See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.

net/publication/266739174

Personal Computer Care and Maintenance

Article · January 2012

DOI: 10.13140/2.1.4612.8646

CITATIONS READS

0 6,244

1 author:

Emmanuel C. Ogu
Babcock University
27 PUBLICATIONS   20 CITATIONS   

SEE PROFILE

Some of the authors of this publication are also working on these related projects:

A Conceptual Model for a Systematic Approach to Botnet Countermeasures... View project

Setting Up an Experimental Cybersecurity Laboratory... View project

All content following this page was uploaded by Emmanuel C. Ogu on 12 October 2014.

The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.

 Published in Keen Mind Magazine (Issue 19, 2012): DOI - 10.13140/2.1.4612.8646
Personal Computer Care and Maintenance
With the dawn of the ‘’Computer Age’’,
Computers have grown to become one of the most
important of digital electronic devices; they have
formed an essential part of the solution-base that
caters for the executive, corporate and clerical
needs of most people. Ironically so, they have also
become one of the most neglected devices and
receive the least care. This is an irony that PC users
over the years have come to confirm at one point or
the other.
Many PC users have greatly shortened the life span
of their computers as a result of their inability to
take good care of their machines. The alternative
effects are the exorbitant PC maintenance bills that
are incurred as conditions go from bad to worse.
You may at some point find yourself buying into
some of the most common excuses people make for
failing to care for such devices: ‘’I have a very
busy schedule, I don’t have time to go all brushing
and dusting up a mere Computer’’, ‘’The Computer
should be sophisticated enough to take care of
itself, I shouldn’t have any business interfering
with that’’, ‘’It’s really not important whether or
not I clean my PC, what’s important is that it boots-
up when I turn it on in the morning’’...
Amidst all these excuses, the questions in the
minds of some of us are: ‘’aren’t there quick
tend/fix methods we can use in taking care of our
1
Emmanuel C. Ogu
PCs?’’, ‘’what handy maintenance techniques
could we use to keep our Computers from
damage?’’. Truth is you can save yourself a lot of
stress and trouble on the long run by finding some
time to take care of your computer, no matter how
little. We are just a few paragraphs away from
exploring some the numerous options at your
disposal. (Although, more attention would be paid
to Laptop Computers, but you will definitely find
one or more cues that could be well adapted to
cater for your Desktop Computer)
Before we go further, let’s take a quick look at the
main types of maintenance there are that are
generally related to electronic devices and
machinery, of which the Computer is one:
a) Breakdown Maintenance – This type of
maintenance is carried out only upon total
failure of the machine or electronic device.
It is reparative in nature. This method pays
no attention to the machine until it has
broken down, then it is repaired. This
technique is advisable only when a
breakdown of the machine/device doesn’t
affect productivity or efficiency.
b) Preventive Maintenance – This type of
maintenance is carried out at regular
intervals (daily, weekly, monthly,
 Published in Keen Mind Magazine (Issue 19, 2012): DOI - 10.13140/2.1.4612.8646
quarterly, and annually, etc.) depending on
the machine-type. Some of the activities
carried out here include: cleaning, dusting
and blowing, oiling, re-tightening or re-
screwing, etc. This technique is the best
when the machine/device is an essential
factor of productivity and efficiency
because breakdown is usually foreseen. It
is sometimes referred to as Periodic
maintenance.
c) Predictive Maintenance – This type of
maintenance takes into consideration the
service life or life span of the
equipment/device as speculated by the
manufacturer/producer/designer. When
this method is efficiently implemented,
machines are usually replaced before the
expiration of their service life or life span.
When the services provided by the
machine forms the backbone for success
and productivity, this method can prove
invaluable.
d) Corrective Maintenance – This
maintenance technique is used to ensure
that various parts of the machine are
working in harmony; this is achieved by
re-designing or replacing defective
machine parts or machine parts that do the
most work. It is used to enhance the
reliability of Preventive Maintenance
when both methods are used together.
Knowing all these, we are better informed to
choose the type of maintenance that would put less
pressure and demand on our time and financial
resources while still ensuring that our Personal
Computer functions at its prime, thus enhancing
efficiency and productivity on (our) PC-reliant
jobs. Be reminded that your choice here would
make a great difference in how your computer
performs eventually. Here are a few more things
you cannot afford to miss:
The Computer is essentially made up of two
Components: the Hardware Components and the
Software Components. The methods used in caring
for and maintaining these two essential components
differ each in its own way, but the underlying
principles are fundamentally the same.
HARDWARE COMPONENTS
2
The Hardware Components of the Personal
Computer refers to those things we can feel and
touch on and within our Computer system. Some of
the most familiar ones would include: The
Keyboard, the Mouse/Mouse pad, The Display
Screen/Monitor, The Disk Drives, etc. In caring for
