While maintenance refers primarily to the cleanliness or maintenance of roads, servicing refers to the proper mechanical functioning of, for example, a car or a computer system.
If you previously had to resort to the services of professionals, the regular work you need to carry out to keep the car in the best possible condition will not take too much time and will not require too much expertise
Ideally twice a month
The sooner you start these tasks, the better. If you have a computer that has been neglected for years, it may be too late to restore it to normal working condition. It's also important to return to these tasks on a regular basis: maybe not every day, but definitely every two weeks.
If you experience significant slowdowns in Windows or macOS, you can restore your computer to its original state as long as you have backed up all of your data to a safe location. Instructions can be found at Microsoft or Apple.
Update
Windows and macOS systems constantly pressure you to install updates because they are so important: they fix bugs, optimize performance, close security holes, and more. You should always install operating system updates as soon as they are available: the benefits they provide are well worth a few minutes of inconvenience.
On Windows, access updates from the Start menu > Settings > Windows Update tab. On macOS via the Apple menu > System Preferences > General > Software Update. For two days now, the latest version of macOS Sonoma 14.2 has received a small update to version 14.2.1.
It is also important to update individual apps. Most often this process is carried out automatically in the applications themselves, e.g. B. in the Firefox browser, or in the case of macOS (Apple) from the App Store application.
The macOS 14 Sonoma system ——— Apple
Eliminate the superfluous
The fewer applications and files you have to manage on your computer and the more storage space available, the better. Sort through the applications installed on Windows or macOS and delete unnecessary apps (you can always reinstall them later if necessary).
Ranking different types of content in macOS Sonoma ——– Apple
For example, on macOS, the system offers you the option of sorting all the contents of your SSD storage by size. Go to System Settings > General > Storage. Clicking “i” for each type of content (applications, documents, etc.) will give you a ranking by size. Take a look around to remove unnecessary content.
Sorting applications on a macOS 14.2 computer
Another point to address is that many applications load automatically every time you start Windows or macOS, which takes up more RAM and can slow down startup times.
In Windows, right-click an empty area of the taskbar and select the Task Manager tab > Startup Applications to see which applications are loaded with the operating system (right-click to view the Find the “Disable” option). On macOS, go to System Preferences > General > Open to find the list. Select an app and then click the minus button to remove it.
And clean it
Let’s not underestimate the maintenance or cleanliness part. To ensure proper ventilation, fans and vents must function properly. Otherwise, the internal components will run hotter than they should, which won't have a particularly positive impact on their longevity. A hot, dusty computer will cause you to fail faster than a clean computer running at maximum capacity.
Before you begin, turn off your computer, unplug it, and remove any accessories (such as external hard drives).
Most of the work is done with a soft, lint-free cloth that you can slightly dampen. A 70 percent isopropyl alcohol solution can be used to wipe the cases. However, avoid sprays, solvents, abrasives and other harsh cleaners. A can of compressed air can be helpful in removing stuck-on dust and dirt. However, be careful not to damage sensitive components inside your computer.