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The average
PC user doesn't think much about problems that can
arise with a computer until a problem actually occurs in the system. Once a failure happens, repairs can be
both costly and time-consuming. The good news is that there are some preventive measures that you can take to decrease the likelihood of running into problems with the computer's smooth and efficient operation and also to lessen any damage that does occur despite best efforts to avoid failures.
Why Computers Fail
Computer failures occur for a variety of reasons, sometimes because of human error and sometimes because of factors in the environment that cause a computer to malfunction — or a combination of
both. These factors can include excessive buildup of dust, heat or magnetism;
viruses picked up from the
Internet or from storage media shared between different computers; static electricity shocks or power surges; carelessness, such as spilling liquids into a computer or bumping or dropping the
hard drive casing;
software that has not been configured correctly or a PC's
setup that has been handled incorrectly,
such as incorrect handling of
upgrades.
The following tips are a
basic guideline that you can use to keep your PC maintained to run efficiently,
increase component lifespan and also help lessen the overall likelihood of PC failure:
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Operating & Environment Conditions
- Do not place a PC directly near a heating or cooling source, such as heating vents or air conditioners. Both excessive heat and cold can damage a PC. This includes putting the PC in the path of direct sunlight.
- Manufacturers often recommend that PCs be in a humidity-controlled environment, but again the PC should not be positioned so that an air conditioner is blowing cool air directly onto the unit (as temperature drops, the likelihood of static electricity increases).
- Keep the PC's air vents and fans unobstructed
and free of dust.
- Do not smoke around a PC. Cigarette
smoke can damage exposed metal contacts.
- Do not place a PC near water sources that can splash onto the components or drip down into them. This includes open windows through which rain can come and also under plants than can drip water down into them.
- Do not connect power sources directly into wall outlets but rather connect them first to some form of
surge protector. Surge protectors prevent electrical surges from destroying hard drives and erasing data.
- Buildup of dust can seriously hamper a PC's capability to cool down, and even if you never open your computer's case dust can still get in through the drive openings.
Dust also compromises the lifespan of your PC's hardware. An efficient way to clean dust from the inside of a computer is with compressed air, blowing dust away from the
motherboard and other components. You should
never blow air directly into a
floppy drive as this can cause dust to lodge in the drive and cause it to malfunction. Users who are not familiar with working inside a computer case should take the unit to a professional for cleaning because it is possible to do more harm than good to a computer if you do not know how to safely work inside of a case.
- Always turn off and unplug the system
before you clean any of the components inside the case. It is also
important to ground yourself to prevent static electricity discharge
before touching any components inside.
- Be extremely careful when moving a PC from one location to another. Even small jolts can dislodge
chips and
expansion boards,
so be sure to power off the system before moving it — even if it's only
going from one side of your desk to another.
- Save all documentation that comes with your PC and its components. You may need to refer to the documentation if something goes wrong.
- Always shut your system down properly
(in Windows use the Start --> Shutdown method) whenever possible. It is
also important to respond to warnings and error messages to prevent
possible data loss or corruption.
Operating System & Data
Maintenance
- Always ensure you have downloaded and
installed the latest patches and service updates for your operating
system, especially on a Windows-based PC. These updates will fix bugs
and security exploits.
- Keep the root directory organized. Only keep your system's startup and software initialization files in the root directory.
Application files and their data belong in a separate directory from the root directory.
- Do not store data files in the same directory that you store the software. This will eliminate the possibility of accidentally erasing or
overwriting a software file.
- Keep a set of backup rescue disks for the
operating system.
- Keep meticulous records of
default settings, any changes you make in a system's
CMOS setup that differ from the default settings, and any maintenance you perform on the system. You can often use this record to backtrack when you are
troubleshooting a problem and will become valuable if you decide to upgrade any of the system's components. It is also possible for the CMOS to lose settings and you will want a record of the setup to reconstruct it.
- Keep backup copies of any important data on a removable medium. Hard drives can fail and having important data on more than one medium can save a lot of stress and headaches.
- If possible use a secondary hard drive
in your system for saving files. Your main drive, which is accessed
more frequently is prone to mechanical drive failure sooner than your
less frequently accessed secondary hard drive would be.
- Over time when you add and remove
software, devices and drives, you'll be left with extraneous system
registry entries, which can lead to slower performance. You can use
system utilities (purchased or good shareware) that will help you keep
your Windows system registry cleaned.
