5 Simple Ways to Keep Your Computer Running Smoothly

Video – Vlog #32

Tips to Make Your Computer Run Faster

What is the recommended RAM for Windows 10?

Do you know how to check correct device driver is installed?

Script – VLog #32

Willie Nicol: Hello everybody and welcome to the Techno Dinosaur Meets the IT Geek. This is week 32 folks, yes, been going a long time. I’m Willie Nicol. I am the techno dinosaur, also, a personal life coach. I am based in Troon, South Ayrshire, Scotland. And with me today is my partner in crime, David.

Willie Nicol: Hello David, how are you? And, where are you?

David Logan: Hi Willie, good to meet you again online. Another week, another pound as they say, or a dollar in America. Partner in crime, based in Troon, ex-police officer, I don’t know.

David Logan: So, my name is David Logan, based here in Annan, South West of Scotland. I’m the IT geek who takes the jargon out of technology for the home office worker. So, as we’re heading into lockdown two in England, south of the border, potentially north of the border, I want to help the home-based business owner. Stay tuned.

Willie Nicol: Thank you David.  Well, you were very kind enough to help me with a lot of my techy problems. I now know what an Intel i7 processor is.

Willie Nicol: What I want to ask you today is, what are your top tips for keeping your home PC, or your business PC, whatever you use, running efficiently and effectively?

David Logan: Fantastic Willie. Thank you for that. So, what I’m going to do here is give you five tips, not in any particular order, and we’ll run through them briefly. And then we can break them down in more detail, discuss it in more detail in the forthcoming weeks. Would that be okay with you?

Willie Nicol: Splendid, great, yeah.

David Logan: Okay, so, tip number one. This is based on my experience and what I’ve picked up over a number of years. So, tip number one with Windows 10 computers, that’s Windows 10 operating system, is to make sure your systems up to date. So, that’s Windows updates, make sure they’re up to date. One piece of advice, check it when you switch on your machine, check it. Then there’s no panic when it restarts. That was a big bee for me certainly when Windows 10 first came out.

David Loagn: Tip number two, antivirus. Make sure you’ve got some and it’s up to date. Now, some antivirus for homes, I’ll even go as far as having a firewall, have an antivirus with a firewall bolted on. We can go in more detail when we discuss that.

David Logan: My third tip is Random Access Memory. There’s still a lot of computers been sold out there running on 2 to 4GB of RAM for Windows 10 systems. My recommendation is 8, it’ll run smoothly. It all depends on what you can use the computer for. I use it for 3D graphics and use it for documents and use it to browse the Internet. And how many windows are you going to have open? Do you understand that so far?

Willie Nicol: Yeah, all good so far.

David Logan: Tip number four, as we’ve discussed many a time, is have a solid-state drive for your main operating system. Don’t have your physical hard drive, it’s got moving parts, tear and wear. I would recommend strongly a solid-state drive. So, it’s short for SSD : solid state drive.

David Logan: Last one, as I say, not any particular order, is make sure you’ve got your device drivers up to date. So, your web camera as we are using here, on zoom on your computer Willie, make sure it’s up to date and they can talk to the computer, send it what it wants. Your printer, make sure it’s connected.

David Logan: So, that’s my five tips. Do you have any tips, Willie, to add?

Willie Nicol: Good question David. My tip, particularly to myself, would be as I’ve just obtained a new computer, is when I’m trying to switch it all over, is not to lose my temper or get stressed.

David Logan: Excellent. So, to the viewer, stay tuned. When it comes to two weeks’ time, we’ll discuss one of these tips, four weeks’ time, we’ll go another tip, keep going for the next five weeks, go on these tips. Break it down so that you, the business owner, can understand. Take all jargon out of it. Doesn’t matter what business we are in, we’ve all got jargon and Willie’s very kindly done it plain English to me in your language, Willie.

David Logan: So, so, I think for all to say now, Willie. I think that’s us for this week, is it?

Willie Nicol: I think that will do us for this week. I look forward with some anticipation for the future tips. All that remains for me to say to the viewer – stay safe, keep well, keep your chin up. Until the next time, it’s goodbye from me, Willie Nicol, the Techno Dinosaur.

David Logan: I forgot to say .… YouTube, please subscribe. Subscribe! Right guys, to our viewers, everybody out there, stay safe, stay healthy, have a great weekend. Thank you.