We tend to take it for granted that our PCs “just work”. It’s easy to forget that (like any piece of technology) they need regular maintenance and fine tuning to prolong their life and keep them working smoothly. A number of often overlooked Windows applications can help you keep your computer up to speed.

Some of the tools mentioned will rectify a problem. Others have features that are worth using immediately because they’re good preventive measures to ensure you’re protecting your PC, in case disaster is nigh.