PC Maintenance Guidelines

"I listen and I forget, I see and remember, I experience and I understand" - a Chinese proverb

1.    Placement, Care, Cleaning, Cables and Mouse

·         Keep all hardware and disc media (CDs and DVDs) away from heat sources and out of direct sunlight.

·         Use compressed air in a can to blow off your keyboard and if you feel comfortable working on your computer, remove the cover of your computer and blow out the dust.

·         Keep USB cables under 6ft in length and 10ft maximum.

·         If you must have your USB device farther away than 10ft, you should consider using wireless hardware.

·         Don't have your computer connected to the wall power, phone or Internet when it's lightning outside.

·         To save yourself mouse problems and work cleaning out your Mouse that has a ball, buy yourself an Optical Mouse.

·         Keep magnets away from your computer and floppy disks. 

2.    Windows Versions

·         The different versions of Windows might have different navigation to accomplish the same task. You will have to learn the navigation paths to access and accomplish each task in your Windows Version. You can use the Windows Help, a website you find on the Internet using Google or buy a book that has most of the tricks or help.

3.    Improve Computer Performance, Efficiency and Disk Management

·         Removing unwanted programs from the Start Menu.
When you remove the programs from the Start Menu, you are not removing them from your computer. You are only removing the startup of the programs when you turn on your computer.

·         To remove a program: Click Start, All Programs, locate program, Right-click program, Click Delete, box appears, Click Yes;

·         Add icons or shortcuts of programs in All Programs on Desktop.
If you need to use the programs in your computer, make "shortcuts" for the programs to have on the "desktop" screen.

·         To make a shortcut: Click Start, All Programs, locate program, Right-click program, Click Creat Shortcut, Click and hold and drag Shortcut to Desktop.

·         Check amount of C: (Hard Drive) disc used and unused or free space.
1.   Click Start, Click My Computer;

2.      Click the drive you want to check, menu appears;

3.      Click Properties, Properties dialogue box appears showing the % of used and free space, click OK to close.

·         If the free space is less than 50%, your computer might be slower than average. Clean out unwanted "Things" and recheck. Store rarely used things elsewhere.

·         Check the amount of free space on all other hard drives.
1.  Delete selected files from Recycle Bin;

2.  Double-click the Recycle Bin on the Desktop, Roll to and click on Open,

     select files to delete, click on File and roll to Delete, release button, click  

     Yes in Confirm Delete Box.

·         Empty Recycle Bin;

1.      Double-click the Recycle Bin on the desktop, Click on File and roll to Empty Recycle Bin, click Yes on Confirm Delete Box.

2.      Recycle Bin Properties settings;

Right-click Recycle Bin on the Desktop, menu appears, Click Properties, Recycle Bin Properties box appears, Click, hold on the the slider and drag to 2%, Click "Use one setting for all drives:", Click OK to close.

·         Removing CHK, TMP, COOKIES and other files.

1.      Click Start and roll to "Search", Search Results appears;

2.      Click type of file, enter *.chk, cookies.* and at least 2 day old tmp.* in "All or part of the file name";

3.      Click Search, specify drive, mark file(s) to be removed and delete files.

·         Delete E-mail messages in your E-mail program - Review all email messages and delete the unwanted ones.

1.      Remove unwanted fonts.

2.      Click Start, Click Settings, Click Control Panel, Click Fonts, choose fonts and delete.

·         Do not use a Screen Saver - they sometimes cause big problems.
A Screen Saver is a moving picture or pattern on the monitor screen that protects the monitor tube (CRT) or LCD.
To remove the Screen Saver: Right Click on a blank area of your Desktop, Click Screen Saver, choose "(None)" for Screen Saver and Click "OK".

·         Close Misbehaving Programs.

1.  Hold down together Ctrl + Alt and press the Delete key once, choose

     and Click the program and Click End Task.

2.  Repeat the operation to close all unnecessary programs.

·         Running ScanDisc.

1.      Close all possible open programs by holding down Ctrl + Alt and pressing the Delete key once, choose the program and click End Task.

2.      Repeat the operation to close all unnecessary programs.

·         Removing obsolete or unwanted programs

1.      Click start, Click Control Panel, Control Panel appears;

2.      Click Add/Remove Programs, review programs, Click one program at a time to remove, Click Add/Remove. Defragmentation of your hard drive. Do not defrag a SSD or a solid state drive! 

3.      Cleaning Out Many Other Files and Correcting Registry Files
Clean the files in your computer using the FREE CCleaner program downloaded at http://www.ccleaner.com/  I use it once a week. This program will do such an excellent job of cleaning you MUST be careful what you remove by reviewing the several lists of things on the left that can be removed.

