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It’s that time of year again. New flowers are blooming, the air is warm and fragrant, and the birds are singing. Traditionally, the advent of spring is an impetus to clean house. Why not add your computer to the list of spring cleaning chores? The end result will be a faster computer that will let you work, instant message, and surf the Internet more efficiently with fewer problems.

The first place to start is by removing any unused software and other files on your computer. Ask yourself, what haven’t I used in a long time? If you don’t use it and it isn’t essential to computer function and performance, uninstall the software and get rid of it! The more memory you free up, the more quickly your computer will run.

Next, try defragmenting your computer’s hard drive. Visualize your hard drive like a half-finished puzzle, with pieces scattered all over. When you move the pieces where they logically fit, you open more room for other pieces to come together correctly. The same principle applies to disk defragmentation. A word to the wise: defragmenting takes a long time so make sure you don’t have to use your computer for a few hours. Turn off any screen savers and close all programs—interrupting the defragmenting process causes it to start over again. The end result, however, is well worth the wait. Your computer will run faster and more efficiently. You can find information on how to defragment your hard drive by searching for “defragment” at www.microsoft.com for PCs or at http://kbase.info.apple.com for Macs. You can also try running ScanDisk regularly on your PC or Disk First Aid on your Mac. These programs can fix file system errors and other issues that may appear.

Spring is also the perfect time to check the version of anti-virus software you have on your computer. Is it outdated? Time to update before the next worm, Trojan horse, or other virus hits-—and costs you hours of repair and days of frustration. If you are a University of Maryland staff or faculty member or student, you can download the latest version of McAfee’s anti-virus program for free. It even automatically updates so you never have to worry.

Finally, when you’ve tackled these large-scale tasks, if you have a little more time, consider updating preferences or entry defaults in programs like your e-mail client or calendaring software and updating your information on any Listserv lists or e-mail reflectors you belong to. Perhaps you need to update your signature file or personal card in your e-mail program. CorporateTime, Oracle Calendar, or other calendaring programs may benefit from a review of access levels and designates. For instance, staff members who are no longer with an office may be able to make schedule changes on others’ calendars. They may also be continuing to receive e-mail notifications about conference room reservations if they have not been removed as designates.

Time spent in any of these areas may prevent a crisis and ensure that you will be able to enjoy the approaching pleasant weather.