By the end of this lesson you will be able to
- Describe what regular maintenance prevents and why small regular jobs beat rare big ones.
- Install updates, empty the bin and remove unused apps safely on Ubuntu and Windows.
- Verify that a backup can really be restored by opening a file from it.
- Care for ventilation and the battery with simple habits.
- Build a personal daily, monthly and yearly maintenance schedule.
A car needs oil changes and a bicycle needs oiled chains, and a computer needs a little regular care too. Most computer trouble arrives slowly: storage creeping towards full, updates left waiting, a backup that quietly stopped months ago, dust clogging the fan. Ten minutes a month is enough to prevent most of it. This lesson gives you a routine that is safe: it never asks you to delete system files, edit the registry or install a 'cleaner' program.
Why a routine beats a rescue
A maintenance routine is a short list of checks done on a schedule. It turns 'my computer broke and I have lost everything' into 'my computer showed a warning and I fixed it in five minutes'. The routine has five parts: keep software updated, keep storage tidy, remove what you do not use, prove that your backup works, and look after the hardware's air and battery.
- UpdateSystem and programs
- Tidy storageBin, big backed-up files
- Remove appsOnly what you do not use
- Check backupOpen a file from it
- Air and batteryVents, heat, health
Read this figure as text
A cycle of five maintenance jobs: update, tidy storage, remove unused apps, check the backup and care for air and battery.
A cycle with five jobs repeated in turn. Update: install system and program updates. Tidy storage: empty the bin and move big files you have backed up. Remove apps: uninstall programs you no longer use. Check backup: open a file from the backup to prove it can be restored. Air and battery: keep vents clear and the laptop cool, and look at battery health. The centre label reads Monthly routine.
Job 1: keep software updated
Updates close security holes and fix faults, so they are the single most valuable maintenance job. Install them regularly, with the charger connected, and restart when asked. Updating also includes your browser and any other program you use daily. If you let updates pile up for months, the eventual update is larger and more likely to need a lot of free space.
Check for updates
Ubuntu 24.04
Step 1: Open Software Updater
Press the Super key, type
Software Updaterand press Enter. Ubuntu may open it by itself with a notice that updates are available.You should see: A list of updates, or 'The software on this computer is up to date'.
Step 2: Install now
Choose Install Now and let it finish. Restart when asked.
You should see: The computer restarts and the updater later says it is up to date.
Step 3: Check App Center
Open App Center and choose the Installed or Updates view to update programs installed from there.
You should see: Programs with updates show an Update button.
Windows 11
Step 1: Open Windows Update
Go to Settings, then Windows Update, and choose Check for updates.
You should see: 'You're up to date' or a list of updates to download and install.
Step 2: Restart when asked
Choose Restart now when it is convenient, after saving your work.
You should see: The computer restarts and finishes installing.
Step 3: Check your programs
Open the Microsoft Store and check Library for updates, and open your browser's About page to confirm it is current.
You should see: Programs show as up to date or an Update button appears.
Job 2: tidy storage safely
Free space matters because the computer uses storage as a workspace, and updates need room. Aim to keep at least 15 to 20 per cent free. The safe order is: empty the bin or Recycle Bin, empty the Downloads folder of things you no longer need, move large personal files (old videos, photographs) to an external drive after you have checked the copy opens, and only then delete the originals.
158 GB used of 256 GB (98 GB free)
Videos: 62 GB
Apps: 41 GB
Documents: 18 GB
Temporary files: 4 GB
Other: 33 GB
- Marker 1: Check the free space first
- Marker 2: Temporary files are the safest to clear
- Marker 3: Use the system's own suggestions
Read this figure as text
A simulated settings window showing a storage bar and categories such as Documents, Videos, Apps and Temporary files with sizes.