TIP: Windows
Live OneCare offers a
free tune up scan which can help you optimize your PC's
performance. This scan will help you determine what basic system
maintenance tasks need to be run on your computer.
Hardware & Hard Drive Maintenance
- Keep records of any expansion cards you install and the procedures you follow to install them.
- Windows has a disk clean up function
which will remove temporary files created by programs. This can free up
additional hard drive space.
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Defrag your
hard drives. A PC runs better with regular disk Defrag. Defragging your
hard drive organizes your hard drive so that access to files and
programs is more efficient.
TIP:
Learn How to Defrag Your Hard Drive in the "Did You Know..."
section of Webopedia.
- If you are using a
trackball mouse be
sure to frequently clean the rollers inside to keep the mouse moving
smoothly.
- Clean your
CRT
monitor with
standard glass cleaner and a lint free cloth. Be sure to spray the cloth
with cleaner and then wipe — do not spray cleaner directly on the
monitor.
- Most
LCD displays can
be cleaned with isopropyl. However, you should check your manual for the
manufacturer's cleaning recommendations.
- Extend the lifespan of your computer
monitor by shutting it off when not in use.
- Be sure to update
drivers and software
for your expansion cards, such as video or sound cards. By using updated
drivers your hardware usually will run better.
To access built-in Windows
tools for disk clean-up and Defrag,
right click on the drive in your Windows Explorer and choose 'properties' to
access.
(Click images to enlarge)
Software Maintenance
- Keep a
backup copy of original software, either on CD or
DVD. This type of software copying is perfectly legal.
- Be wary of installing file sharing and
other
peer-to-peer software as they represent a security risk to your PC.
While the software itself may very well be virus-free and not represent
a security risk, sharing your files and downloading other users' files
can be.
- Purge your software. Getting rid of
unused software frees up additional system resources and hard disk
space. To uninstall software on a Windows PC, use the "Add/Remove
Programs" function from the Control Panel.
- For better system performance avoid
using shareware (or freeware) wallpaper, screensavers, and similar audio
and visual apps. These will usually require extra system resources to
run.
Always uninstall programs
by using the Add/Remove Programs in your Windows Control Panel
(Click image to enlarge)
Antivirus Protection
- Install an
antivirus program that automatically scans for viruses when the system
boots.
- Once you have an antivirus program you
will need to update the virus definitions daily to ensure your system is
protected against the latest threats.
- Do not download any files from the Internet unless you are certain the source is not transmitting a virus to you.
- Do not use any storage media that has been used in another computer unless you are certain the other computer is free of viruses and will not pass the virus on to your system.
- Never open e-mail attachments from
people you don't know; and don't open any file attachment that ends in
'.exe., All downloaded files should be scanned by your anti-virus
application before you run or install it.
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Did You Know...
Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2), contains 826
fixes and updates.
[Source] |
Do you have an interesting
piece of computer-related trivia that you would like us to explore?
Tell us
about it.
By Vangie Beal
Last updated: January 25, 2008
Webopedia Quick
Reference: Tips to Fix a Slow Running Computer
There are many reasons why your computer could be running slowly, but here are
some easy steps you can take to figure out what is causing the slow down.
Webopedia's "Did You Know... How to Defrag a Hard Drive"
Learn how to optimize a disk by unfragmenting files.
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From dusty computer fans to fingerprints on compact discs, computer parts and
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Webopedia's "Did You Know...Formatting a Hard Disk Drive"
When installing a hard disk drive (commonly called a hard drive) for the first
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The following tips will serve as a basic guideline to keep your PC maintained to
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Webopedia's "Did You Know...All About Monitors: CRT vs. LCD"
The two types of monitor technologies available to consumers are available in
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Viruses, worms and Trojan Horses are all malicious programs that can cause
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When installing a hard disk drive (commonly called a hard drive) for the first
time, attempting to remove errors from your drive, getting rid of a nasty virus,
or even cleaning a hard drive because you are selling or donating your computer
. those are just a few of the many reasons why one might consider formatting
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Webopedia's "Did You Know...How to Completely Erase a Hard Disk Drive"
Simply erasing all the data on your hard drive and formatting it is not enough
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Webopedia's "Did You Know...Static Electricity and Computers"
Whenever the casing of a computer is opened and its internal workings are
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held by the human body. |
