We are working with computer everyday. We are browsing, typing documents and download files. These activities will make your computer runs slow, disorganized and also expose to the virus threats and unstable computer. Here I give you few guidelines how to organize your computer well.

Clean out the junk
Junk here means old files, hidden files, temporary files, unwanted files and also recycle bin. Old files and unwanted files need to delete manually. This activity need you to ask yourself whether you still need the files or not. If you feel the files are useful but seldom use, then copy the files into DVD/CD or external hardisk. This way will give your computer more space for new files. We can use software such as CCleaner to remove hidden, temporary and recycle bin files.  After clean up everything, use Disk Fragmenter to arrange the space that left by the files you deleted.

Backup regularly
Backup activity depends on what are you doing in your computer. If you are working on some important things everyday on your computer like making money online or doing any projects for customers, then you need backup your regularly like 3 days or one week perbackup or as regular as everyday backup. However, if your computer just use for fun, then you just to decide how much files are created/download in a day or week or permonth. We can use external hardisk or DVD to backup the files. For backup in DVD, we have to make sure that all files burned in DVD can be read in any DVD ROM before delete the original files in computer.

Save to the cloud
This is not cloud in the sky. It is cloud storage. However, it only works if your broadband doesn’t have limit bandwidth capacity or the capacity will not reach the limit even you fully utilise it (too big). You can get free storage around 1-2GB if sign-in the cloud and need to paid if required more space. You just make sure the speed of uploading is good enough so that it won’t take longer time to upload.

Defrag your hard drive
When you install programs and save files on your computer, the files are automatically saved to the closest available space on your hard drive. This means that files for your programs are fragmented if your hard disk drive is not organized correctly. This is why we need to de-frag our computer to place the files back together and to place the most frequently used files at the front for easy access. You should defrag your computer at least once a week if you use your computer often. If you do not use your computer that often, then you can defrag less often.

Organise your data better
This can be done by organize your folder properly and tidy. Maybe you can categorized all the files according to jobs or works that the files required. You are allowed to make subfolder. For example, within Documents, you might create additional folders called Projects, HR Benefits, and Career. Then, within the Projects folder, you could create subfolders for each different project. You also can changes icon folder so that you can easily recognize the folders when you need the files inside them.

Update your software
It is important to update software like Windows OS, Adobe PDF, Flash and browser. This activity will protect your computer from virus or malware attack. Normally, computer programs are not perfect, so they keep improving based on customer feedback and regular product testing. Uninstall software that you no longer use. You can remove it using Windows Control Panel.

Encrypt important files
We don’t do this in our personal computer at home. Normally, in office, we works with restricted data and privacy. Encrypt the files when you want to transfers the files using USB flash drive or send via email or upload to the cloud. 

Install antivirus and security update
A lot of antivirus outside there from reputable vendor such as AVG, McAfee, Avast and so on. You can have it free or you can buy it for better protection. If your computer seem sluggish or if you begin to see lots of pop-up advertisement even when you’re not surfing the web, your computer may be infected with spyware, adware or other unwanted software. I have experience where my computer in office got malware after I browsing internet. What the malware was done is, it create a fake error in your computer and persuade you to click their button. Immediately, all windows functionality doesn’t work, a lot of pop-up message come out. Then the malware give the solution-’Buy this software to fix the computer’.

Keep tidy desktop
I believe many of us have habit to keep the files in desktop especially when download files from email or any other websites. So, remove unwanted files in your desktop and use Fences to organize and keep tidy desktop. A lot of files in the desktop Windows will  slow down the computer. Use light wallpaper, less than 100Kb. The bad thing of keeping files in desktop is when we want to format the computer, sometimes we forgot to backup files in desktop.

Use System Restore
System Restore creates restore points daily and whenever you install device drivers, automatic updates, and some applications. But it’s a good idea to get into the habit of creating a system checkpoint (called a restore point) when you’re about to install new software or take any action you suspect might make your computer unstable. Then, if there’s any conflict at all, you can restore your computer to the point just before you began the installation. System Restore is one of those programs that can be a life-saver when you’ve been the unfortunate recipient of unstable software, a badly timed power outage, or a damaging thunderstorm.