A simulated settings window called Storage. The top shows a bar with 158 GB used of 256 GB, and 98 GB free (mark 1: about 38 per cent free, which is healthy). A list of categories follows: Videos 62 GB, Apps 41 GB, Documents 18 GB, Temporary files 4 GB (mark 2: temporary files are the safest to clear), Other 33 GB. A button reads Review recommendations (mark 3: use only the clean-up suggestions the system itself offers).
See what takes space and empty the bin
Ubuntu 24.04
Step 1: Empty the Trash
Open Files, choose Trash in the sidebar and look through it. Then choose Empty Trash. Items in the Trash are removed for good, so check first.
You should see: The Trash is empty and the space is freed.
Step 2: See big folders
Open the Disk Usage Analyzer (search for it after pressing the Super key; install it from App Center if it is missing) and scan your Home folder.
You should see: A chart shows which folders are largest. Only look: do not delete anything you cannot name.
Step 3: Optional: auto-empty
In Settings, look under Privacy & Security for File History & Trash to set the Trash to empty itself after a number of days (the wording varies slightly between releases).
You should see: Old Trash items are removed automatically.
Windows 11
Step 1: Open Storage
Go to Settings, System, Storage. Wait for the categories to load.
You should see: A bar shows used and free space with a list of categories.
Step 2: Review temporary files
Choose Temporary files, read each entry, and tick only the ones you understand (such as Recycle Bin and Temporary files). Untick Downloads unless you are sure you no longer need what is in it. Choose Remove files.
You should see: Space is freed. Your documents are not touched.
Step 3: Consider Storage Sense
Turn on Storage Sense on the same page to clear temporary files and an old Recycle Bin automatically.
You should see: Routine clean-up happens without you.
Job 3: remove apps you no longer use
Every program you keep takes storage, may run in the background and may need updates. If you have not used one in a year and you can reinstall it if needed, remove it. Always remove programs with the system's own uninstall tool, never by dragging a folder to the bin, because the uninstaller also removes parts that are stored elsewhere.
Uninstall an unused program
Ubuntu 24.04
Step 1: Open App Center
Open App Center and choose the Installed tab.
You should see: A list of programs installed from App Center.
Step 2: Remove one
Select a program you no longer use and choose Uninstall. Confirm.
You should see: The program disappears from the list and from Show Apps.
Windows 11
Step 1: Open Installed apps
Go to Settings, Apps, Installed apps. Sort by Size or Install date.
You should see: A list of installed programs with sizes.
Step 2: Remove one
Click the three dots beside a program you no longer use and choose Uninstall. Confirm.
You should see: The program is removed from the list.
Job 4: prove the backup works
A backup you have never tested is only a hope. A restore test means opening a real file from the backup to prove it exists and is readable. Once a month, pick one file or folder, find its copy on the external drive or cloud storage, open it, and check that it is the version you expect. Also look at the date of the latest backup. If the newest copy is from last spring, your backup has quietly stopped.
Job 5: air, dust and battery
Heat is the enemy of electronics. Keep the vents clear, use the laptop on hard surfaces, and once or twice a year switch off, unplug, and wipe dust from the outside of the vents with a dry soft cloth. Do not open the laptop or use liquids. For the battery, the habits are simple: avoid heat, avoid running it flat as a routine, and glance at its health every few months. A drive's health is also worth a look. Drives report their own condition through a feature called SMART.
- Marker 1: Healthy and OK: no problems reported
Read this figure as text
A simulated PowerShell window running Get-PhysicalDisk that shows one disk with a Healthy health status.
A simulated PowerShell window. Command: Get-PhysicalDisk | Select-Object FriendlyName, HealthStatus, OperationalStatus. Output is a table with one row: FriendlyName Example NVMe SSD 256GB, HealthStatus Healthy and OperationalStatus OK (mark 1: the drive reports no problems and is working). The command only reads information and changes nothing. If HealthStatus said Warning or Unhealthy, back up at once and ask for repair help.
