What you must do NOW to make it last longer (and the common mistakes to avoid)

You don’t have to throw money at your PC to make it withstand the test of time. Jonathan Parkyn explains how a little expertise and some clever spending can leave your PC working smoothly for years to come

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Technology moves so fast that it’s impossible to have a top-of-the range PC for long. But, while you might expect your computer’s specifications to be outstripped by newer products within a matter of months, it’s reasonable to expect several years to pass before it’s rendered obsolete.

Here at Computeractive we think that a new PC should be good for at least five years, but there are ways to keep it going long beyond this cut-off. Mitigating the inevitable decline can start before you even buy your PC. Making smart choices about the computer you buy and the components inside it can help ensure you’re not lumbered with a device that struggles to keep up with the times (see page 57).

Looking after your PC by keeping Windows up to date and clear of clutter will go a long way to improving your PC’S performance and longevity. There are also settings you can change, software you can install, tools you can run and upgrades you can carry out to keep your computer from an early landfill grave.

Keeping your PC going for longer may be harder than ever these days, thanks to questionable decisions made by some of the biggest tech companies. As we reported in Issue 507 (page 6) Microsoft recently revealed it was ending Windows 10 support for PCS running certain types of Intel processor. This has left millions of users unable to update to the latest version of Windows 10. Shockingly, many of the affected PCS were bought as recently as three years ago.

In this guide, we’ll reveal how to make a realistic assessment of your PC’S longevity; what you can do to increase that lifespan; and how Microsoft’s controversial Windows 10 Update policy might affect the future of your computer.