Basic Computer Maintenance

Basic Computer Maintenance 
By Kerry Garrison, Mon Jan 2nd 

We get asked all the time what things you can do to prolong thelife of your system and keep it running in top shape. We haveput together a short list of our favorite tips to help youmaximize that investment of yours. Use these tips to keep yoursystem cool, running fast, and lasting longer.

I Thought I Saw A Bunny Wabbit

The main enemy of your computer is heat. Heat will destroy acomputer given a high enough temperature or a long enoughduration. When you machine is nice and new, heat shouldn't be aproblem is a well designed system. Well, if it isn't a problemwhen you bought it, why is it a problem now? The answer are twosimple words: dust bunnies



Those pesky dust bunnies will multiply in the sanctity of yourcomputer case like real rabbts in the wild. The dust will buildup on the components and cooling fins trapping in heat. Now Iknow that now self respecting computer stud wants to ask thewife to borrow the dust buster, heaven knows you might gettrapped into cleaning something else while you are at it. In ourbook, the best cleaning is to take the machine outside, removethe side panel, and use a good air compressor or canned air toclean off all of the components. Be sure and use the littlestraw to get deep into the power supply. More power supplies arelost every year to dust buildup than any other cause. Beforeputting the cover back on, check all the cards and RAM to makesure it is seated well.

Do The Defrag

When do you defragment your drive? This is an age old questionthat I will put to rest right here and now. You do NOT need todefragment your drive every day, nor every week, and many peopledon't need to even do it once a month. It really just depends onhow much your use your system. We reecommend a defragmentationabout once a month. In an upcoming article, we will actuallyshow you how to automate this process.

Backup

Enough said. If you are not backing up your data on a regularbasis, then paint your face, put on a funny wig and a rubbernose and hang out with Bozo, cause a fool you are. Read thissentance carefully: your hardrive will die someday...period. Itis only a matter of when. how often should you back up? Thatdepends again, how far back to you want to go when your harddrive dies and all of your data is gone? Every business shouldbe backing up their data monday through friday, preferably withthe ability to go back to any day's backup for at least twoweeks. 

Whose got the power?

One of the most overlooked problems that will reduce a perfectlygood computer to a pile of rubble in no time flat is the qualityof the power coming into the system. If the power fluctuates upand down even a small amount, it puts a tremendous strain on thepower supply to filter it and deliver clean power to the systemcomponents. At minimum you want a good surge suppressor. I amnot talking about the $2.99 hardware store specials, I amtalking about a good quality, brand name (like Belkin) surgesuppresor. If you spend less than $20 on it, it is not providingadequate protection. If you really want ensure good qualitypower to your system, invest in even a small battery backupsystem. A small UPS will smooth out the power spikes and dropsend deliver smooth, consistent power to your system. 

About the author:Kerry Garrison is the Director of Technical Services for Tech Data Pros, a southernCalifornia IT Consulting firm, and is the publisher of The Geek Gazette and VOIPSpeak.net.

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