4 Things Most People Don’t Know About Their PCs

4 Things Most People Don’t Know About Their PCs


Whether you mainly use your PC in a personal or in a professional context, you may discover a significant gap between how heavily you rely on your computer and how much you actually know about it.  For example, did you know that the average smartphone operates with more processing power than all the computers in the Apollo 11 Lunar Lander combined? While most users are (hopefully) not debating whether their smartphone can send them to the moon, this fact illustrates that computers are becoming more powerful and complex with each successive model and release.

With ever-increasing PC complexity comes more user risk of misconception about how these devices actually work. A lot goes into sustaining peak PC performance, and in every case these tasks require us to be somewhat proactive, whether you’re an IT pro at a small business overseeing a network or a home user on a laptop for strictly personal use. Several simple yet important factors can contribute to making your computer faster and extending its lifecycle. Here we look closer at them.

1) PCs Need Performance Optimization Right Out of the Box

Even a brand new machine is not immune to the lurking menace of slow computer syndrome. As soon as it starts operating, the computer will begin to fragment its hard drive, store redundant files and cloud the registry. A defragging tool and a comprehensive registry revitalizer installed immediately after the computer is booted up for the first time can go a long way in setting it out on the right course of peak health and performance.

Most computers have some sort of operating utility that can perform some of these actions, but they’re also designed to only do so much — ultimately, significantly extending the lifecycles of PC products isn’t truly in vendors’ best interest. Out-of-the-box PCs are seldom performance-optimized, so it’s best to invest in a solution that supervises PC performance from the beginning.

2) Keeping a PC Running at Maximum Potential is a Continuous Process

No one likes to hear something described as a “full-time job” unless it actually affords them a salary, but the reality is that keeping PCs up and running at optimal capacity is an around-the-clock occupation. Like anything else, PCs will eventually deteriorate over time, and several user practices can contribute further to their decline, according to Lifehacker. These activities include leaving the computer on (even if it’s not in active use) for long stretches, not cleaning out the hard drive and not updating programs and drivers regularly.

Since users don’t want to have to follow up every activity with a corresponding performance fix, it’s essential to automate these processes. A comprehensive software solution can coordinate updates, repair broken shortcuts, automate disk defragmentation, and constantly scan for viruses and malware, among other efficiency-enhancing processes.

3) PC Updates Are More Frequent Than You Think

Those little boxes that pop up seemingly every time you turn on your computer, encouraging you to take a moment of your time to install a new version of a program? These are PC updates, and while many users delay their installation for any number of reasons, they’re important. Operating systems, drivers, software applications and browsers are constantly subject to new upgrades and versions. Additionally, companies routinely deploy patches and security fixes to repair system or network vulnerabilities. Not keeping systems and software updated with the latest release is a major source of PC slowness.

These updates help keep the computer productive and secure, but they come with negative consequences for hard drives and memory. While the computer will often automatically inform you of new updates, it won’t automatically schedule them at the best time for you and it won’t eliminate outdated and useless versions from the disk. Scheduling upgrades to deploy automatically for times when you don’t need your computer can help keep the system updated in the least invasive way possible. This is especially important for businesses, where a few outdated computers can cause significant compatibility and security problems for the overall network. Additionally, a hard drive cleaner can scan the system for redundant files and defrag or eliminate them, making the computer run faster.

4) The Productive Life of a PC is Often Twice as Long as You Think

High computer asset turnover is a significant source of business costs and increased home budgets, as many people respond to computers grown slow over time by getting rid of them. However, many users aren’t getting a productive PC life even close to its full potential. Staying proactive about PC maintenance by utilizing automated solutions that can do the work for you can help you significantly extend your PC’s productive life.

System Mechanic is a comprehensive Windows operating system optimization suite that helps PC users automatically clean, repair and stabilize their computers while simultaneously fine-tuning processor and network settings and freeing trapped RAM for maximum speed and performance. The utility helps ensure system health and speed over the long term with a series of automated maintenance actions no other optimization solution offers.

System Mechanic:

•             Goes to work whenever a PC is idle

•             Ferrets out clutter and redundant programs

•             Deletes obsolete files and realigns important ones

•             Keeps hardware drivers updated

•             Revitalizes your registry

To help ensure the longevity of your computer, it’s worth seriously considering licensing System Mechanic, which for one price will optimize all the PCs in your home. 

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What is iolo's Whole Home License?

The Whole Home License® is iolo’s licensing policy that allows you to install and keep your software running on all of your compatible devices within the same home. Previously, users were allowed to install and license their iolo software simultaneously on a maximum of three PCs. Under the Whole Home License, a single activation key allows you to use your iolo software on all of your PCs, other than any PCs you use for business purposes. What you need to know about Whole Home Licensing

  • You, your spouse, and your relatives living within the same household may use the same license on any number of PCs that you own which are not used for business.
  • For full legal terms and conditions, see https://www.iolo.com/company/legal/eula/

To install your iolo product on additional PCs:

  1. On the additional computer, download the latest version of your iolo product. Choose from the list of downloads offered here.
  2. Follow the steps in the installation wizard, and enter the same Activation Key that you used to install on your original computer.

You can view the Activation Key on the original computer from within System Mechanic > red menu bar > key icon > Activation Key.