Software maintenance

• Install operating system updates regularly. These often fix security issues, bugs, and performance problems.
• Update drivers carefully, especially for graphics, chipset, Wi-Fi, and printer devices. Prefer the manufacturer’s official source.
• Keep applications updated so you get security patches and compatibility fixes.
• Run antivirus or antimalware scans and make sure real-time protection is enabled.
• Uninstall unused programs to reduce clutter, background processes, and attack surface.
• Review startup apps and disable unnecessary ones to improve boot speed.
• Free up storage space by deleting junk files, emptying recycle bins, and moving large unused files to external or cloud storage.
• Check disk health using built-in tools and SMART monitoring where available, especially for aging drives.
• Defragment only traditional hard drives, not SSDs. SSDs should use the system’s normal optimization tools instead.
• Back up important files on a schedule. A backup is maintenance, not just disaster recovery.
• Create restore points or system images before major changes like driver updates or software installs.
• Review browser extensions and remove ones you don’t trust or no longer use.
• Check for account security issues such as weak passwords, reused passwords, and missing two-factor authentication.