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10 Things to Do With an Old Computer

summest — Sun, 12 Jun 2022 18:53:06 +0000

Do you have an old computer that’s taking up space? Don’t throw it away! This list provides ten things you can do with an old computer to keep it out of the dump and may even save you money.01of 10

Upgrade It

Vesnaandjic / Getty Images

Upgrading an old computer is an excellent way to squeeze more life from it. Though many upgrades are possible, focusing on the RAM and storage is best.

Running short of RAM can hamper performance, so adding RAM can refresh an old PC. A RAM upgrade is most useful when a PC has less than 4GB of RAM installed.

An old mechanical disk drive can also hold back PC performance, so consider replacing your old hard drive. If you can afford to do so, replacing it with a modern solid-state drive will make the PC more responsive.

However, not every PC allows upgrades, so research this before you purchase new hardware.02of 10

Use It as a Garage or Hobby PC

Lucy Lambriex / Getty Images

Old PCs can make great companions in ways you’d never use a new computer. A great example is an old ThinkPad used in the garage. It could be great for tracking to-do lists and recording the progress of a garden or other mess-making projects.

Most people would never use a new PC for such work. It’s a dirty, sometimes even damp, environment. Since many old PCs are no longer helpful for many tasks, you don’t have to feel bad subjecting them to more abuse.

Though its capabilities will be limited, most old PCs can access websites, document editing apps, and streaming video.03of 10

Play Retro PC and Console Games

An old computer is still quick enough to handle retro console and PC games from the 1980s and early 1990s.

You can play these games through an emulator. The emulator uses software to mimic the original game console or PC.

A massive library of emulators is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux. Retroarch, a program that can manage multiple emulators, is a great place to start.04of 10

Use It as a Home File Server

Filezilla

A home file server can be used as an alternative to cloud storage services. It will make files accessible to multiple computers in your home and even on the Internet.

Home file servers are best on a dedicated computer that’s always on, which is an excellent use for an old computer. A file server is not a demanding task, so most old computers can do the job.

There are many ways to set up a home file server, but downloading free FTP server software is an excellent place to start.05of 10

Use It as a Game Server

Most old PCs can run a game server. Unlike the clients connecting to it, the server doesn’t need to render the game’s graphics.

Turning an old PC into a game server can give you a dedicated virtual space to play with friends. You won’t have to pay a monthly fee, as you would if you rented the server.

A Minecraft server is a great place to start, but many old, popular games offer a dedicated server option.06of 10

Make It a Media Center PC

Plex

Most old computers are powerful enough to work as a media center PC. You can stream media or host video files you own.

Installing software such as Plex can help you connect multiple services and media files with one interface. You may even be able to access files from smartphones and tablets.

Those who love over-the-air TV can install a TV tuner to watch or record local TV broadcasts.07of 10

Make It a Home Security System

Krisanapong Detraphipat / Getty Images

Want to use home security cameras to monitor your home while you’re away? An old computer can help.

Many security cameras can connect to a computer on your local network and record video to it. Look for home security cameras known as “IP cameras.” These connect directly over a local network or the Internet.

You will also need software to manage the cameras. Many options are available, but iSpy is the most popular free option.08of 10

Keep It for Guests

Maskot / Getty Images

Adding a guest PC can make a guest room more comfortable. It’s handy if a family member or friend frequently visits since they’ll no longer need to pack their computer.

Turning an old computer into a guest computer is simple. All you need to do is set up a new local account for your guest.09of 10

Donate It

MG Photography / Getty Images

You can often repurpose an old computer. If not, don’t throw it away. Consider donating it first.

The donation centers near you will vary depending on your location. Alternatively, you can put the computer up for free on a local ad board like Craigslist.10of 10

Recycle It

HollenderX2 / Getty Images

If an old computer is too slow to be useful or no longer working, it shouldn’t go in the trash. Computers can be hazardous as they degrade and should be recycled.

A variety of recycling programs are available. Staples has a trade-in program that may provide store credit for old devices. Best Buy also recycles old electronics for free.

