TS+Computer+Maintenance

 ==Tech Support 110: Computer Maintenance == By **hthstech** At this point in the course, you have already learned how to assemble a computer and install windows. While these are valuable skills, most people purchase computers that are already assembled and have an OS installed. If your computer works well, proper maintenance will keep it working well. If it is slowing down and beginning to behave strangely, it may be time to begin a maintenance program. **Hardware Maintenance** Heat and moisture are two of your computer’s greatest enemies. When your computer overheats it causes the internal components to wear out prematurely. One of the most common causes of computer overheating is dust and blocked air vents preventing your cooling system from doing its job properly. Moisture can cause corrosion that will damage electrical contacts and prevent your computer from operating properly. Follow the steps below to properly clean your computer hardware. **Hardware Maintenance Assignment 1**
 * Types of Computer Maintenance**
 * 1) Hardware Maintenance: Cleaning and maintaining your keyboard, mouse, monitor, case, and internal components, etc.
 * 2) Software Maintenance: Maintaining your OS, performing updates, antivirus software, defragmenting, etc.
 * 1) Cleaning your Case: Wipe your case and clean out its ventilation ports with a clean dry cloth. You can also use a can of compressed air, but do NOT blow the dust INTO the computer from the outside.
 * 2) Maintain your keyboard: If you are gross and eat Doritos while playing WOW, your keyboard is most likely filled with crumbs. Turn your keyboard upside down and shake it to remove as many crumbs as possible. Next, use a can of compressed air to blow any other crumbs or dust out of your keys. If your keyboard is particularly dirty, you may need to pry the keys off and clean underneath of them.
 * 3) Maintaining a mechanical mouse: Remove the ball from the bottom of the mouse and remove and dirt or grime that has accumulated on the two rollers inside.
 * 4) Maintaining an optical mouse: DO NOT OPEN IT. Just wipe the mouse with a lint-free cloth
 * 5) Computer Monitor: Wipe the case with a lint-free cloth to remove any dust around the vents. If it is a glass monitor, clean it with standard window cleaner. If it is an LCD monitor it should be cleaned with a product designed for cleaning LCD screens, or isopropyl alcohol. Isopropyl alcohol is NOT appropriate for all LCD screens and it depends on the manufacturer. Your manual or manufacturer website should have recommended cleaning instructions.
 * 6) Inside the Case: On occasion, you may want to open your case and remove the layer of dust that normally forms there. Wipe the inside of the case with a lint-free cloth and use a can of air to blow dust out of the cooling fans. A vacuum can sometimes be used to remove the dust, but you should use a vacuum that is specially designed for computers and will not cause a static discharge into your sensitive components. If your computer is more than 5 years old, you may want to clean some of the adapter cards plugged into your motherboard. To properly clean them, remove them an wipe the contacts with isopropyl alcohol. Be careful not to touch the face of the cards. This is also an opportunity to check your CMOS battery. If the time on your computer constantly needs to be reset, it is likely that your battery is dead.

**Hardware Maintenance Assignment 2** Go to your blog and make a post about hardware maintenance. Explain why proper hardware maintenance is important and provide some information on the proper procedure for cleaning computer hardware. Cite your sources…and do not use this page as your only source!
 * 1) Go to the lab computer at the back of the room.
 * 2) Unplug the computer
 * 3) Remove the keyboard and mouse
 * 4) Clean the keyboard and mouse using the procedure above. Attempt to remove the keys and clean underneath of them
 * 5) Clean the monitor and case
 * 6) <span style="font-family: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; vertical-align: baseline;">Open the case and remove as much dust as possible, do not unplug any adapter cards