Maintenance tips
Looking after your PC
Spend some time taking care of your PC and it will reward you with years of trouble free use.
Healthy respect!
- Don’t expose your computer to extremes of temperature (for instance, by placing it directly under a window or in front of a radiator). Make sure it has access to fresh air so the fan can keep the electronics cool.
- Don’t block air vents by stacking books or magazines at the back of the computer.
- Don’t eat or drink while using your computer. Tobacco smoke can also damage delicate contacts and circuits.
- Always shut down the computer by systematically closing the applications you have opened. Never turn it off with the power switch whilst applications are still running. The only exception to this rule is when your computer locks up.
- Never unplug peripherals (such as printer, monitor, keyboard) from the computer when it is powered up.
Call for back up!
Always backup your important files on a regular basis onto an external media such as floppy disks, USB memory sticks or rewritable CDs/DVDs. Alternatively, get a second hard drive (either internal or external) and back up onto that. Hard drives offer good value for money and you can store a vast amount of data on them. How frequently you back up will depend on how often you use your PC and what you use it for.
All over protection
Surfing the internet without properly protecting your PC first is asking for trouble!
Computer viruses spread within hours, so it's essential to buy some good antivirus software. Most anti-virus programmes now can be configured to automatically update themselves, so you have no excuse for not maintaining it!
Anti-spyware is also extremely important to protect you from unauthorized programs downloaded from the internet without your knowledge.
Most routers come fitted with a hardware firewall. While these are good you should also have a software firewall as well.
Clear the clutter!
Your computer is a bit like the attic. The longer you've had it, the more likely it is to be filled with clutter that you don't need such as software programmes you no longer use, files that you have downloaded and forgotten about. This can take up valuable disk space and even affect performance.
- Run Disk Cleanup once a month to delete unnecessary files
- Run Disk defragmenter once a month to organize your files better and improve performance.
You'll find them both in Start>All Programs>Accessories>System Tools, then click on Disk Defragmenter or Disk Cleanup.
The body beautiful
Your computer is a dust trap. Here's how to keep it clean. First shut it down, turn it off and unplug at the mains.
The casing
- Wipe the outside surfaces with lint-free wipes. Blow dirt/dust away from ventilation ports (keeping all cables firmly attached to their connectors on the case). You can use compressed air or a handheld vacuum cleaner for this.
- Always follow manufacturer’s advice and never remove the computer case without checking first with the manufacturer. It can invalidate your warranty or you may inadvertently do some damage.
The screen
The correct way to clean your monitor depends on the type you have. Turn off the monitor to see smudges and dirt better.
- For CRT monitors (the big chunky glass screens) spray a lint free cloth with water or a mild window cleaner and wipe the screen.
- Flat screen monitors and the screens on laptops can scratch easily so be gentle. Clean the screen once a month with a damp lint-free cloth. Wipe the screen gently in one direction, never in a circle. A special LCD cleaning cloth is well worth the investment.
- Never tap or touch the screen with your pen, finger or other object.
- Don't put sticky notes on your screen.
- The best way to extend your screen's life is to shut it off when it's not in use.
The keyboard
- Unplug the keyboard and hold it upside down to release any debris in between the keys (pressing the keys is a good way to release it). Blow any debris from around and under the keys.
- To clean the keys and surrounding plastic, rub with a cotton bud dampened with cleaning fluid (isopropyl alcohol) or a special keyboard cleaning-degreaser (from computer stores).
- If something gets spilled on the keyboard, disconnect it immediately and flip it over. Blot the top with paper towel and leave it to air dry overnight.
The mouse
- A grubby mouse will stick while you are using it and generally behave erratically!
- Unscrew the ball cover on the base of the mouse and remove ball. Remove any dirt or dust inside the socket or on the plastic rollers with a clean fingernail and isopropyl alcohol on a cotton bud. You can also buy mouse cleaning kits that contain everything you need.
- If you have an optical mouse (which uses a small laser to track movement), there aren't any mouse balls or rollers to need regular cleaning.
PC not already protected?
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