On Windows the command above is read-only. Type it into Windows Terminal or PowerShell exactly as shown. On Ubuntu, open the Disks app (search for 'Disks') and, for the drive, choose the menu with three dots and then SMART Data & Self-Tests. It shows an overall assessment such as 'Disk is OK'. If your disk reports problems or warnings, back up first and ask for help.
Putting the routine on a calendar
| How often | What to do | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Daily | Save work, restart the computer when it asks, shut it down properly now and then | A minute |
| Weekly | Install waiting updates; empty the bin; clear Downloads | 5 minutes |
| Monthly | Check free space; restore-test one file from the backup; remove an unused app | 15 minutes |
| Every 6 months | Check battery health and drive health; wipe dust from the outside of the vents | 10 minutes |
| Yearly | Review your backup plan; check that important accounts have recovery options; consider whether the computer still suits your work | 30 minutes |
Build your own routine with daily, monthly and yearly tasks. The lab saves your list in this browser only. It does not touch your real computer.
Loading lab…
Common mistakes
✖ Instead of: Installing a 'registry cleaner' to speed up the computer.
✔ Do this: Use the built-in storage, update and uninstall tools. They are safe and enough.
✖ Instead of: Trusting a backup because the drive is plugged in.
✔ Do this: Open a file from the backup every month to prove it works.
✖ Instead of: Deleting large folders you do not recognise to get space.
✔ Do this: Delete only what you can name and have backed up.
✖ Instead of: Putting off updates for months.
✔ Do this: Install weekly, so each update is small and quick.
If something goes wrong
- Storage settings shows no free space but I cannot find what is using it.
- Use the storage categories or Disk Usage Analyzer to see the biggest items, then back up and move large personal files. Ask for help rather than deleting guesses.
- The updater says there is not enough space.
- Free space first by emptying the bin and moving backed-up big files, then try again.
- I cannot find my backup copy of a file.
- Check the backup's date and location, then try the cloud service's website. If a file is missing, your backup is incomplete: fix the backup before relying on it.
- The Disks or PowerShell command shows a warning.
- Back up important files straight away, avoid heavy use of the drive and ask for repair help.
Key terms
- Maintenance routine
- A short list of regular checks, such as updates, storage tidy-up and backup tests, done on a schedule.
- Restore test
- Opening a real file from your backup to prove the backup works and can be read.
- SMART status
- A built-in health report that a drive keeps about itself, which software can read to warn you of trouble.
Practise it for real
Reading is not the same as being able to do it. Complete these on your own computer, then tick only what you have actually done. These ticks are your own honest record: nothing checks them for you.
Do a ten-minute monthly check
On your own computer, check for updates and install any that are waiting. Open your storage settings and note how much space is free. Pick one important file, find its backup copy and open it. Open the list of installed programs and write down one program you could remove, without removing it yet. Record the date in a notebook.
Challenge: design your own schedule
Using the lab or paper, write a maintenance schedule that fits your life. Include at least two daily or weekly tasks, three monthly tasks and two yearly tasks. For each, say how you will know it is done, and put one reminder in your calendar or phone. Explain in a sentence why a restore test matters more than owning a backup drive.
Knowledge check
6 questions. You need 80% to pass. Mistakes here are part of learning, and you can retry as often as you like.
Summary
- Maintenance is a short list of checks on a schedule, not a rescue operation.
- Updates, tidy storage, removed apps, a tested backup and care for air and battery are the five jobs.
- A backup is proven only by restoring a file from it.
- Use the system's own tools. Avoid registry cleaners and 'speed-up' programs.
- Ten minutes a month prevents most slow and sudden problems.
Checklist: can you do these?
Marking a lesson as read does not prove you can do it. Skills count as demonstrated when you pass the quiz (not yet) and complete the practical tasks (not yet).
Related lessons
References and further reading
Official sources for details that can change between versions.
- Ubuntu Desktop help (Ubuntu)
- Windows support (Microsoft)