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If you plan your computer purchase right, you’ll be able to score a computer that you can continually upgrade and never have to replace. However, many notebooks and some PCs are made so that you can’t upgrade them – at least not cheaply or easily – which means you need to make them last as long as possible. The average PC’s lifespan is a sadly short 30 months – even among most TreeHuggers . That means that over 5 billion pounds of computer waste is generated every single year. You can beat these statistics with a simple move – tune up your computer. For people who aren’t tech-savvy, this can sound intimidating. Don’t worry, there are tools out there to help you.
The average computer sold today is far more beefed up and faster than the average user needs it to be. So why do computers seem to slow down with age, so that users are tempted to replace them with whole new systems in only a few years? The reason is often issues like faulty settings, cluttered systems, and data fragmentation.
One quick fix that helps speed things up a bit is defragmenting your hard drive . This can be done in a couple clicks by going to your PC’s hard drive preferences, clicking on Tools, and using the defragmentation tool. You can set your computer to automatically do this on a regular basis. For MacBooks, try iDefrag.
If you’re in need of a bigger fix, there are programs that help you out. System Mechanic , for example, is a PC tune-up product that handles all sorts of issues while your computer is not in use. It is important to repair and upgrade your computer whenever you can in order to keep it from becoming another e-waste statistic. It saves you money too!
Here are more resources that will keep you and your computer in a long and loving relationship:
Ask the EcoGeek: How Can I Make My Computer Efficient?
How Much Is Enough: How Long Should You Keep Your Computer Before Replacing It?
7 Ways to Make Your Gadgets Last
How does disk defrag work?
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