How often do you clean your computer?

@BeckyAnn (265)
United States
July 9, 2011 1:02am CST
No, no, not the screen. How often do you use software to tidy up your hard-drives and registries, and what do you use? Personally, I like to do this at least once a week. I use CCleaner and CleanUp! (the "!" is part of the software name) to do my weekly cleaning, since CCleaner can also clean your registries of unused extensions, etc. I also defragment at least one every two months and run a full security scan every other week. I purge my hard-drive of unused files and programs monthly. Maybe I just love this little laptop too much.
5 people like this
20 responses
@ebuscat (5935)
• Philippines
9 Jul 11
For me only once a year because have many thing's to do.
1 person likes this
@BeckyAnn (265)
• United States
10 Jul 11
Well, it's good that you clean it at all.
@CTHanum (8234)
• Malaysia
13 Jul 11
I did that before and my laptop crashed a few days after that. I need to reformat my laptop because of it. I am not sure it happened because I clean my laptop which certain things get deleted from my system or what.
@BeckyAnn (265)
• United States
13 Jul 11
I think you just inadvertently deleted a necessary file from your computer. I always check my files before I start deleting them. I'm always scared that I'll miss something, though. D:
1 person likes this
@CTHanum (8234)
• Malaysia
13 Jul 11
I think so...Because I am so scared I will miss some files, I never clean my laptop since that day. It is not good too as my laptop will run slower but I really can't do not know the correct way for me to do it without miss any of my files.
@derek_a (10874)
11 Jul 11
I used CCleaner and it caused me problems with my operating system as it deleted essential files from the registry. I also learned of many others finding these problems with registry cleaners in forums and a computer guy, said not to use registry cleaners as the small files that are cleaned out are not effecting the performance anyway. I now just empty the recycling folder from time to time and use Perfectdisk 11 to defrag my drive as I am working on my computer and a weekly virus scan with mcafee. _Derek
@BeckyAnn (265)
• United States
13 Jul 11
That's odd; I've never had that problem with CCleaner. I always expect to, but I never do. I'm glad that you were able to implement a method that works for you.
@daeckardt (6237)
• United States
11 Jul 11
I haven't cleaned mine in quite a while and seeing this post reminded me to do so. I downloaded some of the software listed in one of the early posts in this discussion and hope it helps speed things up a little bit. Thanks for the reminder.
@BeckyAnn (265)
• United States
13 Jul 11
It should really help a great deal--It sure worked with my computer. :) Heheh, I helped someone. You're welcome. ^_^
@megamatt (14292)
• United States
10 Jul 11
Whenever it is something that really does become an annoyance. It happened very often with my old computer. Sometimes about once a week to say the very least, a lot of the time more than once again. It does seem like less of a problem with my new computer but that's because it could be less than a year old to say the very least. When it irritates me and becomes a problem, then I take action. Virus scans however, are run twice a week like clockwork. Malware scans as well. I have become utterly paranoid in this day and age about this time of thing and given a lot of the nastiness in the world, its really something that I try and keep up with. Still as of right now, my computer is running at a pretty solid speed, so I really must be doing something right. So I am content right at the moment.
@BeckyAnn (265)
• United States
13 Jul 11
I'm starting to figure that as long as your computer's running okay, it doesn't quite matter how often you clean it. I still prefer to do it on a regular basis though, hehe. It's good that you have a computer who is running quite well now. I'm paranoid in that respect as well, I run my antivirus programs weekly and get rid of spy and malware. Good to hear that you have a good machine running there.
@SynDash (133)
• Lithuania
9 Jul 11
I physically clean the computer whenever I see the temperatures rising, though I never do this programmatically, because I know what I do on my PC, so it only helps when the temp folder or registry is trashed up, though when it becomes trashed up, I prefer re-installing windows :D
@BeckyAnn (265)
• United States
10 Jul 11
Doesn't the re-install wipe all of your data, like documents and the like? O_O I try to keep my computer physically clean as well, sometimes I forget though...hehe, I'm way better at cleaning out the registry and temps files.
@SynDash (133)
• Lithuania
10 Jul 11
Not if you backup the data it doesn't.
@kaylachan (56277)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
9 Jul 11
I'll admit I should clean my computer more frequently, but the truth is I don't do it often enough. When I do, I use the provided tools that come with the computer (with the exption of virous software) to keep my laptop running smooth. The virous software scans my computer daily, performing a full-system scan weekly as well as auto-updating as well. I also use disc clean up and dis defragmentor at least once or twice a month (or whenever I remember) though I try not to fill my laptop with junk in the first place.
@BeckyAnn (265)
• United States
13 Jul 11
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, I guess, but it is good to tidy up every once in a while anyway. I love how a lot of programs will automatically update themselves. :) Saves the hassle.
