Improving the Health of your Computer

Well-being has always been stressed as something one should focus on, and the benefits of self-maintenance can go a long way. Just as you may be acutely aware of health-related events taking place (especially nowadays), it is also prime time to ensure that some simple measures are taken to help ensure your computer is given some TLC as well! In this day and age, you are trying your best, but no one is immune to computer problems cropping up. Is your computer exhibiting behavior that you have not yet seen before, but nothing has seemingly changed? Computers can be perceived as complex creatures, so this is where iuvo Technologies is able to step right in to assist. 

A good night’s rest is always important, and this applies to both your well-being as well as your computer’s well-being. You have some options when it comes to the power state of your computer after wrapping up your day (or night) I’ve compiled the options you have below:

Power Mode 

Shut Down (Power Off) is when your applications and programs are closed, your computer’s operating system is shut down, and bare minimum power is being drawn.

Sleep mode is when your computer enters a low power state and its “present” state prior to being put into sleep mode is maintained in your computer’s memory. This means that when your computer returns from sleep mode, it does not need to boot back up, but instead you will be taken back to where you left off.  

Hibernate mode for Windows machines is when the “present” state of your computer is maintained as your computer freezes what you are doing and saves it to the computer’s hard drive. Hibernate saves more power than sleep mode, you will also be taken back to where you left off. However, doing this can produce more wear and tear for your computer – resuming from hibernation mode is not as fast as resuming from sleep mode. Hibernate mode can be selected by going to your computer’s control panel, then selecting “Power Options”, then select “Choose what the power buttons do”.  

You may find that you tend to favor one power option over another. Unsure which option may be best? It is considered a best practice to shut down your computer if you plan to step away for several hours. There is a lot going on behind the scenes when it comes to your computer. With modern systems, boot up time is minimal and therefore the concerns with boot up being a time-consuming practice have been greatly reduced. While it is not a cure all, getting into the habit of shutting down your computer on a nightly or more regular basis can most certainly help with improving your computer’s overall performance, and that means more peace of mind for you.  

Keeping Your Computer Clean  

Seasonal cleaning is not just for your home. In an effort to improve your computer’s performance, set regular intervals in which you delete unnecessary files you have saved (whether saved locally on your computer or saved to the cloud). It can also be helpful to uninstall applications you no longer use. It is important to note that if you are not sure what an application is being used for, or if it is being used at all, we absolutely recommended to check with your trusted advisors first before proceeding further so that you do not delete an application that is being used behind the scenes!  

Windows Updates 

These are important for many reasons, one of which being that security updates are regularly included which are imperative in keeping your computer secure and compliant. You may be asking yourself if you need to install optional updates that are presented to you. The general rule of thumb with these is No. Typically, the optional updates are not applicable to running your operating system, but instead are related to application improvements and enhancements. The Windows updates settings may be something that are maintained by your IT organization, and at a scheduled interval. You can check this out by pressing the Windows key and the letter “I” (Uppercase I as in Icicle) on your keyboard, then click on Update & Security > Windows Update. Alternatively, you can press the Windows key and the letter “R” to bring up the Run prompt, then type in “control update” to launch the Windows update window to review current status. 

Printer Issues 

There is that great sense of satisfaction upon getting connected to your home or office printer, and even more so, successfully printing a document to said printer. What if you find that all of the sudden, nothing happens after pressing that straightforward “Print” button for your document? Check out this fantastic blog on troubleshooting common printer issues.  

Internet Connection 

Is your internet connection slow while at home? While there may be factors involved in which pulling in technical expertise would be recommended, a simple step that can be taken is to reboot your router. A router is essentially a piece of hardware that connects your local network to the internet. You may also have heard the term “power cycle” your router - it refers to the same action as rebooting. Note that reboot or power cycle is not the same as resetting your router. Rebooting your router simply means to turn the device off and turn it back on, whereas resetting the router can clear settings and/or alter or remove configurations entirely. Usually, if one is to reset the router, this would involve utilizing a very small pinhole button on the back of your router. In contrast, if you reboot/power cycle your router, this just involves unplugging it from the power outlet, waiting about 30 seconds, then plugging the device back in. You may wish to wait another minute or so before manually turning the router back on using its power button. Rebooting your home router can often times help to resolve more commonplace connectivity issues that crop up.   

These are some measures that can assist with ensuring your computer’s well-being is kept in check. Again, especially if in doubt, it is always recommended to check with your trusted advisors first before proceeding further with an action item. iuvo Technologies is committed to you and your computer’s well-being and you can get in touch with us here!