You haven’t tried resetting your computer

You haven’t tried resetting your computer
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If your laptop is running painfully slowly, don’t lose hope and buy a new one just yet. This isn’t the same as a simple restart – resetting your Windows laptop reinstalls the operating system. “There’s no better way from a software perspective to get back to that fresh, crisp experience again than starting fresh,” says Schoeffler. On Windows 10, go to Settings > Update & security > Recovery > Reset this PC. You’ll have two choices: Keep your files or remove everything, so unless you’re prepared to lose all your documents and photos, you’ll want to select the first option before letting the reset do its magic. Schoeffler recommends reinstalling every other year or so.

When is it better to restart vs shutdown your computer? Read here to find out. Your computer will thank you for it.

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You don’t have a surge protector

You don’t have a surge protector
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There’s a reason you’ve been told to unplug electronics during a storm. “If you’re plugged in and lightning hits around your house and you get a surge, that laptop is going to be fried,” says Eiland. Relying on unplugging it isn’t the safest choice – a power surge could take you off guard, your battery might need juice before the storm passes, or you might not be home to unplug it. Eiland recommends investing in a surge protector if you don’t already have one.

You pick your laptop up by the screen

You pick your laptop up by the screen
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It’s easy to grab an open laptop by the top, where the screen is, but it can mean bad news for your computer. There are metal screws attached to your laptop’s plastic case, and yanking on those screws can loosen them. “Naturally, metal is slightly stronger…and moving it around causes stress on the plastic,” says Schoeffler. “If it bends too much, it will eventually snap or get loose to the point where it starts to deteriorate. Be kind to your laptop by scooping it up from the bottom instead.

You don’t recognise suspicious links

You don’t recognise suspicious links
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Hopefully, your alarm bells go off when a pop-up claims you just won $1 million, but it can be harder to catch scammers who are posing as your friends. Hackers can spoof one of your friend’s Facebook profiles or email addresses, then send you a link. You might not question it at first, but that link could be downloading malware or gathering data from your computer. If something seems amiss – it’s just not how your friend talks or you’ve been re-friended by a Facebook friend – Schoeffler recommends reaching out to the person to confirm that it’s legit before you click.

Would you know if your computer has been hacked? Here are the signs that you might have been hacked and what to do about it.

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Source: RD.com

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