5 Steps to Removing PC Clutter

It's hard enough as it is these days to get organized and then remain that way for weeks and months down the road. We are all very busy people, some of us with 9-5 jobs and one hour commutes, and others of us busy making our lives at home work for us, with children at tow and a variety of chores to do as well as errands to run.

However, no matter how vastly different our lives may be, we all run into the same problems when dealing with organization, and that's: KEEPING organized. need to develop a system that helps your PC remain free of clutter and organized. Granted, this task doesn't come easy at first, but all it takes is a few extra steps each day, done consistently, that will maximize your results in the long run.

So, let's say you have disorganized files all over your hard drive that you have difficulty finding when you need them. Your PC keeps catching viruses out of the blue. You don't know what to do with all your spam mail. You have extra programs and freeware on your PC that you don't know anything about, and even if you did, wouldn't know what to do with them. Here are a few steps to help you get started in the right direction:

1.) Get rid of any unnecessary files or programs that are on your hard drive. This requires a little homework on your part. You'll need to set aside the time to sit down and actually take a look at all of the files on your PC and delete what you don't need. A few things to do periodically for optimal performance is to run a disk cleanup, use your system file checker, and defragment your hard drive.

2.) Organize all of your files and folders. Once you've deleted everything you don't need, take a look at what's left. Is there some way you could organize these in nice categorical folders, so that it's easier to retrieve them later on? For example, you could create a few folders underneath your My Documents folder, and give then names such as: My Journal, My TV Shows, My Videos, My Business, My Songs, My JobFind, etc. You could then place all respective files underneath these neatly organized folders. You can also take advantage of many of the folders already supplied to you by Microsoft Windows, such as My Pictures and My Music.

3.) Install adware and spyware programs. I don't think I need to stress how important it is to run antivirus and spyware software. I personally like McAffee because of its wide range of protection services, but Norton AntiVirus works great as well.

4.) Delete unnecessary shareware and freeware files. It's very important to keep your hard drive as clean and organized as possible. Remember that shareware and freeware can potentially be harmful to your computer (viruses!), depending upon which source you received your shareware from.

5.) Delete unnecessary emails and take control of spam. By now, you know to have antivirus software installed on your PC. That's a must, and will protect you if you should happen to open emails that have viruses attached to them. Before you open any of your emails, check to be sure you know the sender, and that there are no .zip or .exe attachments. Be very careful about opening files with attachments, especially from senders you don't know.

Hope many of these tips will you help you move toward the right direction in de-cluttering your PC, now and for good.

Demetria Zinga is the founder and owner of http://www.faith-media.com, a technology and consulting firm which specializes in web design and hosting, graphics and print designs, internet marketing, and e-training. She is also the founder of http://www.christianladies.net, an interactive ezine, blog, and podcast for Christian women.

---

FTP - File Transfer Protocol Explained

File Transfer Protocol (FTP) is a protocol that is part... Read More

Microsoft Great Plains Dexterity Customizations

Microsoft Business Solutions is on the way to popularize it's... Read More

Some Thoughts on Choosing a Flash MP3 Player

Flash mp3 players come with an exciting array of features,... Read More

Have You Invited A Spy Into Your Computer?

Yes, it's true. You may have inadvertently invited a spy... Read More

Does Microsoft Show Hackers How To Attack?

After another security hole recently surfaced in Microsoft's Windows operating... Read More

Image Formats: GIF, JPEG, BMP

When browsing the internet you are likely to come across... Read More

Uninstall Windows Media Player 10 and Start Enjoying Your Media Again

Windows Media Player 10 has been full of bugs from... Read More

COOKIES - What Are They!!

Cookies, not the kind that Mom makes, but the computer... Read More

What Are You Looking For In A Cheap MP3 Player?

Are you stymied by the vast offerings in cheap mp3... Read More

Put Order and Information into File Names

Unless you place your faith in internal search engine software... Read More

Digital Cameras + Photo Printers = Quality Instant Photographs

In the 1950's and 1960's Polaroid's instant cameras were all... Read More

Computer Consulting 101 PC Troubleshooting Advice

While most small businesses really do need to find a... Read More

How to Place Home Theater Speakers

You have your television and home theater receiver; you just... Read More

Tips For Getting Technical Support Help Online

Sometimes your PC will start acting strange for no apparent... Read More

Got Virus?

GOT VIRUS? Your Data is NOT lost forever!In the wake... Read More

Cut Through the Hype and Make the Right Digital Camera Comparisons

There are soooo many choices. With all the styles and... Read More

Home Electronics: The Facts About Plasma TV

Not so many years ago, homes across the country watched... Read More

Computer Geeks and Garden Gnomes

First and foremost before I begin my ranting it is... Read More

Choosing a Portable MP3 Player: Part 1

MP3 players are everywhere! It seems that the number of... Read More

4 Computer Money-saving Tips

Tip #1 -- Rebates: A rebate is not always a... Read More

HTML Explained: Part 1

Want to save money while promoting your web-based business? Of... Read More

System File Checker - A Maintenance Utility

System File Checker is a great utility that is typically... Read More

Your Home is in Your Hands

I would like to tell you about a magic home.... Read More

Cisco Certification: Building Your Own Home Lab, Part I

CCNAs and CCNA candidates hear it all the time: â??Get... Read More

PDA Bible Free Download

Your Bible At Your FingertipsIt is fairly easy to find... Read More

Is DVD Storage An Attractive Alternative For Your Computer Backup?

If you have a computer for home use or for... Read More

Repairing A Corrupt .RAR/.ZIP Archive

Step 1:Open WinRAR and browse to the folder with your... Read More

MobiTV and Visual Stimulation Imput for Personal Cognitive Performance

Stimulus thru Caffiene or Visual Input?It appears that the Mobi... Read More

Flash Your nVidia Video Cards BIOS

You will need the following:1. 1.44MB FDD (floppy)2. NVFLASH utility... Read More

Best PC Pocket GPS

Stop Getting LostOne of the greatest uses for a pocket... Read More

Top 9 Ways To Speed Up Your Surfing & Computing

It seems like fast never quite rates fast enough.No matter... Read More

Windows Task Manager in English

You use Ctrl+Alt+Del to see what's running on your PC,... Read More

10 Tips to Stay Safe and Secure Online

The Internet can be a dangerous place.While you're enjoying the... Read More