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PC Maintenance and Troubleshooting Abby Weddington
What is maintenance? • The process of maintaining or preserving someone or something, or the state of being maintained. • The process of keeping something in good condition (ie: Like we will with our computers)
Temporary Files • Every day, you should delete temporary Internet (Internet Explorer) files and temporary Windows files. This helps to clear up space on the hard drive. • To delete Temp. Internet Files, open Internet Explorer and on the menu bar, click on Tools Internet Options - Delete Files. Make sure the checkbox for “Delete Offline Content” is blocked and click OK. • To delete Temp. Windows Files, open your Documents and Settings. For each user, navigate to Local Settings Temp. On the menu bar, click Edit Select All File Delete.
Shut Down • Saves electricity (uses as much energy as a lit 250 Watt bulb) • Saves hardware power and extends computer life. • Gives OS a chance to rewrite registry and create adjustments to allow other system changes (updates, uninstallations, reinstallations, etc.)
Run a Virus Scan • A virus scanner searches the computer for presences of viruses, malware, or spyware within applications on your system. • Files will only be scanned for harmful items to ensure your privacy. • Virus scanning software like Norton, McFee, AVG, and BitDefenderwill work just fine. • You should always have virus protection software on your computer. You never know when a virus will hit. • Basically, it’s essential to your computer’s safety. • You must know the possible threats attacking your computer at all times.
Windows Update • They may seem like annoying popups, but its crucial to your system’s performance. • To access, click Tools Windows Update. • If you’re really adverse to the updates, at least download the updates that are Critical. • Without the update, your system will be a lot more vulnerable to hackers who will take advantage of the fact that you don’t update.
Clean out Email • Might not be an actual computer maintenance tip but many people use emails when they want to hear back from jobs, relatives, important information, etc. • All you have to do is go through and delete all unimportant emails – you can even sort emails into special categories if you want. • Just organize!
Disk Cleanup • You can access Disk Cleanup by clicking on Start All Programs Accessories System Tools Disk Cleanup. • You should clean your disk once a week to make more space on your computer. • Doesn’t cause harm to system restore file. • It’s recommended to click on the more options tab and clicking on the clean up button next to System Restore to get the best result.
Check Disk • Checks for problems with the local configuration of the hard drive and surface areas of it. Also fix errors as it runs. • To run, click My Computer, right click on the hard drive you want to run, select Properties, click on the tools tab and click the check now button next to Error Checking. Check the box Automatically fix file system errors and click Start. • After starting, an error will occur that tells you the program could not complete the check because it needs access to certain Windows File. When asked if you’d like to finish running next time you boot your computer, click yes. Next time you boot, it will run.
Defragment Disk • As you create and edit files on your computer, they allocate a lot of space on your hard drive. • Gradually, files will get broken down into smaller chunks of info which spread through the drive, which causes hard drives to become slow (it’s trying to put your files back together) • You can run this by Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Disk Defragmenter and then select the drive you want to defragment.
Clean Mouse/Monitor • If you have a ball mouse, check the three rollers inside and scrape off gunk with fingernail or paper clip. • Hold upside down to shake out any dust. • If you have a different mouse, see the instructions that came with it. • As for monitors, you’ll want to use a lightly dampened (water) soft, clean cloth. Never spray onto the monitor itself – spray onto the cloth. • Most office stores carry sprays or wipes especially for cleaning, however.
Clean Keyboard • Make sure computer is turned off before you start. • Compressed air is great for blowing debris out of the little nooks and slots in the keyboard (especially under the keys). • You may also turn it upside down and shake gently – just don’t disassemble the keyboard. • Cleaning supplies like pads or swabs lightly dabbed with any cleaning solution can be used to clean the keys and the upper surface.
Clean Computer • Dust can clog the power supply and cooling fans – when the fans work harder, they may slow down or stop which can cause overheating and make your computer fail. • Turn off the PC and unplug from the outlet. Remove the case lid. • With a can of compressed air, blow the dust from the power supply through the slits in the computer vents from the inside out so the dust will exit the back. Keep can upright and a few inches from the PC – blow in short bursts. • Blow the rest of the dust from the intake fan and any of the other exhaust fans. • Any remaining dust should be blown out as well (such as the air vents). Check to make sure cables are in before reassembling.
Back up Data • The most important part of maintenance – backing up data. You’ll never know when something goes wrong and deletes all of your files. You need to back up! • Get a CD or USB flash drive – preferably with lots of space. • Go to the Start Menu, type “backup” in the search box, then click Backup and Restore. Click “Set Up Backup”. • Pick the flash drive or CD you put in and click next. The next screens will ask about settings and they should be fine so just keep on clicking next. • On the last screen, hit “Save Settings and Run Backup”. During the backup process, do NOT turn off computer. • After that, it’ll create regular backups as you work!
Cables • Check cables once a month. • Make sure there are no cracks or breaks or exposed wires. Also check the connectors for loose connections and pins. • This goes for ANY cable (computer, keyboard, mouse, monitor, etc.) • Replace faulty/bad cables. Do not make attempts to repair them because bad cables not only lead to a malfunctioning computer but it can also lead to dangerous things, such as electrical fires.
