How often you should reboot your computer
There are few certainties in life: Death, taxes, and turning your computer off and on when there’s a problem. This advice is usually the first tip you get from friends, family, and tech support.
Rebooting your computer helps keep it running smoothly. It clears the memory, stopping any tasks that are eating up RAM. Even if you’ve closed an app, it could still tap your memory. A reboot can also fix peripheral and hardware issues.
So, how often should you be rebooting your computer? Let’s look at how rebooting can impact your system and when exactly you should be doing it.
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Give your computer a fresh start
We recommend that you shut down your computer at least once a week. A reboot process returns everything to its bootup state, from your computer’s CPU to its memory.
Many people will shut down their computer by holding in the power button. This way may cause additional problems. Tap or click here to see how to restart your PC or Mac correctly.
Rebooting your computer involves two steps — shutting down the computer and then starting it up again. When you reboot/restart your computer, it will lose power during the process and start up again on its own.
Your computer itself will occasionally prompt you to restart it, usually after downloading an update. Newer machines need fewer restarts, but a significant software patch usually requires one.
Reduce wear and tear
Your computer is full of moving parts. Its CPU, essentially the brain, has a fan. High-end graphics cards also need a cooling system. Though solid-state drives are becoming more popular, most PCs still use hard disk drives, consisting of spinning discs.
These components wear down over time, and the longer you keep your computer running, the shorter its lifespan will be.
7 pro tips to speed up your old computer
There’s nothing better than getting more for your money — especially when it comes to tech. And with the rapid evolution of technology and marketing practices, it’s easy to believe newer is always better.
While many fall for this notion and shell out cash for the newest devices, some remain steadfast and invest a bit of time and effort, along with a few bucks (if needed), into their existing equipment. Got some antiquated gadgets? Tap or click to see what old tech in your house right now is worth big bucks.
Frequently Asked Questions
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