Cleaning Up: The Cons and Pro
If your system needs cleaning, you have come to the right place. Cleaning Windows is a great resource that you can use to get your system back to near-new condition. If you are not convinced that your computer needs a good cleaning, then you are obviously a discerning person who needs to examine all the ins and outs of an issue before making a commitment.
The Cons
You need to be aware of those negatives, right from the get-go:
The learning curve:
Part of the time required to do the cleanup is rooted in another drawback: the learning curve. Figuring out how to use some of the tools you use to clean takes time. If you are already comfortable with your computer and the cleaning tools, then your learning curve is lower than for those who are unfamiliar.
Time-consumption:
Cleaning your computer takes time. You probably feel strapped for time right now, don't you? (Most people do.) Cleaning your computer can take anywhere from a trivial amount to a substantial amount of time. Fortunately, you have some control over how and when to spend that time. You don't have to spend it all in a single block, although you could. You can spend the time over a period of days or weeks, as the time becomes available.
The bother:
Cleaning up your computer can be a bother. If you approach the task as a chore, then it will be bothersome. To borrow a phrase, remember that it is not just a job - its an adventure. Try to overcome the "bother factor" by looking on it as a learning experience. If necessary, spread out the cleanup over several days so that you don't max out your stress level in a single session.
The pros
The benefits of cleaning up your system, which I list here:
Speed:
A clean system runs faster than one that needs cleaning. Do you remember when you first got your PC? You probably thought it ran very fast. If your system stays clean, you should not notice it running any slower over time. Unfortunately, most systems don't stay clean and require your attention. Give it that attention - that is, do the cleaning - and your system can run just as fast as it did the day you got it.
Efficiency:
If you are using a clean system, you can get through your work faster, and you are therefore more efficient. A clean system does not make you immensely more efficient - if it did, the self-help publishing market would shrink dramatically. You can still get sidetracked playing games or arguing religion and politics on various message boards, but with a clean system you can do even those things more efficiently.
Reliability:
A huge benefit of a clean system is that it is more reliable than one that is not. If you fail to clean your system, over time it goes from clean to cluttered to messed-up to unstable. Unstable systems crash. Unstable systems have a tendency to lose data. Unstable systems are a real pain. Clean your system, and you should see stability jump dramatically.
Stress reduction:
Having a clean system can reduce anxiety and provide peace of mind. How so? Consider the worry you would have if a virus infected your system, or if you were not sure that the financial data on it was safe, or if you did not know what programs were running on the system. Worry comes in all shapes and sizes. If you clean your computer, you have a better handle on what is on your computer and how it is being used.
Economics:
Cleaning your computer can save you money - sometimes lots of money. Hard-drive clutter has helped boost the bottom line of hard drive manufacturers significantly over the past decade. Running low on space? Get a new drive. Computer running slow? Get a new system. Chances are, some of those new drives and new systems would have been unnecessary had the users done just a little housecleaning.
