After a lot of considerationcomparison-shopping and mental agony, you finally purchased a laptop and you were in seventh heaven, at least for sometime. The next question after you have returned to reality is what to do about it. If your laptop is new and right off the box from the store, no worry: you just turn it on and load your needed programs and utilities. But if it is a used laptopor arefurbished laptop, there are other things to perform after switching it on. That is even presuming that you checked it properly at the store before agreeing to pay for it and it performed superbly.

Here are the necessary things and some suggestions you could do to optimize its functioning:

Imperative #1-Clean up the hard drive: Old information in your hard drive may not have been erased even while refurbishing. Inputted data remain in the disk even when deleted unless superseded by new information. These traces of old data occupy space in the hard drive and may compel the machine to write the new information somewhere else, producing broken up files. File fragmentation is one reason of sluggish performance. There are specialized applications designed for erasing old data without deleting the operating system and other software.

Imperative #2-Reformat the drive: Faster than clearing the drive is reformatting. It completely clears the drive which unfortunately includes your software within it. Thus you will need to re-install them afterwards. This is one precaution people divide up the disk into different drives (C; D) and set up operating software in Drive C and information in Drive D. You can use Windows Clean Disk utility or some other application for this.

Imperative #3-Install an antivirus software: For protection when working with the computer, especially at the Internet visiting websites and downloading files or graphics. Many viruses go through the Web and the more virulent ones can attack the operating system severely enough to render it inoperable. Some can destroy your recorded info or double up occupied space by instituting a secondary program.

It is a good idea to select a software which will also defend you from malware and spyware. The bad mini programs can damage your programs or at least hamper its operation. They are mostly used to copy email addresses from your machine to send spam to, as well as to you.

Elective #1-Improve your software and applications: If possible replace OSs and applications with those you trust. Also, some laptops were sold in that they were outdated, being too slow, small RAM, incompatible with newer utility programs and such. Increasing the capacity of your RAM or HDD will be beneficial to you.

Elective #2-Ready a replacement battery: Battery usability ordinarily lasts two to three years, so if you are not sure when your laptop was first sold, you have the risk of having no battery power at a crucial time. It is best to have an extra one on hand.

Elective #3-Safeguard your computer: Utilize your laptop universal security slot by buying and attaching a USS cable to it. It can easily pinpoint your laptop if it is purloined. Have your name and other markings incise at a prominent place in the outer part for the same purpose.