Use a registry correcting or cleaning program like Eusing FREE Registry Cleaner that is downloaded athttp://www.eusing.com/free_registry_cleaner/registry_cleaner.htm

Also use the FREE "ALL In One Cleaner, Repair, Protect, and Optimize program" Advanced WindowsCare that is downloaded athttp://majorgeeks.com/Advanced_WindowsCare_v2_Personal_d4991.html

Use the last two programs at least once a month or when you remove a program or have a computer or software problem.

4.      Update Windows

Learn now to Update Windows at the Taskbar here http://www.microsoft.com/protect/computer/updates/mu.mspx 

      5. Copying and Backup

Copying, removing and storing rarely needed files

Burn a CD, DVD or use a flash drive, external USB hard drive or extra internal hard drive for backup.

Make back-ups and store copies of at least the following files:
a. Bookmarks/Favorites

b. Data files

c. Document files

d. Email addresses (Address Book)

e. Email Inbox and Sent

f. Graphics and photos

g. Programs and Drives that cannot be obtained elsewhere

The best way to backup your computer files or computer hard drive is to do hard drive imaging. If you do the HARD DRIVE IMAGING you will enjoying the full use of your computer again within about 1 hour after a computer crash, virus infection or other major computer failure.

Hard Drive Imaging does not completely take the place of backing up your drive. You will have to do incremental backups of the image with or without a schedule using one of the image making or backup programs.

You can place the hard drive image on another internal or external hard drive and in a new partition.

9. Disk Compression

Do not compress your hard drive because it will increase your risk of data loss and other things.

10. Organization

File Manager

Reorganize directories and files

Rename directories and files

Bookmarks
Organizing of Web/Internet Bookmark/Favorites

My Bookmarks

Managing Your Bookmarks and Favorites

11. Computer Parts and Hardware

CD Drive and burner

CPU (Central Processing Unit)

DVD drive and burner

Hard drive(s)

Keyboard
Mass storage

Memory - RAM (Random Access Memory) - 1 Gig or more

Modem
Monitor
Mouse
Scanners - must have an excellent OCR (Optical Character Recognition) program
Surge Protector

12.  When installing new programs, try to make the programs not open at computer

start-up or remove it from the START MENU and make a shortcut on the Desktop.

13.  Upgrade CD to DVD drive DVD drive - faster speed

Hard drive size - replace with larger to 1 GB - research motherboard for max size
Hard drive - add 2nd for backup/imaging - research motherboard for max size
Operating system version - Windows 2000 to XP or 7 - NOT VISTA - research motherboard
RAM size - 500 MB to 1 or 2 GB - research motherboard for max size
USB card

17. Computer Problems

Program locks up (stalls)

Holding down Ctrl +Alt and press Delete once, Close Program box appears, Click program you want to close and Click End Task, Dialog box appears and Click End Task to close program. You could have virus or malware in your computer. Reboot and rapidly press F8 to gain access to the "Safe Mode" and then use your security software to scan for viruses or malware.

Use your computer or another computer to search the Internet for a solution to your problem.

18.  INTERNET PROBLEMS

Web site stalls - click the "Reload" button.
Restart your computer when your "resources" drop below 70%.

19. REPAIRS COMPUTER

I suggest that you do all the work below BEFORE you need it because you might not be able to do it when there are computer problems or a crash!

When you need to replace or remove the operating system or hard drive or fully reformat the hard drive:
Make an inventory of what is on your present hard drive such as:
a. Fonts
b. Programs installed
c. Peripheral equipment

Locate all your disks for the programs, motherboard, drives and other peripheral equipment such as printers and scanners.
Replace lost drivers using the Web site at: http://www.driverworld.dk/
Driver problems and solutions are at: http://www.driverforum.com/

Save copies of:
All setups/configurations for programs
Bios
Bookmarks/Favorites
Browser setup entries
Data files
Document files
Email addresses (Address Book)
Email Inbox and Sent
ISP settings
FTP setup entries
Fonts
Graphics and photos
Passwords

Copy items to be saved to another mass storage device
Burn a CD or DVD or use a flash drive, external USB hard drive or extra internal hard drive.

Monitor
To fix a bad or stuck pixel in a LCD monitor see http://www.wikihow.com/Fix-a-Stuck-Pixel-on-an-LCD-Monitor 

Step 1

Keep liquids away from your laptop. As tempting as it might be to drink coffee, soda, water or any other liquid near your laptop, accidents can happen all too easily. Spilled liquids may damage the internal components or cause electrical injury to the laptop. Short circuits can corrupt data or even permanently destroy parts. The solution is very simple: Keep your drinks away from your computer. Even if you're careful, someone else might bump into your desk or you. Or you can use a cup with a cover on it, so even if it does spill, the liquid doesn't go anywhere!

