When you read or hear the word “computer software,” your first impression might be it’s probably something exotic and expensive. In other words, not something you can easily take back to your office and resume working on. That’s not to say it’s not useful — it is! There are probably plenty of computers out there that could do with a little maintenance, someone needs help with their internet connection, etc. In these cases, you’ll likely find software that can be downloaded from various websites that provide easy access for those issues resolved. But even if you have access to all of these resources, chances are they’re just bloated, overpriced software that detracts from the computer’s useful potential (and the owners’ potential future income). If this sounds like you, speak with an expert about how to tell if your software is in over its head.
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## The Reality of Computer Software Dereference If you’re over your head with some of these Windows systems, you might want to consider a clean-up process. Windows XP was a time when companies were trying to do everything they could think of to keep their employees’s jobs, but little was done to catch up with the latest and greatest in software. This included installing new software (or an outdated version of it) on every computer in the company. It also includes installing programs that don’t have their proper permissions or are allocated to other computers on the network. But even with all of these occurrences, Windows 10 has remained a remarkably efficient, user-friendly operating system. And that’s not something to take a back seat to with modern software — rather, it should be celebrated as an illustration of how far Microsoft has come in doing what it does best. ## If You Can’tune It, HTML it Although it might appear silly to do, homeowners should frequently change the way they maintain their Windows software. However, doing so by copying and pasting the program into a different program, such as an HTML editor, can be an enormous task. Even if you’re comfortable with this, there’s a chance that someone else on your team is using an older version of Windows. To avoid this, you should always change the way you use Windows. If someone on your team is using work Internet Explorer 7 or 8, simply select the “newer” version so they don’t become confused. But if you use Google Chrome or Safari, the old-fashioned alt text will do just as well. ## Use a front end When you’re dealing with modern software, you’ll likely find that a front end is essential to running it. If you use an online version of the software, you’ll likely have access to a tool that lets you open and edit files, such as a program that comes with your web browser. Be careful, though; this will open your computer to all kinds of trouble, including malware and hackers who may be looking to steal your data. Deselect the front end if you use an app-based software. This way, you won’t have access to all the tools your computer needs, including a firewall that helps protect your data from prying eyes. An application-based front end lets you access the program from anywhere on your computer, making it easy to switch between programs, making changes, and adding new files and folders. ## Don’t Depend on an App or Website If you keep using the same software on different computers, it can be difficult or impossible to tell if it’s still working. This is because old, bulleted text versions of programs often contain extra characters that are hard to spot on your own computer, even with the most accurate program comparison tool. Something as simple as adding a new file to a spreadsheet, or clicking on a list of items to show or hide, will immediately yield extra characters on the master copy. In these cases, it’s best to remove those characters and move them to the clipboard, or export the spreadsheet as an clipboard-friendly format. This way, you can easily add the new file to a new spreadsheet or export it as a .pptx file. ## Use a different software architecture If you keep using Windows 8 or 7 on different computers, you may notice that the operating system doesn’t automatically detect if a new computer is connected to the network. This can be a pain, as each computer on the network will need to be setup to accept the latest version of Windows. However, installing a different operating system on each machine does encourage hackers to look for new ways to infiltrate your network, as each computer is now a potential target. It’s best to use a different computer architecture, such as using an Apple laptop or installing Windows 7 on a Windows 7 laptop. ## Bottom line As you can see from the list above, Windows 10 has a lot of great features, but it doesn’t come with a whole lot of help when looking to maintain and upgrade it. If you think you need help, there are a few resources you can turn to for help. It’s important to take care of your computers as they come, so take this time to get your computer’s software clean and up-to-date. If you have any questions or suggestions, don’t hesitate to ask. In fact, be proactive and ask your friends and colleagues about how they keep their computers in top notch shape. You never know what amazing support they can provide.