How To Extend The Life of Your Computer

Here’s a little secret: Computers aren’t free, or even inexpensive. Getting the maximum lifespan from your computer is a great way to avoid an unnecessary expense. Like most other devices there are many simple things you can do to lessen the likelihood of your computer failing prematurely. 1.      Don’t turn your computer on and off unnecessarily. Some people feel the need to power down several times a day. You don’t have to go weeks without turning off your computer, but frequent heating and cooling cycles can shorten component life. The key here is balance.  Don’t restart too much and don’t leave on too long either.  I turn my off every other day or so the computer can load updates and fix file errors correctly. 2.      Blow out the fan vents regularly. A lot of air moves through those vents, and dust tends to build up over time. Keep the internal components cool is imperative to extending the life of your computer. Ideally, the dust shouldn’t be blown back into the computer. Taking it apart is the best method. If you’re not comfortable doing this, seek out a qualified computer repair specialist. 3.      Use laptops on a hard service. Using your computer on a firm surface will keep the air vents unobstructed. Using a laptop on your lap or on a pillow would be a poor choice. Your lap generates heat and is soft. A pillow is soft and highly insulative. A firm table, out of the sun, is the best bet. 4.      Use a surge protector. Many CPU problems can be possibly avoided with the use of an inexpensive surge protector. Unplugging during a storm or power outage is the best practice, but if that’s not possible, a surge protector can help. 5.      Get a regular tune up. Taking your computer into a qualified computer repair specialist is a great way to increase the longevity of your computer. They have the specialized software tools and experience to find potential problems quickly and easily. You probably take your car in for a tune-up on a regular basis. Your computer would be well-served by the same. 6.      Avoid eating and drinking while using your computer. Getting food or water down into your system can create all kinds of potential problems. Water and electronics never mix well. At the very least, blow out your keyboard with a can of compressed air regularly. 7.      Use in a cool environment. Computer components hate heat. If possible, use your computer in a cool place. A 95-degree summer day isn’t the time to be using your laptop outdoors. The cooler, the better. 8.      Use a good anti-malware program and keep it updated. Malware can cause all types of problems. With a quality anti-malware program, you’ll be able to keep a lot of potential issues at bay. Staying updated is important. There are thousands of malware programs released each day. With a few simple actions, you can be assured of getting the maximum amount of utility from it before needing a replacement. - 

Silicon Edinburgh: Scotland's Biggest Independent Computer Retailer & Repair
Specialising in Custom PCs / System Builds, Computer Repairs, Iphone Repairs, Ipad Repairs, and other Tablet and Smartphone Repairs.
Selling New and Refurbished Computers, including Laptops, Tablets PCs, AMD gaming machines, and Intel Gaming Machines.

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Phone: 0131 337 5177
Email: info@silicon-edinburgh.co.uk

Is Windows 9 Microsoft’s secret weapon to get people to dump XP?

As we mentioned earlier this week, Microsoft has a problem because a huge chunk of Windows XP stragglers still aren’t upgrading to Windows 7 or Windows 8 even though there’s just over a month to go until XP support ends. Tom’s Hardware writes that Microsoft does have one more card to play that it hopes will finally convince XP diehards to switch: Windows 9. Microsoft knows that Windows 8 is a nonstarter for many XP users, which is why it’s apparently designed Windows 9 with the desktop user much more in mind. The company began its efforts to appease desktop PC users with Windows 8.1 — which added back a Start button and the option of booting up to desktop — and it’s only going to further down this road with its next major release. “Windows 8.1, launched in October 2013, definitely made the platform feel more like a single unit than the previous Desktop/Modern UI double-feature,” Tom’s Hardware writes. “Windows 8.1 GDR1, scheduled to launch in April, will supposedly help merge the two together. Windows 9? Even more.” Tom’s Hardware also points out that Dell marketing exec Margaret Franco recently said that her company’s customers are expressing “a lot more interest around developing the transition strategy for their OS” in anticipation of Windows 9. Of course, there’s one problem here: Windows 9 won’t launch until the fall of 2014 at the very earliest and has been tipped to launch as late as the spring of 2015. In the time between April and Windows 9′s eventual release, XP users are going to get swamped with all manner of fun zero-day attacks by malware developers who have had XP’s impending death on their radars for years. If that can’t convince them to finally dump XP, it’s doubtful there’s anything Windows 9 could do to change their minds either.
TAGS:MICROSOFT, WINDOWS 9
SOURCE:TOM'S HARDWARE

Silicon Edinburgh: Scotland's Biggest Independent Computer Retailer & Repair
Specialising in Custom PCs / System Builds, Computer Repairs, Iphone Repairs, Ipad Repairs, and other Tablet and Smartphone Repairs.
Selling New and Refurbished Computers, including Laptops, Tablets PCs, AMD gaming machines, and Intel Gaming Machines.

Find us:                                                                                  Like us:

www.silicon-edinburgh.co.uk                                               https://www.facebook.com/siliconedinburgh
159 Dalry Road Edinburgh EH112EB

Phone: 0131 337 5177
Email: info@silicon-edinburgh.co.uk