• Philippines
10 Jul 11
Your laptop must be happy cause you are taking care of it and in return, it must be doing it's job well for you. I really don't have a fixed schedule in cleaning my computer.As a matter of fact,I need to defragment my laptop as I write this article. I usually do some cleaning when my computer is running so slow and browsing takes ten years.However, what I do is clean the cache of my browsers. (^_^)
• United States
9 Jul 11
I run security scan at least once a week. My son comes over and cleans up on my about every two weeks. Have a Blessed Day
@BeckyAnn (265)
• United States
10 Jul 11
Regular scans are a good idea, as is a regular cleaning. Thank you for the response. Have a Blessed day. :)
• Indonesia
9 Jul 11
I clean my computer every time that when it was i have. In present era with a wide range of software and sites that exist in cyberspace that we can download wvwery time, it seems we must often have to clean up our computers. If not, it will be a lot of work and our privacy is compromised.
@BeckyAnn (265)
• United States
10 Jul 11
That's true. Staying safe on the internet requires constant vigilance. If we don't make sure we protect ourselves, we compromise our privacy, and sometimes our safety and money.
• India
9 Jul 11
i am very fussy with hygiene so i kind f clean almost every day before i switch on the computer. at the same time it important that it is kept clean as there are dust particles that percolate on the keyboard every day so it is always good to clean the computer.
@BeckyAnn (265)
• United States
10 Jul 11
You're absolutely right: a computer needs cleaning, both inside and out!
• Hong Kong
9 Jul 11
I only tidy up my hard drives whenever it is needed. Sometimes when I find my computer become slower and slower, I use the tools provided by windows to zip up the old files and deleted the unused files. But I only do defragment when the computer really acts very weird because it takes time. What I do very frequently is scanning for virus because nowadays we have to make use of the internet to deal with some financial issues. I dont want to have money lose just because of the trojan program in my computer.
@BeckyAnn (265)
• United States
10 Jul 11
I just finished a cleaning with some new software; it quickened things up a good deal. The defrag did take an hour, but I think it was worth it. It's good that you keep your computer secure; it's dangerous to leave your personal information unguarded.
@surfer222 (1714)
• Indonesia
9 Jul 11
Since my install last year i've never been doing any clean up or defrag... i only do that if i feel that my computer is starting to slow and as to this day i'm still happy with my computer performance....
@BeckyAnn (265)
• United States
10 Jul 11
You must have a great computer! Personally, I feel like an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, but to each their own. :)
• Netherlands
9 Jul 11
I dont use any software for cleaning registries., usually once in a while when i feel my system slow i clean drives, folders manually., yeah but its a bit tedeous process. Thanks for this information wil try out this week end.
@BeckyAnn (265)
• United States
10 Jul 11
Wow, I respect you for having to know-how to manually clean your registry! :) No problem; sharing is what MyLot's about, right? :D
• India
9 Jul 11
I rarely do it and do it when i feel that my system is working very slowly.You mentioned that you are using ccleaner,is it a free software.
@BeckyAnn (265)
• United States
9 Jul 11
Yes, CCleaner is free software you can download from the Piriform website. It's very good; it even has a feature where you can uninstall programs, without having to go to your control panel.
@gtdonna (1738)
12 Jul 11
I clean mines once a week. I use CC Cleaner and then alsoforgood measure I run the Disk Defrag. My computer is my money making machine and I realise I need ot take care of it. Computers are cheaper now yes, but better to be safe than sorry.
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
11 Jul 11
Well honestly I don't really have a schedule of when to clean the hard-drives and registries. It is only when I notice my computer is slowing down that I do all the cleaning. Nevertheless, am happy my computer has been in condition and has never given me major problem despite this.
@myfb2009 (8296)
• Malaysia
11 Jul 11
I clean-up my computer daily, just before i wants to shutdown my computer. By doing that way, i can see that my computer remain fast speed everyday. I do defrag my computer once every 2 months, to make sure everything is in order, so my computer able to run without any problem. Same goes for my laptop as well. So far, i am satisfied with the performance of both my computer and laptop.
@cerebellum (3863)
• United States
10 Jul 11
I run a scan every day other than that, I probably don't clean it out as much as I should. I wait until it seems to be running slow before I do anything. I only defrag a couple of times a year, (I have tried to do it more, and it says it is not needed yet) and clean the cookies out whenever I think of it.
@dkboss (133)
• India
9 Jul 11
I am not very sincere about computer cleaning... when I feel computer is slow then I take steps for cleaning of computer. IT arounds 3-4 months to cleaning computer.
@BeckyAnn (265)
• United States
10 Jul 11
Well, that's better than neglecting to do it entirely! :) How do you go about it?