Computers aren’t cheap, which is why most are built to last 3-to-5 years. Things like care and upgrades can all help determine the lifespan of your PC, both negative and positive.
As a small business owner, you likely want to give your employees the best you can, but are conscious of the investment a new computer can be. Being diligent about the care of your computers is part of keeping your business thriving.
Unfortunately, in our line of work, we have seen far too many neglected computers. Enough so that Systems Engineer, Ivan Rubio, at Accent Computer Solutions, Inc., has compiled the short list of mistakes that kill the lifespan of your computer.
3 Mistakes to Avoid Killing Your Computer
1. Not Doing Regular Maintenance
Much like in life, sometimes you must get stuff done. Think dishes, laundry, or cleaning your room. Similarly, maintenance is a must for your computer. It’s much easier to push dirty dishes around in the sink than to wash them.
“The number one mistake is a lack of maintenance. Not running maintenance on the computer is like not running maintenance on your car. You won’t notice anything is wrong at first, but eventually, it’ll wreak havoc on your vehicle. Running regular updates, defragmenting your hard disk, keeping your applications up-to-date, etc. -- All of this helps extend the performance of your computer.”
Your managed service provider, outsourced or in-house, can go about maintenance in a lot of ways. A highly-recommended way to not miss any maintenance is through automation. By installing agents on workstations, things like disk defragmentation and Windows updates will happen automatically.
2. Lack of Antivirus
I’m the first one to admit I’m incredibly lazy about antivirus. But after some thought, would you be lazy about locking your car in a public parking lot? Or how about locking the front door to your home? That is the same thing as not having antivirus software.
“The second most common computer killer is a lack of antivirus. A good antivirus could be categorized as maintenance, but I believe it deserves its own section. Keeping your computer clean from viruses is crucial to extending the life of your computer. Many nasty viruses can encrypt your data, affect your hardware, and even make your computer non-functional. When a computer is reported as ‘running slow’ or ‘not working like it used to,’ the most likely culprit is a virus.”
Check with your IT department about your antivirus. Have a plan set to keep it up-to-date, not just for the longevity of your computer, but also for the health of your company's data overall.
3. Bloatware
This is like that post-Thanksgiving feast feeling. We can't eat that much every day -- so why would you expect your computer too?
“The third and least recognized is bloatware. Bloatware is any application that is not needed and slows your computer down. Unfortunately, some bloatware comes pre-installed on your computer. Other bloatware sneaks its way in as an add-on when installing the software you do need.”
If your company doesn’t use preset user profile templates, ask your IT service provider to run an audit of what's on your computer. Consider what programs you need and which you don’t. Together with your IT provider, make an educated decision on what should stay on your computer. Your IT provider can then create templates to help regulate computer profiles for the rest of your company.
Computers have a shelf life, 3-5 years tops. Keeping them pristine while using them can expand their lifespan from 1-2 years to 5 years. There is also the bonus of upgrading the quality of your work-life as an incentive. Thoroughly examine your current standard and work with your IT provider to keep your computers in tip-top shape.
Related: Ask An IT Guy: Should I Replace My Server?
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