Most PC manufacturers have recycling programs, and many pay for shipping. These programs can be helpful if you live in a rural area without easy access to a recycling center.

by Matthew S. Smith, Lifewire

How To Update Your WordPress Website And Why

summest — Tue, 04 Jan 2022 16:54:43 +0000

post from https://www.designerblogs.com/.

Having a self-hosted WordPress site means that it’s yours. You own it. You and you alone are responsible for running it and keeping it updated. It’s very much like owning a car. In order to keep a car running in tip-top condition, you have to perform regular maintenance on it like changing the oil, checking the tire pressure, using the proper type of gas, etc. A self-hosted WordPress site must be maintained on a regular basis in much the same way. Your themes, plugins, and WordPress version should always be functioning with the most recent updates to keep your site running at its prime.

Updates can be a little scary because on rare occasions they will cause a problem with your site. Sometimes a plugin you update may not be compatible with an existing plugin on your site and it can cause issues. Because there is always a small risk of updates creating problems, it’s important to make sure you always have a backup of your database saved before you do any updates just in case something should go wrong.

If you ever run into issues after performing an update, contact your hosting provider and they can help you restore your most recent backup (if they offer such a service). Keep in mind that issues caused by updates are very rare, so please don’t let the fear of this prevent you from backing up your site.

Why updates are so important

WordPress is always working to improve its software. Each update they release is packed with security fixes, bug fixes, and new features. Here’s a look at why these updates are so important:

1. Security Fixes

According to WPBeginner, 83% of hacked WordPress blogs have not been updated. Hackers are always on the hunt for sites to destroy. Hackers watch the release notes for updates and as soon as they learn of a vulnerability they start their attacks on sites that haven’t been updated. When you keep your site updated, the updates patch up those vulnerabilities which strengthen your site against malicious attacks. Updating your site as soon as an update becomes available will reduce the time that your site is vulnerable.

2. Bug Fixes

Software bugs can come in many shapes and sizes. Some bugs cause minor mechanical issues after an update. For example, a recent update we did on our site, caused our sidebar to completely disappear! We notified Genesis of the “bug” we experienced with that particular update and within just a few hours, they pushed out an update that fixed the bug and resolved the issue. Other bugs can be more serious and can cause major security holes leaving you vulnerable to attacks.

Fortunately, the amazing team at WordPress and most plugin developers are quick to act against security threats and often push out an update before you even realize there has been a problem. Performing updates as soon as they become available ensures you will have the most secure and stable versions of WordPress, plugins, and themes possible. Unstable versions can crash your site or leave you prone to being hacked.

3. Adds Features and Functionality

Ever since its initial release in 2003, WordPress has been working hard to continually improve the platform. With each update they’ve pushed out since inception, WordPress refines itself and becomes more and more functional. Theme and plugin developers continually work in the same way to provide the best products possible. Keeping your site running on the most recent updates will allow you access to the key features and improved functionalities contained within each update.

How to Know if You Need to Update

WordPress makes it easy to know when updates are available. When logged into your dashboard, you’ll see notifications appear at the top menu bar as well as on your “Updates” tab whenever updates are available. By clicking on either option, you’ll be taken to the “WordPress Updates” page where you can perform the updates. You can also visit your “Plugins” tab and the update notifications will appear under any plugins with available updates.

How to Update WordPress

Before attempting any updates, remember to backup your database. It’s also wise to plan to do your updates at a time when your traffic is at its lowest because your site may appear in maintenance mode for a few seconds during the updates.

When you are ready, visit your “WordPress Updates” page to perform your updates.

Once here, just click on any items listed here and click the update button.

WordPress Version

Before you update anything else, make sure you have the latest version of WordPress running. The latest versions of WordPress include an auto update system, which will automatically update your WordPress version with new point releases, so you most likely will already have the latest version of WordPress running. If not, click the update button to perform the update.

