All PC users have at least one thing in common: we’ve all experienced the distracting error messages, load time lagging, buzzing, and whirring that prompt us to double-check our backup systems before the dreaded “blue screen of death” appears. 

While these signs don’t necessarily mean your PC will quit on you anytime soon, they are symptoms of a straining hard drive and an overworked machine.    

Follow these simple tips to organize your files, purge unnecessary data and back up important information so your PC operates efficiently and smoothly – and so do you. 

1. Hoard No More  

Just because you don’t have old newspapers piling up in your living room doesn’t mean you’re good at letting things go.  

Remember those photos you downloaded last year? Or that game that you never play anymore? If you haven't deleted them, they're still on your PC taking up valuable space.  

Go through all your programs and files and delete (or back up before deleting) the ones you don’t need or use anymore.

Remember: Deleting a program from your desktop does not mean it was deleted from your computer! Make sure you go through the Start menu to uninstall each program you want to get rid of.  

If you accidentally remove something you need, all recent versions of Windows have System Restore, which allows you to restore your PC back to an earlier time to retrieve the deleted information.  

2. Get Organized 

With those unnecessary programs and files out of the way, it’s time to organize what’s left. Organizing your files will speed up your productivity by helping you find what you need a lot faster.  

Want a quicker solution? Instead of going through all of your folders individually, use an app or program like DropIt, Cyber-D’s Autodelete, or any document management solution. Not only will these programs help you get organized in the first place, but they will help you stay that way by automatically sorting files and programs as you save them.  

While you’re at it, get rid of unnecessary paper files by archiving them to digital files.  

3. Back It All Up 

Everyone knows how important it is to back up your data, but it’s easy to get complacent.  

While you’re organizing your files, it’s a good idea to check and make sure that all your important information can be recovered if your hard drive crashes.  

The sheer volume of data most businesses accumulate can be overwhelming, making it hard to decide what to back up. It’s a time-consuming process, but you must take the time to prioritize the types of files you have and assess which ones you couldn’t run your business without – namely, financial documents, contacts, and confidential information.  

After you decide what to back up, the next decision is how. Your options include cloud storage, an external hard drive or an off-site backup service, which can back up everything on your PC every five minutes. No matter which method you use, .be sure to schedule regular data backups. 

Make it a Habit 

Purging, organizing, and backing up data on your PC should be a regular occurrence. The longer you put it off, the more you’ll pay for it later. Stay on top of your organization, and your PC will thank you by working better and lasting longer.