laptop maintenance guide

Preface

I wrote this guide for my youngest sister. She's smart but in this day and age of technology, I worry that devices i.e. Laptops/desktops I send family aren't well looked after and due to us being separated by multiple states. I figure sharing knowledge in this manner is a good idea.

Intro

I'm not sure if your older sister has shown you basic computer maintenance, let alone laptop maintenance. But you do need to learn. This document will provide you with relevant knowledge on how to do computer maintenance to a high degree. Feel free to pass this info onto your older sister heh. I've detailed steps into a procedure with imagery for ease of viewing. You can always let me know if you need a hand. <3 you noob. You're going to do great things with this laptop, I just know (;

No. Item Image
1 Restart your machine every 2-3 days.

POWER OFF IS NOT THE SAME AS RESTART

If you do not do this, Microsoft Windows (every single version) runs into issues constantly.
  1. Press the windows key on your keyboard
  2. Select the power icon in the bottom right hand menu
  3. Click on "Restart"
2 Ensure your laptop is running the latest updates.

Application: Lenovo Vantage [Lenovo device specific]
Procedure:
  1. In your taskbar is the blue 'L' icon
  2. Press the blue 'L' icon
  3. In the top right is the button "Check for updates" (This may take some time, please monitor)


Application Microsoft Windows 11
Procedure:
  1. Press the windows key on your keyboard
  2. You will be prompted with a menu in the middle of your screen
  3. Type "updates", you will see "Check for updates"
  4. Press enter on your keyboard
  5. In the top right you will see "Check for updates"
3 Ensure your applications are running the latest updates as well

Procedure:
  1. Select the application you wish to update
  2. Search around the application for updates
*NOTE* You need to do this regularly. If you don't check for updates to applications. Your application could become vulnerable to malicious actors.
4 Do a Microsoft Defender virus scan every so often (every week, maybe)

Procedure:
  1. Press the windows key on your keyboard
  2. A menu in the middle of your screen will appear
  3. Type "security" on your keyboard
  4. The option "Windows Security" will show in the results
  5. Press enter on your keyboard
  6. In the left hand menu, select the shield icon or "virus and threat protection" option
  7. Perform a quick scan or if concerned, select "Scan options" and change to a more robust scan
 <2x images here>
5 Unsure if you're familiar but to uninstall programs:

Procedure:
  1. Press the windows key on your keyboard
  2. A menu will appear in the middle of your screen
  3. Type "add or"
  4. The option "Add or remove programs" will appear
  5. Press enter
  6. Pick and choose what application/s you would like to remove
 <1x image here>
6 Monitor your storage

Procedure:
  1. Press the windows key on your keyboard
  2. Type "storage" on your keyboard
  3. "Storage settings" will appear as an option
  4. Press enter on your keyboard
  5. Observe your storage and make sure it's not fully used, otherwise issues will appear
 <1x image here>
7 IF YOU NOTICE SLOWNESS OR ANYTHING, USE TASK MANAGER TO SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING.

Observe cpu, ram, disk specifically. End task on applications that are eating too much resources.

In the left hand menu, there's a performance tab. Check that too. 100% consistently means that computer resource is stressing out. Can be good or bad depending on the situation but typically bad.


Conclusion

This is all I can think of right now, again, I'm here if you have any questions. SEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA