Computer maintenance

Dusty-dirty PC

Computer maintenance is the practice of keeping computers in a good state of repair. A computer containing accumulated dust and debris may not run properly.

Dust and other cruft may accumulate as a result of air cooling. Any filters used to mitigate this need regular service and changes. If the cooling system is not filtered then regular computer cleaning may prevent short circuits and overheating.

Components

Keyboard

The crumbs, dust, and other particulate that fall between the keys and build up underneath are loosened by spraying pressurized air into the keyboard, then removed with a low-pressure vacuum cleaner. A plastic-cleaning agent applied to the surface of the keys with a cloth is used to remove the accumulation of oil and dirt from repeated contact with a user's fingertips. If this is not sufficient for a more severely dirty keyboard, keys are physically removed for more focused individual cleaning, or for better access to the area beneath. Finally, the surface is wiped with a disinfectant.

Monitor

Fingerprints, water spots, and dust are removed from the screen with a cleaning wipe specialized for the screen type (CRT, LCD, etc.). A general plastic-cleaning agent is used on the outer casing, which requires a less gentle cleanser but may need more focused attention to unusual buildups of dust, grime, pen marks, etc. idiosyncratic to the user and environment.

Mouse

The top surface of the mouse is wiped with a plastic cleanser to remove the dirt that accumulates from contact with the hand, as on the keyboard. The bottom surface is also cleaned to ensure that it can slide freely. If it is a mechanical mouse, the trackball is taken out, not only to clean the ball itself, but to scrape dirt from the runners that sense the ball's movement and can become jittery or stuck if impeded by grime.

Tower/desktop unit

The case is opened to expose the internal components, which accumulate dust brought in by the airflow maintained by fans to keep the PC from overheating. A soft brush is used throughout the case and components to remove as much loose dirt as possible; the remainder is dislodged with compressed air and removed with a low-pressure vacuum. The case is wiped down with a cleaning agent.

Aside from brushing you can also use pressurize blower or air blower that can easily removed all dust that cannot be reach with a brush this would require opening up your computer case, if proper computer maintenance is not followed then you should not be surprised if it gets hotter than it usually does or suffers a system failure.^[1]

Data

Backups

Important data stored on computers may be copied and archived securely so that, in the event of failure, the data and systems may be reconstructed. When major maintenance such as patching is performed, a backup is recommended as the first step in case the update fails and reversion is required.

Disk cleanup may be performed as regular maintenance to remove these. Files may become fragmented and so slow the performance of the computer. Disk defragmentation may be performed to combine these fragments and so improve performance.

Legal issues

In the United States of America, the Digital Millennium Copyright Act specifically exempts computer-maintenance activities, so copies of copyright files may be made in the course of maintenance provided that they are destroyed afterwards.^[2]

Software

Operating system

Operating-system files such as the Windows registry may require maintenance. A utility such as a registry cleaner may be used for this. Also inbuilt Disk defragmenter will also help.

Software updates

Software packages and operating systems may require regular updates to correct software bugs and to address security weaknesses.

Security

Maintaining security involves vulnerability management and installation and proper operation of antivirus software.

See also

• Preventive maintenance

References