A PC update is a good idea for computers that are sluggish, error-ridden, or malfunctioning. Also, the average user who simply wants to keep their computer at peak performance will be interested in learning to do a PC update. Here are a few suggestions and guidelines for doing this effectively and safely.
Perform Basic Software Updates
There are many areas of the PC that benefit from regular updates. The most important aspects of the computer to update are the virus protection and spyware or malware protection programs. Often these programs come with automatic updates, but they may need to be renewed yearly for a small fee.
Microsoft offers updates for Windows and its software quite often and usually notifies the user with a small dialogue box at the lower right-hand corner of the screen. Do not ignore these, as tempting as it may be to put off the task. Programmers are continually improving programs and fixing bugs, so it is important to take advantage of these updates to keep the computer free of easily fixable errors.
Advanced Computer Updates
If the computer and programs are getting along in years (or months) and the user is aware of new editions of some components, it may be the time to update these things. New operating systems or system versions are often available, as are new versions of favorite programs. This may take a little more work, but usually the new software will smoothly transfer old files into the new version of the program.
Updating drivers for programs is a little more complex. If this step is deemed necessary, make sure the drivers come from a trusted source (ideally, the manufacturer), rather than a large database of “drivers,” which may or may not be what they say they are.
Update Safely
Updating a computer can lead to errors later on if the proper steps are not followed. When you completely uninstall programs, check the manufacturer’s website to see if they offer an “uninstall kit” or something similar that will remove hidden traces of the deleted program from the hard drive. This step is sometimes required when updating to a new version of a program as well, especially if errors surface following the update.
Consider running a registry cleaner after the PC update to cover clean up on all fronts. It will remove unnecessary entries in the registry that pertain to old programs or versions of programs and prevent this extraneous data from causing errors in the future.