The well-deserved summer vacation is coming to an end and in a few days most users, students and employees will have to return to the routine we know as “Back to School”. We already know how much it costs…

Many of us have a computer as our main work tool and need to have a specific maintenance plan with tasks that contribute to numerous tasks benefits in terms of efficiency, performance, safety and use, in addition to extending its life. Or that’s the theory. Immersed in the daily struggle, we may not have been able to devote the necessary time to him. If you have a few days before returning to work, it’s a good time to do some tasks that will prevent problems in the future.

We remind you of them by focusing primarily on Windows PCs, although most of them can be extrapolated to any operating system.

1.- Make data backups

Tasks deposit are one of the priority PC maintenance activities and must be performed (or better automated) by every professional or consumer to protect their data. Computer equipment can fail at any time due to a hardware problem in any of its components, such as storage drive or memory, in system software and applications, or due to a virus that deletes files or prevents access to the device, such as Ransomware.

Losing our professional or personal files can be very costly and sometimes irretrievable, hence its importance. We suggest you initiate a technical stop here before you have to repent. The system itself, applications and hardware are recoverable, but data is not and its loss can sometimes be a tragedy.

2.- Update the operating system

The operating system is the software foundation of our device and we need to ensure that it is updated to the latest stable build or at least has the latest security patches released. If we use older versions, we expose ourselves to a higher risk of being attacked through unpatched vulnerabilities.

All operating systems can be updated automatically or manually. Microsoft systems use Windows Update as an internal tool. If you prefer, and the Microsoft Update Catalog to manually install specific security updates or cumulative updates.

3.- Check and increase security

Other tasks included in PC maintenance include malware scanning and possibly disinfection. Start by scanning your computer with an installed security application, including external hard drives or flash drives that you also regularly use during surgery, as they are often a route of infection.

For persistent malware hidden in the system, there is nothing better than using a “Live CD/USB” solution, created on removable drives and capable of booting without interfering with the installed operating system. They are what we know as “rescue antiviruses” and they work on any computer. These external resources are excellent because they do not penalize performance and allow them to predict the loading of viruses or trojans into memory, making them more difficult to remove. All providers offer free solutions of this type and we expressly recommend them to you, in addition to uploading a security solution to the system.

4.- Change your passwords

By completing the security section, you can take the opportunity to reset the access passwords to your device and services, which is an important matter that we should do regularly and that we do not do. We continue to break all the basic rules for their creation and maintenance, and all the reports reveal that the most used passwords are the old ones and a bargain for cybercriminals.

In recent years, the industry has proposed biometric systems and features such as two-factor that we must activate in all compatible services. But until they are fully widespread, passwords will continue to be the most used method, and to create them we need to look for long and complex keys and mix non-alphanumeric, upper and lower case letters. Another recommended option is to use a password manager that will do the work for you, protecting your identity and saving you from having to create and remember multiple passwords.

5.- Update applications and drivers

Just as important as updating the operating system is to do the same with applications. The new versions we have installed will offer higher performance and stability in most cases. Additionally, malware has a preferred infection method that exploits software vulnerabilities. We must pay special attention to that group of critical applications that we use every day and that are most attacked, such as web browsers and their extensions and plug-ins, office automation applications or others such as Java or Adobe’s Flash, which have been attacked within two decades and still running on the internet.

The same can be said for driver updates. In addition to the security section, we get stability, compatibility and also performance, especially with graphics card drivers that are updated with almost every great new game that comes out.

6.- Delete programs that you do not use

You probably have a lot of apps that you don’t use anymore. And if you’re using Windows and haven’t cleaned up your day, you’ll have a lot of unwanted Bloatware apps that Microsoft and manufacturers “punish” us with. All together penalize performance, stability, user experience and even security.

Before “back to school” is a good time to remove those programs that are taking up memory and storage and probably slowing you down. All operating systems include a program uninstall function. In Windows 10 or 11, from the Control Panel or the general Settings tool.

7. Reduce startup load

Windows operating systems have a system configuration function called “msconfig”, which, in addition to advanced services, allows us to select the applications that load when the computer starts, reduce its load and improve its performance. You can access it under the command name “msconfig” from the run function. In Windows 10 and 11, you can use “task manager” to manage startup items.

8.- Activate system recovery

Windows has a system recovery tool that can “save our lives” in the event of a software error, a virus entering our computer, or simply installing drivers or an application that doesn’t work properly and sometimes destabilizes the operating system.

This tool stores the files and main configuration of the operating system, settings, drivers, registry keys or installed programs and in case of errors, it allows you to undo the changes made and return to the previous state when the system was working correctly. The operation and management of this feature is basically the same in all Windows systems (7, 8.1 and 10) and is very useful for any user when the system is not working well or working erratically.

9.- Monitor privacy in Windows 10 and Windows 11

Windows 10’s privacy remains one of the operating system’s most controversial issues, although Microsoft has been improving transparency and control in subsequent updates since the appalling initial configuration that sparked a wave of criticism for massive data collection. Windows 11 shows the same way in this field.

Windows 10’s privacy options have improved substantially since the first versions and start from the same install, but there’s still room for improvement. If you’re looking for more control than the internal tools offer, you can use third-party apps like DoNotSpy11 (free and open source), which offer anti-Bloatware options in addition to managing the typical privacy protection components.

10.- Clean the registry (carefully)

Advanced users can perform tasks that go beyond normal maintenance, but – knowing what is being done – can offer us benefits. The registry is a database in which Windows stores software, hardware, settings, and user information, and completely controls the operation of the computer, its appearance, the behavior of components, or access to features. The registry gets bigger just by using the operating system, installing/uninstalling apps, or any hardware component we add or replace.

It’s not uncommon for all of this to slow down the use of the device or leave a trail of faulty or corrupted records and inconsistencies that mar the user experience and cause everything from small errors to serious failures. The industry offers free applications to “clean” this registry. You have to be very careful with them, but in the right hands they can be effective, backed up in case something goes wrong.

Don’t leave it for later. These maintenance tasks to tune up your computer are a great investment to avoid headaches and wasted time and money in the future. direct benefits in performance, stability and security. If you complete it by physically cleaning it and possibly improving some of its components, you can increase its life and prepare it for the harsh autumn that lies ahead.