possible to run into a random phishware attack or another threat if you are not careful.
As a rule of thumb, a computer should have antivirus software. Having such a tool in the background is one of the best ways to ensure that the device is protected.
Failure to Update the System
There are a few reasons to update your operating system. The first is to benefit from the latest features and security patches. The second, and one that is arguably the most important, is overall performance improvements.
OS developers push new versions to enrich the user experience, so it would be a waste not to prioritize system updates. Not only are these updates beneficial to the computer’s longevity and reliability, but they also help with making the device run smoothly.
Drive Clutter
Ideally, at least 20 percent of a computer’s hard drive or solid-state drive storage should be free. If you are not careful, you will notice that you are running out of disk space.
One of the simplest options to solve the problem is to look through the files you have on a computer and remove the ones you no longer need. Temporary cache, junk data, old backups, localization files, and so on take valuable space while offering no value in return.
Be sure to visit this article if you are looking for more tips on how to deal with storage problems. Once you solve this issue, you will notice that your computer is performing better.
