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How I Keep My Laptop Running Like New After Five Years
Maintaining a laptop's performance over several years requires consistent care and smart practices. After five years, my laptop still runs like new. Here's how I achieve this and how you can, too!
Regular Cleaning and Maintenance
Dust is one of the silent killers of laptops. It builds up over time, blocking vents and causing overheating, reducing your laptop’s longevity. Many people ignore this, but I’ve made it a regular habit to do weekly, monthly, and yearly cleaning to ensure dust and debris don’t build up on my laptop. Here’s how it looks:
- Weekly Cleaning: I wipe down the screen, keyboard, and casing with a microfiber cloth. A clean exterior looks good and prevents grime buildup that can affect functionality over time.
- Monthly Maintenance: I use a can of compressed air to blow dust out of vents, ports, and the keyboard. This keeps airflow optimal and prevents overheating. I also check and clean all the ports for any debris that might interfere with connections.
- Annual Internal Cleaning: Once a year, I open my laptop (only if you’re comfortable) and clean the internal components, especially the fan and heat sink. If you don’t feel confident doing this, a professional cleaning service is a great option.
Dust buildup might seem minor, but over time, it can lead to hardware failure. Regular cleaning prevents this and ensures your laptop stays quiet and cool.
Upgrade RAM and/or Hard Drive
Over time, software demands increase, which can strain your laptop's resources. To counter this, you can upgrade your RAM to higher capacities and replace your hard drive with a faster SSD (solid state drive). Upgrading your RAM enhances your laptop’s multitasking capabilities and provides better performance in certain tasks. An SSD upgrade will provide a noticeable boost in responsiveness, faster boot times, and faster loading for certain types of games.
Take note that some laptops provide better upgradability than others. Thin and light laptops are often limited to only SSD upgrades, while gaming laptops often allow for RAM and SSD upgrades at higher speeds and capacities.
I Make Sure My Laptop Is Free From Viruses
Keeping your laptop free from viruses and malware is essential for long-term performance and security. Malicious software can slow your system, steal data, or damage your hardware. That’s why I prioritize regular virus scans and system protection.
I like using Windows Defender as it is free, lightweight, effective, and provides constant updates to handle the latest threats. Here’s how I use it to keep my laptop secure:
- Regular Scans: I schedule weekly quick scans and run a full scan every month. This helps detect and remove any hidden threats before they cause issues.
- Real-Time Protection: I ensure this feature is always enabled so Windows Defender can automatically block suspicious activity in the background.
- Firewall and Network Protection: I keep the firewall active to prevent unauthorized access to my laptop, especially when connected to public Wi-Fi.
In addition to using Windows Defender, I practice safe browsing and avoid downloading files from untrusted sources. By staying vigilant and leveraging reliable tools, I keep my laptop safe, secure, and running smoothly year after year.
Knowing When to Sleep, Restart, and Shutdown
Understanding the differences between sleep, restart, hibernate, and shutdown modes helps in managing your laptop's health:
- Sleep: For short breaks, quickly resume activity.
- Restart: To apply updates or troubleshoot issues.
- Shutdown: For extended periods of non-use, completely power off the system.
I choose the appropriate mode based on my usage patterns, which helps conserve energy and maintain system stability.
I Keep Unused Services Disabled
One of the sneakiest ways your laptop slows down is through background processes. These are service apps that run silently, even when you’re not using them. I regularly review and disable these services. Here’s how I disable third-party processes and apps:
- Open Services by holding Windows Key + R, then typing “services.msc”, and press Enter.
- Locate the service you want to disable or set to manual and Double Click to open.
- Change Startup type to either to Disable or Manual, then hit Apply.
- Restart your laptop.
Here are services that I commonly disable or set to manual:
|
Process |
Purpose |
Why Disable or Set to Manual |
|
Print Spooler |
Manages printing tasks for your connected or network printers. |
Disable if you don’t use a printer; it won't impact your system unless you try to print something. |
|
Windows Update |
Manages Windows updates. |
Consider setting it to manual instead of disabling it completely to ensure important updates are applied. |
|
Fax Service |
Supports fax machines. |
Disable unless you're using a fax machine, which is rare for most users. |
|
Remote Desktop Services |
Manages remote desktop connections. |
Disable if you don’t remotely connect to your laptop. |
|
Xbox Services |
Used for Xbox app connectivity and gaming features. |
Disable if you don’t use Xbox apps or gaming on your PC. |
|
Windows Error Reporting |
Logs errors and sends reports to Microsoft. |
Disable if you don’t want to send error reports to Microsoft, but keep in mind this can help in diagnostics. |
|
Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) |
Transfers data in the background for services like Windows Update. |
Disable if you're manually managing updates, but this may affect other system features like app updates. |
|
Remote Registry |
Allows remote access to your Windows registry. |
Disable for added security unless it's needed in specific scenarios. |
This step not only saves CPU and RAM but also improves battery life. By cutting down on these processes, I’ve noticed a marked improvement in performance, especially on older laptops.
I Keep Apps and Browser Extensions to a Minimum
Apps and browser extensions can bloat your system if left unchecked. They take up storage, consume resources, and can even slow down your internet experience. I limit installations to essential tools and periodically review and uninstall those I no longer need. These habits keep my system streamlined and responsive:
- Minimal App Installation: I only install what I genuinely use. If I need an app temporarily, I uninstall it as soon as I’m done.
- Browser Extension Review: Extensions can be resource hogs. I limit my browser to essential tools like an ad blocker, password manager, and a note-taking extension.
- Periodic Cleanup: Every few months, I review all installed apps and extensions, removing anything redundant or outdated.
A lean system is a fast system. Keeping things to a minimum has kept my laptop responsive and clutter-free over the years.
Disable Unnecessary Startup Programs
Programs that launch at startup can significantly affect boot times. I use the Task Manager to disable non-essential startup programs. This adjustment has noticeably improved my laptop's startup speed.
- Open Task Manager by holding Ctrl + Shift + Esc.
- Click on Startup apps. This will show you all the apps that run automatically once you power your laptop.
- Right-click on the app that you don’t want to be running at startup and select Disable.
This change shaved minutes off my boot time. It also means fewer background processes run during my sessions, boosting overall performance.
Proper Use of Power and Performance Modes
Understanding and utilizing power settings can significantly impact your laptop's longevity. Your laptop’s performance and battery life depend heavily on how you use its power modes. Many people leave it on a single setting, but I switch modes depending on my task. Here’s how I manage it:
- High Performance Mode (seldom): When I’m doing resource-heavy tasks like running virtual machines, I switch to this mode. It allows the CPU and iGPU to operate at full capacity, which prevents bottlenecks and allows my laptop to run at full capacity.
- Balanced Mode(default): This is my default setting for regular tasks like browsing, writing, or watching videos. It strikes a good balance between performance and power efficiency.
- Power Saver Mode: I use this mode during travel or when working on battery power. It reduces the CPU’s speed and dims the screen, conserving battery life.
Beyond switching modes, I also calibrated my battery when it was new. This involves charging it at 100%, then letting it drain completely. It helps the laptop provide accurate battery percentage readings and prolongs battery health. I repeat this process every few months.
A big part of keeping a laptop running like new for years isn’t complicated, but it does require some effort. Regular cleaning, smart usage, and occasional upgrades go a long way. By following these steps, my laptop has stayed fast, efficient, and reliable for five years—and yours can too.
