| Maintaining Computer Hardware: Once you have built your machine, connected and attached the internal parts and peripheral components, configured your BIOS, installed the Operating System, and added drivers, your machine is ready for use. From there you can add software, sign up for Internet service, add hardware, and otherwise improve your computer to make it function the way you want. The majority of maintenance and repair required from that point on is going to be software related. That is the subject of the “Troubleshooting, setup, and configuration” CD Tutorial in this series. There are, however, some things you can do to help maintain your system physically, and keep it in good working order. Cleaning: The computer case should be opened periodically, and the dust should be cleared off of the components and fans, with a can of compressed air (available at most electronics and general merchandise stores). Thick layers of dust collecting on components can trap heat and cause overheating and related component errors. Dust collecting on fans will cause them to eventually stop and overheat the components that they cool. One of the first things to do when a computer consistently stops working correctly after having been on for a while, is to open the case and make sure the fans on the CPU, power supply, and other areas of the system are running as they should. An overheating CPU will generally cause system lockups, illegal operations, and fatal errors which are hard to track to down. (Remember to heed the static and power guidelines given earlier, whenever opening the computer case!) VIDEO: cleaning with compressed air Shutting down properly: When powering off a Windows computer, click on START -> Shut Down -> then "OK" when asked if it's ok to shut down. Wait until Windows gives you the message that "It is now safe to shut off your computer" before turning off the power (most computers in ATX cases will shut the power off automatically at that point). Shutting down the computer in this way assures that your hard drive heads are parked, and that all of the other areas of the computer system are properly prepared for power to be shut off. If you do not go through this process, you are at a slight risk of damaging operating system components, software, and even the hardware inside the computer. VIDEO: shutting down properly Surge Protectors and UPS: All computers should be plugged into an electric surge protector power strip, which protects the machine from sharp spikes in electrical current. The type of surge protector with modem protection, which allows the modem to be plugged into the power strip, and then from the strip into a wall jack, is suggested, as many electrical surges can come through the phone lines to damage the machine. "Uninterruptable Power Supplies" or "UPS"s offer surge protection, and battery backup power for a short period of computer use, so that documents can be saved, critical work completed, and proper shut down achieved in the event of a power outage. PHOTO: surge protector VIDEOS: surge protector Protect the monitor when not in use: It is smart to power off the monitor whenever the computer will not be used for a few hours or more. Screen savers in Windows can add protection so that constant images aren't burned into the screen while the computer is on. Power your machine off at night, or keep it on - it really doesn't make much of a difference. Computers can be left on continuously for periods of months and even years. Shutting a machine down on a daily basis does little to help or hurt the computer. Some users choose to save money on electricity, and keep children away from a machine by powering it down. Others prefer to keep the computer powered on, with programs, data, and Internet access immediately available. System maintenance does not figure prominently in the case of powering the machine off. |
