Solved How often do you maintain your computers?

Haydon · Dec 27, 2021

TairikuOkami said:
I turn off PC with a computer cleanup and settings reset.

Care to elaborate? It's not clear to me what it is that you do when you turn off your PC, thanks!

hsehestedt · Dec 27, 2021

Haydon said:
Wow, thanks! I found a whole bunch of Android to Windows RDP apps/clients that I yet have to try out, but it's a start :)

Which one do you use?

I seem to remember that I tried out a few options many, many years ago, but found that none was really usable.

Haydon, I use the one from Microsoft. It's listed as "Microsoft Remote Desktop".

Also, back on the main topic of this thread, I forgot to note one important piece of my maintenance strategy...

I perform a shutdown on my computer before I turn in for the night (actually, I do a hibernation). In the morning, before I get up, I have Macrium Reflect set to perform a backup and Macrium will actually wake the computer in order to perform the backups. So it's basically a worry free, hands-off process.

Fabler2 · Dec 27, 2021

Bree said:
Monthly. Each Patch Tuesday I follow installing the cumulative the update with a thorough Disk clean up, run DISM /online /cleanup-image /startcomponentcleanup to clean up the component store, CCleaner to delete all browser cached files, and delete the contents of the C:\Windows\servicing\LCU folder. Then, while it is as lean and clean as possible, I make a Macrium image of the system.

Reading your post decided to check the LCU folder on the Dev 22523 version. Can't find it so I must be doing something wrong or it's not there?

Edit: most probably Windows hasn't had any updates to create the folder.

cereberus · Dec 27, 2021

Every time I log on, I check for updates. If I get updates, I use disk cleanup afterwards but use it weekly (roughlyl anyway.

CornishRattler · Dec 27, 2021

I run a full image once a month with weekly incremental back ups with Macrium 8

TairikuOkami · Dec 27, 2021

Haydon said:
Care to elaborate? It's not clear to me what it is that you do when you turn off your PC, thanks!

I run my tweaks.bat to set any settings that might have been changed, it also removes any startup entries or policies that might have been added and it also runs browser and wise cleaner. I run a deeper cleanup only after windows updates.

unifex · Dec 27, 2021

Edwin said:
Apply a Swiffer Duster to my screens once a month..., that's about it!!!

My thinking exactly! I don't do any of those elaborate things you guys are doing. Every once in a while I check out Windows update, ESET updates itself automatically, that's about it.

jerrypc1 · Dec 27, 2021

Haydon said:
Me: weekly for my main work computer, doing at least manual malware scans, manual backups, and restore functionality testing (merely deleting some unimportant files and doing the restore) plus whatever needs to be done. Chores done an as needed basis for the other computers (not on a calendar schedule)

BTW, it is at times like this when I wished I could RDP my computers from my phone but no worry, it will come, it's just a matter of time :)

Anyway, I'd like to compare notes on how others keep their horses running, thanks!

I have three desktop pc's I run scans daily and back up's weekly every 3 month's I take off the sides and clean out all the dust,and that's about it for me

windoc · Dec 27, 2021

Virus Scan at least once a week. I run the disk clean up utility at least once a month. I use a vacuum with a brush at the end to clean the keyboard and other areas around my laptops that my get dust. Backups I do to several places manually. I back up all my important files, and documents as needed.

jerrypc1 · Dec 27, 2021

Thanks for sharing it gave me some ideas

Haydon · Dec 27, 2021

With all the Personalizations that is going on, it is a bit surprising that nobody here seems to tighten up (or loosen) the default settings of the Windows Security control panel. Come to think of it, though, these settings are more likely than others to be reverted to their default values with every WU. It is a nice flexibility point for MS to be able to tighten up (some of) the default values in case of a covid-like outbreak among computers :scream:

(large) group management at its best

Yeah, this thread gives people ideas, including myself, I will mark this thread 'Solved'

jerrypc1 · Dec 27, 2021

cereberus said:
Every time I log on, I check for updates. If I get updates, I use disk cleanup afterwards but use it weekly (roughlyl anyway.

I always check for updates also when I log on and almost always get a security update

AddRAM · Dec 29, 2021

I maintain my PC every time I use it.
I do that 1st then I do my thing, whatever it may be.

pparks1 · Dec 29, 2021

unifex said:
My thinking exactly! I don't do any of those elaborate things you guys are doing. Every once in a while I check out Windows update, ESET updates itself automatically, that's about it.

I don't have any routines either for my machines.

From time to time, when I notice that disk space is filing up, I'll run TreeSizeFree and see where space is consumed and clean up.

About twice a year, I'll remove and clean my case filters.

About once per month, I'll run a Macrium backup. ( My email is gmail, most of my files are either on a local file server, or in OneDrive, my bookmarks are stored with Chrome....so it's not really critical for me to have regular backups of my workstation).

Other than that, I just let Windows do it's thing.

TraderGary · Mar 8, 2022

My total data and image size is just over 400GB. I continuously cull my image files ruthlessly.
I keep all my data in Microsoft OneDrive and 1TB OneDrive Cloud is always up to date in real-time.
Every night before I shut down, I do a Microsoft File History update to a Samsung T7 2TB SSD.
The T7 SSD is attached to my PC for less than a minute to do the update. I'm paranoid about ransomware.
When my PCs are a couple of years old, I buy new ones and donate the old ones to family/charity/etc.

Edwin · Mar 8, 2022

I just swiped my monitor with a feather duster, does that count?

Winuser · Mar 8, 2022

Edwin said:
I just swiped my monitor with a feather duster, does that count?

Yes! a clean monitor is a Happy monitor, and a Happy monitor will show more pixels.

Haydon · Mar 8, 2022

TraderGary said:
Every night before I shut down, I do a Microsoft File History update to a Samsung T7 2TB SSD.
The T7 SSD is attached to my PC for less than a minute to do the update. I'm paranoid about ransomware.

You could use 2 SSDs that you never connect to your PC at the same time, e.g. connect them to your PC on alternating days. To run File History, you would need to 'Select drive' first then run everything normally.

I used to run like that long time ago following the so called golden 1-2-3 rule of backup (1 master, 2 copies, 3 different media) But one day, during the swap, I dropped an HDD and it died. Since then I follow a platinum 1-3-4 rule of backup where I rotate the 3 external media (now SSDs) However, I leave one SSD always connected to the PC, because I value the hourly backups.

My reasoning is similar, I use BitLocker, and in my paranoia of BitLocker malfunctioning and acting like ransomware, I still follow the golden rule of backup of having the 2 off-line copies. I am sure that MS has added a million lines of code to ensure safe operation of BitLocker, but there is no reasoning with paranoia

I love BitLocker nonetheless, go figure

glasskuter · Mar 8, 2022

Edwin said:
I just swiped my monitor

It definitely counts. You are a good husband. Mine won't swipe anything if the dust is 2in thick.

imanlien2020 · Mar 8, 2022

I do many of things posted here, But I think we have forgotten the question was How often do we maintain our computers. I see everyone here is commenting towards the digital aspect of our computers, but I believe its also just as important to discuss how often do we maintain the physical aspect of our computers, meaning do any of you use an air blower to blow out dust/dirt or do you vacuum out your towers instead. Or what other physical things do you do to maintain your PC. TY for all your replies.