Maintaining Your Computer And Avoiding Costly Repairs

Computers are used in so many places these days, and if you have one that is not running very well, there are some things you can try to refresh the machine and hopefully improve the performance of it. Even if you are not very comfortable with computers, you can take a few small steps to help without having to worry about damaging anything.

Dust Is the Enemy

It is impossible to keep dust out of a computer, but in large amounts, dust can become conductive and cause electronics to develop short circuits across connections inside the computer. The solution is to keep the dust inside that computer case to a minimum, and it is not hard to do.

Before you clean the machine out, shut it down, and unplug the power from the wall. Once you have done that, you can take the side off the case. There are typically two thumbscrews at the back of the case that need to be removed first.

Take a look inside. You need a can of compressed air (you can buy this at any computer store and a lot of department stores), and you just need to gently blow the dust off the fans and out of the case.

Don't worry about getting every speck, as the idea is to just get the majority of it out and then put the case side back on. Always use air and never a vacuum inside the case.

Avoiding Heat

Heat is one of the biggest problems that computers have. They generate a lot of heat on their own, so trying to keep them cool can help performance. Put the computer in an area that allows it to get plenty of air to the fans and allows the heat coming out of the case to dissipate easily. As nice as those desks with the hidden computer compartment look, they allow heat to build up around the computer, slowing the machine down and potentially shortening the life of the computer.

Taking the Computer in for Repair

If you notice some noise coming from inside the computer, it could be a symptom of a larger problem. A bad fan, a problem with the power supply, or a hard drive issue could all cause noises and lagging speeds on the computer itself. Take the computer into a repair center such as Computer Medics so they can help you determine the problem.

Share