PCs are cheap but that doesn’t mean you can’t take active steps to make them last longer. Nowadays, processors have developed to the point where people are satisfied with a PC which is six or seven years old. There are active steps you can take to maintain your PC, to make sure it lives a long and healthy life, both in terms of software and hardware. Here are a few tips to help you do just that.
Clean out dust
It may sound pretty obvious, but it’s one of those things that goes to the bottom of your ‘to-do’ list. Dust collects in your PC and particularly the fan over time, meaning that your PC is at risk from overheating, which damages the internal components and could lead to your PC’s premature demise. Cleaning out dust can be easy enough, all you need is a compressed air canister and some newspaper to catch the dust and grime. Power down your PC completely and disconnect from the mains before carefully opening up and dusting the components, particularly the fan where dirt and grime can become clogged. If you are using a laptop then this can be much more difficult so great care needs to be taken to ensure you do not damage the case or any of the internal components such as the motherboard. We would suggest searching the web for comprehensive disassembly instructions. (if you are not completely confident then call us)
Avoid Power Surges
Voltage spikes, outages and lightning strikes are unpredictable, but they can be very damaging to the delicate electronic circuits of your computer. Even if your computer isn’t fried by a spike in electronic pressure, it may reduce processing power and shorten life expectancy. But protecting your computer from surges is pretty easy, right? You just need a surge protector. But surge protectors can lose their protection capability after just one power surge, while continuing to power your devices. So you should check your surge protectors status fairly regularly. Also, there are rare occasions where power surges can affect your computer through telephone lines, so you might want to consider getting protection for these lines as well.
Power Loss
Power loss can mean that your PC loses data, or becomes corrupted. This effects the performance of your computer and can also lead to a system crash. In order to prevent power loss, you can get what’s known as an Uninterruptable Power Supply (UPS), which is essentially a surge protector with a built in battery that engages in the event of a power outage. Just remember to check that the battery’s power supply is maintained. Even a few minutes of battery power will allow you to save files and power down your computer in order to sort out the problem.
Malware
Software also needs to be protected, particularly against malware. Software viruses won’t necessarily cause your computer any physical damage, but some viruses can infect your hard drive, making them effectively unusable. To protect against malware, you need a good suite of security programs, running the gamut of detecting and protecting against attacks and intrusions. Be sure to shop around for the security software that is most relevant to your system and your needs. Teign Geeks offer a full PC MOT from just £39.00 if you feel your PC is already infected.
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