Workstations are a consistently undervalued asset for many businesses.  Little can be done without them yet they are often neglected of even infrequent applications of our attention.  Here are ten ways you can show your workstations that you love them.  They'll return your affection by reacting speedier, becoming much more reliable and better protecting all of your hard work.
 

By Brandon Himes

1.      Run anti-virus software

Anti-virus software is a must.  Make sure your subscription has not run out.  Without a subscription for virus definitions you might as well not run it.  Don't feel like purchasing a subscription from McAfee or Norton?  Check out Avast (http://www.avast.com), a free solution.

2.      Run anti-malware software

Malware is malicious software that can make its way onto your computer bundled with legitimate software or from web surfing.  It's the scourge of the internet.  Microsoft's Windows Defender (http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/defender/default.mspx)  is an excellent solution to the problem since it can be integrated tightly with the operating system on Windows-based machines.

3.Install operating system updates

Is Windows telling you that “updates are ready for your computer”? Updates should always be installed as they become available. These updates fix security holes in the operating system and patch bugs in the software.


Is Windows telling you that “updates are ready for your computer”?  Updates should always be installed as they become available.  These updates fix security holes in the operating system and patch bugs in the software.
 

4.      Scrutinize running processes

Take a close look at the icons to the left of the clock on the Windows task bar.  Are they all necessary?  Each of these icons represents a process that is running, which means that some of your processing power is being consumed.  Right-click any unnecessary processes and disable the “start when Windows starts” option usually found in the settings or preferences menu.

5.      Scrutinize browser toolbars

Take a look below the file menu on your web browser.  Are there third party toolbars attached to the browser?  Consider removing them unless you too are attached to them.  These toolbars consume processing power when you are launching your browser to surf.

6.      Update or remove installed applications

Take a look at the software packages installed on your workstations.  Consider removing software that is no longer needed.  Likewise, consider updating any software that has gotten a little old.  The number of programs installed on your computer doesn't dictate speed, but removing old programs frees up hard drive space and keeps things orderly.
 

7.      Clean out the registry

Registry cleaning isn't a straight-forward proposition, but unquestionably speed up a well seasoned workstation.  Approach this task with caution, as a cleaning gone wrong could make your workstation behave badly.  Likewise, there are a lot of competitors in this software space.  Many are free but many have a price tag.  There isn't a clear leader of the pack.
 

8.     Defragment the hard drive

Defragmenting is an age old maintenance task that is often overlooked.  Hard drives naturally become fragmented as files are saved, deleted and modified.  Fragmentation means that files are not continuous segments on the disk, but rather become a scattered collection of file chunks.  Running the Disk Defragmenter simply collects the chunks together on the disk so that your PC doesn't have to perform this task each time you access the file.
 

9.      Backup your data

Save a copy of your data somewhere other than the workstation, like an external hard drive.  A workstation can be fast even after the hardware fails if the backup recovery is speedy.

10.  Dust

This tip is for very old PCs.  Dust isn't incredibly harmful to your workstation, however it can eventually overheat your machine causing it to shut down.  Use a can of compressed air to spray the dust bunnies out of the insides, particularly the fans.

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