Plugins

Next, in the plugins section you’ll see a list of plugins with updates available. Be sure to double check that the new updates will be compatible with the version of WordPress you are currently running before doing the updates. Select the plugins you wish to update or check “Select All” to update them all at once and then click on the “Update Plugins” button. Again, your site may appear in maintenance mode for just a few seconds during the updates.

I recommend updating each plugin individually. Review your site between each update to make sure no errors have occurred. If an error occurs on your site after an individual update, it makes it easy to pin point which plugin update caused the issue. You can then report the error to the developer of that plugin so they can work to include a fix for the error in their next update.

Themes

You may occasionally see the need for a theme update. You might also see on occasion updates for themes that aren’t even activated on your site. That’s okay! Still perform any updates you receive notifications for. As always, make sure to back up your site first.

What Happens When You Don’t Maintain Your Website?

summest — Thu, 27 May 2021 01:28:10 +0000

Some people make the mistake of ignoring website maintenance to cut costs. Don’t. While it may save you money at first, not maintaining your website can lead to more expensive problems down the line:

Outdated technology — If you don’t update components like your CMS, plugins, themes, etc., you miss out on the latest features and functionality, including security updates. This can leave your site open for all sorts of unpleasant things like hacks and breaking code.
Site outages — Worst case scenario, your website gets taken down completely. Any downtime is money lost right there. Plus, there are expenses to fix the problem and a loss of reputation, which can have long-term repercussions.
Reduced content and design quality — Website maintenance includes keeping your content up to date, creating new site content, and updating the design every once in a while. If you don’t do that, your site will look worse for the wear over time.
Compromised security — Without proper maintenance, your site doesn’t just become hackable, if you don’t set up security measures like backups, you won’t be able to recover it if worst comes to worst.
Slow performance — Website speed tends to decrease over time. For that reason, it’s important that you oil the gears regularly so to speak to keep everything humming along.
Faltering search engine optimization — Content, security, and speed are all factors that search engines take into account when ranking your site. So, if they are not up to snuff, you will likely take a dive in the search results.

In short, skimping on website maintenance is a one-way street to decreased user experience and an overall worse site. Yet, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Investing in regular maintenance now will likely cost less than trying to fix huge problems down the line.

Why Is Website Maintenance Important?

summest — Fri, 19 Feb 2021 21:05:15 +0000

Website maintenance is important to any business, regardless of size. Your website is a worldwide window into your business and it can have a big impact on how the value of your product or service is perceived. A well-maintained website is critical for real-time service industries. All businesses need regular website maintenance to attract and retain customers, maintain search engine rankings and present new information, products and services to the public. Website maintenance is also required to maintain the value of the website over time.

Customer Interest

A well-maintained website attracts new customers and maintains the interest levels of existing customers. Your website should be customer centered and kept relevant by routinely refreshing the content and ensuring that customer contact points are in good working order. Routinely check that contact forms work, address and phone number listings are updated and products, services and price lists are current and correct.

Search Engines

Website maintenance is critical to search-engine rankings. Websites with old content rank lower in search engine listings. Some search engines, including Google, check your page’s “if-modified-since” HTTP header to determine whether it is worth crawling. Failing to make frequent modifications could cause you to be pushed below active competitors in the listings and cost you business over time.

Corporate Image

Your website is a public reflection of your corporate image. A poorly maintained website with lots of errors, broken links, dead pages and outdated information projects a sloppy corporate image and can cause business to decline over time. Routinely examine the look and feel of your website and update it to match your corporate image. Check and fix broken links, poor grammar and spelling mistakes as quickly as possible — preferably before a customer brings them to your attention.

Considerations

Your website-maintenance activities need to cover some business-critical key areas. These include copy production, quality control, publishing, feedback monitoring, performance monitoring, infrastructure maintenance, routine maintenance, change control and risk control. For risk management, you need to have a business-continuity plan in place for your website and ensure that your hosting service provider has a backup and maintenance plan that is in line with your own business service levels, especially if you have a real-time or mission-critical website.