Failing Motherboard symptoms • System boots but then powers down. • An error message is displayed during the boot. • The system becomes unstable, hangs, or freezes at odd times. • Intermittent Windows or hard drive errors occur. • Components on motherboard or devices connected to it do not work.
What’s a Motherboard? The motherboard is the board that serves to connect all of the parts of a computer together.The CPU, memory, hard drives, optical drives, video and sound cards, and other ports and expansion cards all connect to this board directly or via cables. Think of this as the backbone of the computer. Without this and the power supply the computer couldn’t function.
Fixing these problems • Remove the side panel and look at the board for any bulging clips. If there’s physical damage, it needs replacing. • If no damage, reconnect the power, video, mouse, keyboard and pull each board d one at a time. After you pull each, try to boot up. If it boots, you found the source. • If it doesn’t boot, try another video card. • It if does boot, you could possibly have a bad drive (rare but does happen). • If it doesn’t boot after every thing was pulled, your motherboard has failed. • If the computer is in warranty, call the manufacturer. If out of warranty, take it in.
Failing Hard Drive symptoms • Slow Computer • Frequent Freezes • BSOD (Blue Screen of Death) • Corrupted data • Strange sounds
What’s a Hard Drive? The hard drive is the computer’s main means of storage. It permanently stores all data onto the computer. The disk controller tells the hard drive how to store its information. When the OS (operating system) needs to read and write information, it examines the hard drives File Allocation Table (FAT) to choose the file location that the data is stored.
Fixing these problems • There’s not many ways to fix a failing hard drive • Actually there’s no way to fix a failing hard drive… • HOWEVER, you can back up all of your data onto another drive and/or other back up device so you can retain all of your old data before the drive crashes. • You’ll also have to buy a new hard drive
Failing Power Supply Symptoms • System startup failures or lockups • Random rebooting or lockups during usage (brownouts) • Memory errors • Hard drive and fan simultaneously failing to spin • Hard drive file corruption • Power issues with USB • BIOS beeps • Electric shocks when case is touched
What’s a Power Supply? The power supply converts power from the outlet the PC is plugged into and uses that to power many parts inside the computer case. Think of this as the backbone of the computer. Without this and the motherboard, the computer couldn’t function.
Fixing these problems • There’s not many ways to fix a failing power supply. • Actually, there’s no way to fix a power supply… • Like a hard drive, you have to buy a whole new one • Sorry.
BIOS Beep codes • Sometimes when computers boot, they will produce a series of beeps and boops. These noises aren’t just to annoy you. These noises alert you of what may be wrong with your computer. • Of course you can find out the problem when your computer appears on your monitor, but the beep codes detect the problem before it’s displayed on the monitor. • The next slide will show you some of these codes and what they mean.
What’s a BSOD? A BSOD is another name for the Blue Screen of Death (or STOP Error). These appear when an issue that’s so serious causes Windows to stop immediately. They’re not typically fatal and it shouldn’t cause any harm to your computer. However, if it happens regularly, then you should get that checked out.
Troubleshooting BSOD • Did you just install a new program, piece of hardware? Did you update anything? If so, this might be the cause for your BSOD. Undo the change and see what happens when you boot again. • They also occur if there’s not enough free space on the partition the OS is installed on – make sure there’s enough space. • Viruses also cause BSOD’s to appear, so scan the computer for these. • Check the Event Viewer for events that might provide clues on the cause of this screen. • Return BIOS settings to their defaults.
Failing Graphic Card Symptoms • Loud fan noises • Miscolored pixels • BSOD’s • Misplaced/weird looking textures • Flickering display
What’s a Graphics Card? A graphics card AKA video card is the component inside a computer that’s responsible for the computer is displayed on the monitor. They come in many different qualities and sizes. Without the graphics card, you wouldn’t be able to see what was going on with your computer at that moment.
Fixing these problems • Card could just be overheating. You may need to purchase a better cooling fan. • Dust can affect its performance too – clean the inside of your computer (this was detailed in an earlier slide) • If all else fails, you’ll have to buy a new card.
Citations and Sources • http://www.mdsproductions.com/schedule.html (clicking each of the items in the table will net you the links for those as well) • http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/5-signs-hard-drive-lifetime/ • http://www.sensible-computer-help.com/computer-maintenance-tips.html • http://www.dnkws.net/maintenance-tips.html • http://www.computerhope.com/beep.htm • http://pcsupport.about.com/od/findtheproblem/Find_the_Cause_of_Your_Computer_Problem.htm • http://pcsupport.about.com/od/fixtheproblem/ht/stoperrors.htm • http://www.ehow.com/about_5410687_signs-dying-graphics-card.html • http://www.cnctc.com.ph/blogs/item/common-signs-of-a-failing-graphics-card • http://www.wisegeek.org/what-is-a-graphics-card.htm#
