Computer/Tablet/Phone Maintenance!
Windows on the desktop or laptop
source: LifeHacker
Routine Maintenance
Recommended:
1. Make sure you are set to get the updates regularly, and that you apply them.
2. Make sure you have antivirus running. Windows Defender comes built in. Lifehacker likes Avira.
3. I’m still using AVG. Both are available in free versions. If you want to pay, Kaspersky and BitDefender are recommended by AV-Test
4. Be careful, try not to click on scammy-looking sites.
5. Back stuff up! Automatic is best. Windows has a built in backup application that works fine. LifeHacker likes Crashplan. I also use Dropbox.
6. Clean out temporary files. CCleaner is well-regarded
7. Remove unused programs: Windows add/remove works fine. There’s a commercial product which adds perks like managing startup processes (which can slow your machine) called Revo Uninstaller
8. Really reboot every so often!
No longer recommended now that it’s the 21st Century!
1. Defragmentation (so long as you are on Windows 7 or better) this is now handled automatically
2. Registry cleaners (don’t really work)
3. Changes to Windows Pre-fetching- this is apparently a very complicated system which does not like being messed with. I will take them at their word, since up till now I had never heard of this thing!
4. Reinstalling Windows every 6 months. No, really people used to do this! I’ve done this, though never quite so often!
When Things Are Slow
Task Manager and Performance Monitor will show you what’s running and taking up a lot of cpu, and let you quit out of things you don’t need.
Emergency Maintenance
1. Malwarebytes. My hero! For when you clicked on something and now there are dozens of windows opening up trying to sell you ransomware.
Mac OSX on the desktop or laptop
Routine Maintenance
1. Configure Software Update to get the updates regularly, and apply them
2. Organize and name your files (so you don’t accidentally delete things you actually want)
3. Backups. Time Machine is built in and works great. Back up to a USB drive or the cloud.
4. Run Disk Utility, to scan drive for errors and to repair disk permissions
5. Really reboot every so often!
When Things Are Slow
1. Activity Monitor will show you which programs are using CPU — click on CPU column header to sort by hoggishness. Note which ones are running that you don’t need at the moment, and quit them
2. Figure out what is starting up that you don’t need in System Preferences->Accounts->Login Items
Emergency Maintenance
1. Malwarebytes, my hero, again!
iPad/iPhone
1. Really reboot (not just suspend)
2. Apply updates when they are available
3. Use a tiny bit of water and soft glass cleaning cloth to wipe the thing down once in a while
4. Give it a nice, protective case.
5. back it up to iCloud
Android
Pretty much the same as iPad/iPhone though there are a lot of different backup solutions.
1. Really reboot (not just suspend)
2. Apply updates when they are available
3. Use a tiny bit of water and soft glass cleaning cloth to wipe the thing down once in a while
4. Give it a nice, protective case.
5. Contacts email and photos are automatically sent to your Google account ordinarily. You might not need anything else backed up. Back it up this way, or alternatively, like this . Lookout came with my HTC phone, so I use it.
iOS 11 Update
Here’s what proud parent Apple is excited about:
- a new customizable Dock that provides quick access to frequently used apps and documents from any screen,
- a redesigned app switcher makes it easier to move between pairs of active apps, used in Split View and now Slide Over.
- The new Files app keeps everything in one place, whether files are stored locally, in iCloud Drive or across other providers like Box, Dropbox and more, and with Drag and Drop available across the system, moving images and text is easier than ever.
- Apple Pencil is more deeply integrated into iPad with support for inline drawing and
- a new Instant Notes feature opens Notes from the Lock Screen by simply tapping Apple Pencil on the display.
The popular press notes, accurately, that what they are doing here is adding long-beloved features from the Mac OS to the iPad, in a bid to make iPad a more viable laptop substitute. Works for me! The lack of a visible file system on the iPad has long sent me to the laptop for any kind of creative endeavor.
Video Introductions:
Apple has done up some videos highlighting the new features. 9 to 5 Mac posted them here:
Personally, I think the dock innovation is the most interesting.