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As a computer tech with over 35 years of experience, I like to stress the fact of just how important simple computer maintenance can be. This can range from something as easy as cleaning your monitor’s display screen, to checking your surge suppressor to be sure it’s still working. So, what is the best thing to use when cleaning your monitor’s screen? That’s easy. Water and a soft, lent free cloth. Most CRT monitors have an anti-reflection coating applied to the screen’s surface that can be damaged by glass cleaners. Never use a harsh glass cleaner on your monitor. This is also true of LCD monitors. A damp, lint free cloth works wonders. Be sure to wipe off your keyboard once in a while too. It’s easy to get dust and dirt under the keys. I use a sweeper attachment and go over my keyboard every few weeks. While I’ve got the sweeper out, I usually pop open the computer (side panel on new systems) and vacuum the inside of the case. Most dirt and dust will accumulate on the case bottom. Be sure to unplug your computer from the AC outlet before opening the case. Don’t forget to clean the small fan and heat-sink setting on top of the processor. If the heat-sink fins are clogged, the fan won’t be able to pull air through the openings. The result will be heat damage to the processor. Once the inside is clean, close the case and hold the cleaning attachment against the fan opening on the power supply. The power supply is almost always at the back/top of the case. Power supplies are notorious for collecting dirt and dust. It’s a good idea to occasionally reach behind your computer and put your hand over the power supply’s fan. You should feel luke-warm, not ‘hot’ air blowing out of it. If this fan stops working (usually dirt in the barrings) you’ll burn up your power supply and possibly damage other parts in your computer. If you smell something hot, it’s usually a power supply where the fan has stopped working. Shut everything down immediately and call a technician. Another problem that is especially prevalent in cold climates is static electricity. In the winter, the heating system re-circulates the air drying it out. Dry air provides the perfect condition for static electricity. Your system should be grounded through its three way power plug. This will take care of most static problems. But I’ve found that a lot of older homes don’t have the proper three prong grounding outlet. Radio Shack sells an AC Outlet Analyzer for about $6 that will test your power outlet to see if it’s wired correctly. The common problem I’ve found is that the neutral and ground wires will be switched. This can keep your surge suppressor from working. A surge suppressor is something everyone should own. The electric company can sometimes provide (at additional cost) protection for the whole residence. Otherwise, it’s a good idea to use a surge suppressor to attach your computer to the power line. Most suppressors starting in the $20-$25 range are adequate. Read the instructions. Surge suppressors usually use a color coded LED to show if they are working properly. Check this often! You might also want to consider a UPS unit. UPS stands for uninterruptible power supply. What this does is…if your power is disrupted for any reason, the UPS will automatically provide backup power to your system. I’d look for a unit that will provide from 450 to 600 watts of power. These units will power your system for five to fifteen minutes depending on the system’s configuration. This should be more than enough time for you to shut everything down until the power returns. UPS units not only provide power when the lights go out, they also filter out voltage spikes and keep the system’s AC voltage constant even during brownouts. Computers don’t require a lot of care. These few simple tips should go a long way in keeping both you and your computer, happy!
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Randy Benjamin is an author and syndicated columnist. His latest books, "FREE Internet" and "How To Publish Anything On Amazon's Kindle" are available in paperback and Kindle e-book formats at Amazon's on-line bookstore. For more information, visit his website: www.randybenjamin.com
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