Most people unknowingly have habits that can damage their computers over time. These computer maintenance habits can lead to system instability or hardware failure in the long run. Are you guilty of these bad habits?
12 common computer mistakes
1. Pressing the enter key forcefully
This is a common issue for many! When we complete a task, we often press the Enter key as the final step. Perhaps out of a sense of accomplishment, we press it forcefully.
2. Eating and drinking near your computer
Many people use their computer desk as a dining table. If you remove your keyboard, you’ll likely find food crumbs, hair, and other debris. These particles can interfere with the keyboard’s circuitry, making typing difficult. Spilled drinks can be even more damaging, potentially ruining the keyboard or making it sticky and uncomfortable.
3. Leaving discs in the CD drive
Although CD drives are used less frequently nowadays, some still leave discs in them. This habit is harmful because the drive periodically checks the disc, especially in high-speed drives, generating heat that can affect the machine’s stability and accelerate wear and tear on the drive components.
4. One power outlet for computers and appliances
Many household appliances generate electrical noise and surges that can interfere with your computer’s power system, causing operational issues or damage. Additionally, when these appliances start up, they can temporarily draw power away from the computer, potentially causing it to restart or shut down.
5. Smoking
Cigarette smoke, cigar smoke, or tiny smoke particles can harm your lungs and also infiltrate your computer and peripherals. They can cover the CD drive’s read head or significantly degrade the quality of printers and scanners.
6. Shutting down and immediately restarting
Some people shut down their computers only to remember they have unfinished tasks and immediately restart them. This practice is harmful due to the short-term voltage surge, which can damage integrated circuits. The hard drive, which operates at high speeds, needs time to stop spinning altogether. Restarting before it stops can shorten its lifespan.
7. Constantly updating drivers
Many users like to update their drivers frequently. While new versions can improve performance and compatibility, they can also cause hardware issues. If your current version is working fine, there’s no need to rush to update.
8. Forcing restarts during system operation
Some people habitually force a restart when programs crash. This can corrupt system files, cause save errors, and cause settings to be lost. Frequent forced restarts also increase the chances of hard drive errors and system crashes.
9. Not scanning and defragmenting your hard drive
Traditional hard drives have large capacities, and many people store files haphazardly. Over time, this leads to errors and fragmentation, increasing the likelihood of system errors and slowing down the system.
10. Not setting a range for virtual memory
Virtual memory uses hard drive space as RAM, ensuring stable program operation when memory requests exceed system RAM.
11. Deleting folders instead of uninstalling programs
Most software adds registry information and related files to the SYSTEM folder during installation. If you don’t use the software’s uninstaller, these files remain, bloating the system and reducing efficiency, eventually requiring a system reinstall.
12. Installing too many similar programs
Similar programs can compete for control and even conflict with each other. Installing too many similar programs can consume system resources and cause software conflicts.
These computer maintenance tips can help you avoid common mistakes and ensure your system runs smoothly.
Follow us on X, Facebook, or Pinterest