Step 2

Having an available antivirus software would help. Even if you know what you download, it may contain a virus that can lead to a circuit error in your system hardware or slowness in the software.

Step 3

Keep food away from your laptop. Don't eat over your laptop. The crumbs can go down between the keys in the keyboard and provide an invitation to small bugs. The crumbs can also irritate the circuitry. Worse, it makes the laptop look dirty if there are crumbs and food stains on it.

Step 4

Always have clean hands when using your laptop. Clean hands make it easier to use your laptop touchpad and there will be less risk of leaving dirt and other stains on the computer. In addition, if you clean your hands before use, you will help reduce wear and tear on the coating of the laptop caused by contact with sweat and small particles that can act upon the laptop's exterior underneath your wrists and fingers.

Step 5

Protect the LCD display monitor. When you shut your laptop, make sure there are no small items, such as a pencil or small ear-phones, on the keyboard. These can damage the display screen when shut; the screen will scratch if the item is rough. Close the lid gently and holding from the middle. Closing the lid using only one side causes pressure on that hinge, and over time can cause it to bend and snap.

Step 6

Hold and lift the computer by its base, not by its LCD display (the screen). If you lift it by the screen part alone, you could damage the display or the hinges attaching it to the base. The display is also easily scratched or damaged by direct pressure – avoid placing pressure on it.

Step 7

Don't pull on the power cord. Tugging your power cord out from the power socket rather than putting your hand directly on the plug in the socket and pulling can break off the plug or damage the power socket. Also, if you have the power point near your feet, avoid constantly bumping into the plug or you could loosen it and eventually break it.

Step 8

Don't roll your chair over the computer cord. Stick the cord onto your desk with tape or a special computer cord tie which can be easily undone when you've finished using the laptop. Always try to keep most of the cord away from the floor or your legs; sometimes you can be so engrossed in what you're doing that you move your legs and forget the cord is there.

Step 9

Plug in accessory devices into their proper slots. Always look at the symbols on the laptop carefully before inserting devices. Jamming a phone line into an Ethernet port or vice versa could damage the sockets, making it impossible to use them again. It is very important to observe this step.

Step 10

Handle any removable drives with care. Floppy drives or CD drives that have been removed from your laptop can easily get crushed, dropped or pressed if you are careless. Put them straight into a bag or a storage box/case for safe keeping if you are not putting them back into the laptop.

Step 11

Insert drives into their slots carefully and at the correct angle. Pushing the wrong drive into a socket, or at an angle, or even upside down can jam it.

Step 12

Check to see if labels are affixed securely before inserting media into your laptop computer. Media such as CDs, DVDs or floppy disks should not have any loose label parts that might jam inside the laptop drive. Never insert undersized CDs, as these can damage the disk player permanently.

Step 13

Don't expose your laptop to rapid temperature fluctuations. When bringing your laptop indoors during winter, don't turn it on immediately. Instead, let it warm to room temperature first. This will avoid any potential for damage to the disk drive from condensation forming inside the machine. Avoid heat from sunlight as well.

Step 14

Don't leave your laptop in a car. Not only do the insides of cars experience large temperature swings that could damage a laptop, but a laptop (or laptop bag) is an inviting target for a smash and grab thief.

Step 15

Have the unit cleaned once a year to remove internal dust. Get this done by a computer professional. If dust accumulates, the system cannot cool itself correctly. Heat can destroy the motherboard.

Step 16

Avoid placing heavy materials, such as books, on top of your laptop and keyboard. This can push the LCD screen into the keyboard, and will eventually damage it. Also, the CD-ROM insert will also be squished and, eventually, will break.

Step 17

Use a properly-sized laptop case. Whatever you use to carry your laptop around in, be it a case, a bag or something you have made yourself, make sure that it it large enough to contain the laptop. This will avoid scratching, squeezing or even potentially dropping it.

Step 18

Look into getting a laptop bag. Many breaks happen because of laptops being dropped or bumped. A bag greatly reduces the risk of damage.

Step 19

Use and store in a well-circulated area. When you are using your laptop, do so in a place that has a constant air-circulation. Lots of people ruin their laptop by using it in an enclosed area and thus making the laptop overheat. It also helps if you store it in a well circulated area.

Step 20

Use an old tooth brush to clean the area around the exhaust fan screen. If that gets plugged up, air flow is diminished and overheating can most certainly occur.

Step 21

Try and keep the laptop on a flat surface. This prevents damage to the laptop. This step can be hard, particularly if you are going out with your laptop, but if there is a flat surface available to put your laptop on then do so.

Step 22

Don't use your laptop on the bed. Repeated use of the laptop on the bed will cause the fans to suck up the dust and further debris which lies in the bed, ultimately blocking the fan. Refrain from this by using the laptop somewhere else than the bed.