Computer Upkeep
Lesson 9
Sometimes it's easy to forget how much we need our computers each and every day - until something goes wrong with them, that is. We would see it every day with clients whose computer would have a preventable crash, and it seemed like the whole world was crashing down on them. Deadlines have to be met, precious family photo's must be preserved, and entire MP3 collections must be saved at all costs. This is just a small sample of what is typically seen when a computer crashes. Granted, there are many things we cannot prevent - hardware and software components fail, even when our best efforts are given. That said, there are a few things we recommend every person does when it comes to everyday computing.
#1 Take care of dust build ups on your computer and i
n your computer
Routinely take a can of air and blow out all major components. Make sure to be careful with the fans (they are often times really gross). You should place a finger on the blades so they do not spin out of control. Of course, this should always be done when the computer is turned off. Pay special attention to the CPU, fan as well as the power supply fan - these are commonly very dust-filled even in the cleanest of environments.
#2 Run Your C
omputer on a UPS - Or at Least a Surge Strip
When affordable, always run any computer on a UPS (uninterruptable power supply). While we recommend using nothing but the best UPS, there are many home use models that are very affordable, and are well worth the cash. If you don't have the money available, you must at least hook the computer and most peripherals up to a surge strip. Make sure and send in any registration paperwork, and keep a copy filed away should you ever need it. That said, a UPS provides nice clean power, with no dips or surges, and we recommend them even for expensive televisions or home theatre systems.
#3 Remove Old Programs and Use MSCONFIG To Keep Your Startup Clean
Another often overlooked key to keeping a computer running smooth is removing programs you no longer use. Even though today's computers most likely have more available hard drive space than most people will ever use, it is always a good idea to keep your registry clear of unused programs. In addition, if you take the time to hit the start button, select run, and type MSCONFIG, you will be able to manually edit what programs start when you turn your computer on. Remember, you can remove items from the startup selection without actually deleting the program - simply uncheck the item. Tip - when removing items from your computer's startup, do it one at a time so that if it causes any issues you will know. It takes a little longer, but if you unselect 10 items and your computer locks up on reboot you will not have any way of knowing what the culprit is.
Programs running in the background waste precious system resources, and can often times conflict with things you are doing. For most people, the only thing you need running is what is required by your system, your security programs, and computer components - for example, if your printer needs certain software, any anti-virus program, and any spyware prevention software you may have running. Other than that, most software running in your task bar (near the clock) only slows down everyday performance.
If you have any questions at all, shoot on over to our forum and ask away.
Resources You Should Use To Help. Personally Endorsed By Be-Your-Own-IT:
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