Posted on 13/12/2001

Computer Care Tips

From TechTutorials*


Cleaning of outer surfaces of a computer can be done with soap and water
as long as the solution does not enter the internal parts of the
computer. The solution should be applied with a lint-free cloth. The
cleaning should be followed with an anti-static spray that can be made
out of water and fabric softener.


Internal dust can be cleaned with canned air, a soft brush or anti-static
vacuum. Anti-static vacuums are specially grounded to prevent static
discharge like regular vacuums. Dust can contribute to overheating
problems. Making sure that all expansion slot covers are in place can
reduce dust buildup. Missing covers can also disrupt the airflow design
of the case and cause overheating problems. Additional fans can be added
to help cut down on internal temperature problems. Computer equipment
should not be placed in areas of extreme temperature or humidity.



Oxidation corrosion can slow down or even prevent electricity from
flowing through contact points. Oxidation buildup can be removed by
rubbing with an emery board or eraser. It can also be cleaned with
special cleaning solution. Monitors should be cleaned with a soap and
water solution with the power disconnected. Do not use household cleaning
solutions as they can damage the screen. Monitors should not be opened
unless you are qualified to work on them. Deadly voltage can be stored
inside the monitor even a year after it has been turned off. Computer
components should be transported in antistatic foam or an anti-static
bag.



Hard drives are vacuum sealed and should never be opened except by
professionals in a "clean room".



Important data should be regularly backed up and stored in a fire- proof
safe or at a separate location for protection against fire or theft.
Windows NT/2000 Emergency Repair Disks should be stored in a secure place
where only authorized personnel can access them.


Because floppy disks are magnetic media, they should not be exposed to
magnetic fields that can be produced by TVs, monitors, speakers, power
supplies and appliances with motors. Floppy drive heads can be cleaned
with a wet or dry head cleaning disk. Keyboards can tend to collect dust
between the keys. They can be vacuumed with a small vacuum.



Mice need to occasionally have the X and Y rollers cleaned with a
lint-free swab.



Electrical spikes (measured in nanoseconds) or surges (measured in
milliseconds) can cause damage to system components or even data loss.
Surge suppressors can prevent minor variances in power and provide a
stable stream of electricity to the unit, however, they may not always
work against larger surges.



Uninterruptable Power Supplies (UPS) provide power to the devices
connected to it for a period of time in the event of power loss or sag
for long enough to gracefully shutdown the computer and avoid data loss.
Unnecessary peripherals such as scanners and printers should not be
connected to a UPS as they can overload it.


Laser printers have several hazards that should be noted. The laser can
cause blindness, the fuser can cause burns and the power supply can cause
electrocution. Toner cartridges, ink jet cartridges and batteries can be
recycled.



Hazardous materials come with Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) that
provide a variety of information as to how the product should be handled
and disposed of.



Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) can be harmful to electronic components and
cause them to fail. Low humidity, walking across carpet and appliance
motors are some of the common generators of ESD. MOS devices are
particularly sensitive to ESD and special care should be taken around
them. Below are some of the prevention methods employed to prevent
damage:



- Grounding straps are connected to a technicians wrist. You can ground
the wrist strap to the earth pin on a wall socket. - Remove all metallic
jewelry.



- Antistatic mats.



- Touching the chassis of the computer while plugged into a grounded
outlet.



- Anti-static sprays can be applied to floors, computers and work
surfaces.



- A humidifier can be used to keep the humidity above 50%.



An ESD wriststrap should never be worn when working with high voltage
equipment such as monitors.



Computer equipment should be unplugged from the wall during electrical
storms to prevent equipment damage and injury.




* TechTutorials is a popular computer certification website devoted to
providing free learning materials to candidates pursuing Microsoft,
CompTIA and Cisco certifications. To access these resources visit
www.techtutorials.com