these Components, the following should be kept in
mind:
 Liquids and Fluids are not very friendly on
your Computer, so you should keep them
at a good distance away, if they must be
around at all.
 The Computer as a whole and its drives
and media should be kept away from
direct sunlight, heat sources, electrostatic
and electro-magnetic media.
 Dust usually contributes largely to
overheating problems. Hence, a blower
(usually compressed air in a can), a soft
brush or an Anti-static Vacuum Cleaner
should be used to remove/blow out/extract
dust from vents and holes in the Computer
as well as from under the keyboard. This
should be done at intervals depending on
the maintenance type you decide to adapt.
An Anti-static Vacuum Cleaner is
important because unlike regular vacuum
cleaners, it is specially designed to prevent
static discharges which may damage your
PC.
 During storms, your computer must be
kept away from power sources to
safeguard them from power spikes or
surges which result from super-charged
lightning bolts. Unless, of course, it is
connected to a reliable power stabilizer or
surge protector.
 It is much safer to carry your computers in
padded bags, as this keeps them safe from
damage even when they drop
unexpectedly.
 Avoid placing heavy objects on your
Computer, especially if it is a laptop, as
this might damage the Laptop Screen.
 Especially for Laptop users, never move
your computer in Laptop mode (i.e. with
 Published in Keen Mind Magazine (Issue 19, 2012): DOI - 10.13140/2.1.4612.8646
the screen open), no matter the distance,
and always hibernate, standby or
shutdown completely before moving your
computer over distances. You risk
permanent damage to your Computer
Screen and/or Hard Disk when you fail to
do so.
 Clean your Computer Screen regularly
with a dry towel to remove dust. Ensure
that your Computer is properly and
completely shut down before doing so if it
is a touch-screen.
 Avoid touching your computer screen with
your hands/ fingers as much as possible
for many reasons which cannot be
explained in this piece. Get a stylus or a
pointer. It is much safer and efficient.
 Avoid removing your Computer battery
unnecessarily as this could damage it. It is
also a good idea to allow your Computer
battery to drain completely once in a
while. Your PC manufacturers’ website
should give you further details on that.
 When these tips have been adhered to and
carried out and hardware problems are still
being experienced, please consult a
Professional PC Support Staff/Technician.
SOFTWARE COMPONENTS
The Software Components of the Personal
Computer refers to those things we cannot feel and
touch. These are applications and programs that
make the hardware useful to the user. They are the
essential reasons why computers are able to meet
out Data and Information needs. Without them, the
Computer would be a set of useless plastic and
metal just like any other scrap-bundle. In caring for
these software components, the following cannot
be overlooked:
 Keep your operating system free from
viruses and worms by scanning regularly
with either a third party anti-viral suite or
one from your Operating System Vendor.
 Avoid connecting to un-trusted and/or
unknown private/public network sources,
and avoid installing programs/applications
3
from vendors you neither know nor trust.
This would keep your Computer safe from
attacks.
 The following tasks should be performed
regularly as in line with your chosen
maintenance technique, as they keep the
disk and software components of your
computer functioning at its optimum: Disk
Cleanup, Disk Check (for errors), Disk
Defragmentation, Registry Cleanup, etc,
they keep your computer from being
unnecessarily slow.
 Connect your Computer regularly to your
driver or software vendors/manufacturers’
website so as to receive updates and fixes
that keep your drivers and software at its
prime.
 Always keep backups and copies of
important data stored on your computer(s),
and have Operating System boot disks
close by. You never can tell...
 Avoid abruptly unplugging peripheral
devices (such as USB disks, Scanners,
Printers, etc.) from your Computer without
first powering them off and using the
‘’safely remove’’ option. This would
reduce freezes, blue screens and other
errors.
 When these tips have been adhered to and
carried out and software problems are still
being experienced, please consult a
Professional PC Support Staff/Technician.
Please note that the maintenance of these software
components should be supervised by a professional
support technician, especially in the early stages of
performing these maintenance procedures.
However, these are simple basic maintenance tips
that can be mastered by any user overtime, but it’s
essential that proper supervision is received,
especially in the initial stage. In addition to all that,
I definitely wouldn’t advise you to unscrew or open
up any part of your Computer unless you are a
professional with considerable experience at doing
that. Hence, all persistent problems should be
referred to a Technician or reported at a Help Desk.
 Published in Keen Mind Magazine (Issue 19, 2012): DOI - 10.13140/2.1.4612.8646

On a final note, one bad news is that just like every

other equipment, machine/device, A Computer has
a life span, and it usually wouldn’t last much longer
after its life span is exceeded, no matter how much
care or maintenance you give to it. So, when your
computer is finally due, you definitely would
know; and when that time comes, please don’t
hesitate to grab another machine. Good Luck!!!

View publication stats