Now that the December Holiday season is quickly approaching, it is likely that you have already created several to-do lists to improve your productive this Christmas. Just like the holiday-related tasks you will want to clear off your plate, one additional check list you may also want to address at this time of year is a computer systems health check.

Since it is always important to ensure our computers and devices are functioning to their full capacity, why not take the time this month to participate in a system health check of your own? Here are 5 items you can factor in when performing maintenance on your personal and your business computer.

1) Review the Speed of your Computer System

I think we can all agree that a slow computer is a frustrating computer. If this situation seems at all familiar right now then this is definitely one item that you will want to have at the top of your to-do list. There can be many reasons why a computer is not running at the proper speed, and to start things off, you will definitely want to review the speed of the system.

The processing speed as well as the RAM speed can be identified to ensure they are both performing effectively. While it does of course depend on the brand of computer you have, as a result you will want to start by looking up the steps for you particular system – if you are not already familiar with this process.

2) Delete Files You Don’t Need from Your Computer’s Recycling/Trash Bin

Another method of improving the efficiency of your device is to delete any of the files you aren’t using and don’t need anymore. As the accumulation of files can also contribute to your computer’s sluggishness – locating and deleting them can be quite beneficial. Since these files can collect in various places, you of course need to know where to look.

First of all, many deleted files can be found in your computer’s recycling bin – therefore emptying it can take care of this problem for you quite quickly. One simple way of making sure these files do not fill up and slow things down is to make sure you empty this ‘trash’ bin on a regular basis.

3) Uninstall Irrelevant Programs

Your computer may also be ‘acting up’ and a very real possibility for this is also that you have several unused programs that have been taking up room on your computer. If so, why not set out to uninstall them? Not only will this free up space on your hard drive, it can even speed up your RAM.

From Windows, for example, this can be performed by going to the control panel and using the add/remove programs feature. With macs computers, this process is even more straightforward. By simply sending the program you want to uninstall to the trash bin, this can delete any program or application that you don’t need anymore.

4. Defragment Your Hard Drive

Next on your list can be to take part in a process known as defragment. Every time you run a program or open and close a file, the hard drive on your computer becomes fragmented with smaller pieces of data. The more this activity occurs, the slower your computer is likely to be. As a result, you may also want to counteract this by running a regular defragment procedure. Various defragment tools exist to help rearrange this data in more logical fashion, and these services can be well worth looking into for the overall health & speed of your device.

5) Archive Older Files to the Cloud

A final step that can be involved in your Xmas system health check list, is to archive any files or data that you want to procure by transferring them to a separate storage device. If these files are to be kept for future use, then moving them to an external drive or to Microsoft Microsoft OneDrive – Jaguar IT Servicescan be an secure method of retaining this information, yet freeing up space on your computer as well.

At any time following this action, these files can easily be located and accessed down the line. In addition to making room on your computer’s hard drive, you can also protect these files in the event your computer crashes or is stolen. Ultimately, this systems performance strategy can benefit both the safety and then functionality of your computer and all of your important files.

All in all, there are several systems checks you can implement that can help to speed up your computer, as well as improve the efficiency of which you are able to perform your daily business-related tasks.

If you are thinking about starting fresh in the New Year, then why not carry out your own systems health check & tune-up? This process can help you ensure that all through December and even come January 1st, your device will be running smoothly and reliability well into the next year.