Published: April 09, 2007 10:51 pm         

Tune up older PCs to save money

Whether due to expansion, employee turnover or the other reasons, many small-business owners find themselves needing a steady supply of desktop computers for everyone to use. For the sake of efficiency, it’s important to provide each individual with a PC that’s fast, smooth and uncluttered by someone else’s old programs and files.

But do you really need to buy new equipment for everyone who walks through the door? Perhaps not. If your business is piling up PCs in corners, storerooms and closets, there may be ways you can coax more productivity out of what you already own and save your business some money.

PCs you own may have plenty of life left in them. But getting them in top shape can require a little attention. The longer a computer is used, the messier its hard drive can get. Viruses, outdated software, fragmented storage space and general clutter can turn a good piece of equipment into a real slowpoke.

To get your slightly worn PC and laptops back into action, follow these tuneup tips:

Remove old programs, temporary files and the Web browser’s cache, cookies and history. Empty the trash folder, and while you’re at it, clean the keyboard. Use your disk utilities to scan the hard drive for errors, fix any corrupt sectors and remove invalid registry or broken shortcuts.

Also defragment the hard drive. A hard drive is composed of many sections, known as sectors. As files are saved, they are often divided into parts that are scattered across the drive. This slows down the system because the file must be retrieved from different locations. Defragmenting brings the pieces back together again.

Scan the computer for viruses and update virus definitions. Symantec.com offers a full range of antivirus, anti-spam and problem-solving PC solutions. The Small Business Center section of its Web site has helpful, plain-English articles on computer maintenance.

Download and install software upgrades. Standard programs that come installed on computers need regular updates. And finally, back up regularly to protect important data. If the computer dies and you need a new one, you won’t lose anything.

To learn more about small-business technology, contact SCORE, “Counselors to America’s Small Business.” SCORE is a not-for-profit organization of more than 10,500 volunteer business counselors who provide free, confidential business counseling and training workshops to small-business owners. Call (812) 231-6763 for the SCORE chapter in Terre Haute or find a counselor online at www.score.org.