By Adam Myers
Senior PC Tech at SP Computer Services
Some people say, “There is no time like the present”. This holds true for many of the things we do in life. We take time to change the oil in our cars, have the furnace and ducts cleaned in our homes and clean behind and underneath the refrigerator. We also do the same when it comes to seasonal work like changing out seasonal clothing, planting our favorite bulbs and cleaning out flowerbeds, garages and sheds. The list can be quite extensive for some and most believe that these chores are important, however, in this computer age, we often overlook the necessary preventative maintenance for our computers.
I say, “computers are like cars……many of us have one, some have two and they have to be maintained.” All cars have manufacturer recommended service intervals that the owner should adhere to. When it comes to computers, the information is usually hidden in the operational manual, if listed at all.
You may have heard of the terms “defragmentation (defrag)” or “clean out your cookies”, which are terms referring to what needs to be done as part of maintenance for your computer. You may have also heard language like, “installing your drivers, patches and update”. If you are not maintaining regular service for your computers like you do for your cars, you are running the risk of software or hardware failure. In addition to the hardware /software service, you should be mindful of the internal service as well. Our computers, both laptops and desktops are designed to collect dirt and dust. This was probably not something the manufacturer intended but it has to do with how computers are kept cool. Your computer has several vents strategically placed to make sure it does not overheat. All of them are cooled by the air that surrounds them. Despite how clean you think it might be, all contain dirt and dust that can clog and damage vital components in your computer. Dirt and dust can build up in your computer system fans and shut down the video cards, CPU fans and power supplies.
Here are some recommendations on when to have your computer serviced. Desktops should have preventative maintenance service performed every 24 months and laptops should be every 12-18 months. In addition to this maintenance, you should always remain current with all of your software and install needed updates that will help keep your system running the way the hardware and software engineers intended.
TechTip: Can I just clean it out with a “can of air”? Yes, but you run the risk of causing more damage. You may cause the dirt and dust to travel to another part of your system that may be vital and end up shutting it down. Cans of air are useful for lightly cleaning your (unplugged) keyboard. Typically, a preventative service will include a meticulous cleaning of the inside of your computer.
Until we tech again………..
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