INDEX Clean out the dust Keep your PC cool Buy quality hardware
Get power protection Get an anti-virus program Scan for other
malware Run DEFRAGMENTER utility Clean up old files 2
Slide 3
Clean Out The Dust 3 1. Monitor Cleaning 2. Keyboard Cleaning
3. Mouse Cleaning 4. Case Cleaning
Slide 4
Monitor Cleaning 4 Turn off the monitor. If the screen is dark,
it will be easier to see the areas that are dirty or oily. Use a
dry, soft cloth (Not paper towels, toilet paper, tissue paper, or
something like your shirt) and very gently wipe the screen. A great
choice would be the microfiber type of cloth used to clean
eyeglasses.
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Monitor Cleaning 5 If the dry cloth did not completely remove
the dirt or oil, do not press harder in an attempt to scrub it off.
Pushing directly on the LCD screen can often cause pixels to burn
out. If necessary, use a vinegar mixture or special LCD cleaner
spray to remove the difficult spots.
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Keyboard Cleaning 6 Disconnect the keyboard from the back of
the computer. Hold the keyboard upside down over a desk and smack
the bottom of the keyboard to knock out any loose dirt or dust. Lay
your keyboard on a table.
Slide 7
Keyboard Cleaning 7 Use compressed air or a brush to get out
any loose debris. Use isopropyl rubbing alcohol or a cleaner
solution to dampen a cloth and clean the surface of each key along
with the surrounding areas of your keyboard. This step should
restore the natural brilliance of your keyboard! Reconnect the
keyboard to the back of the computer.
Slide 8
Mouse Cleaning 8 Disconnect the optical mouse from the back of
the computer. Dampen one of your lint-free cloths with some
isopropyl rubbing alcohol.
Slide 9
Mouse Cleaning 9 Clean the outside of the mouse with the cloth.
If there is a smudge on the lens area, gently clean with a plain
cotton swab. Reconnect the optical mouse to the back of the
computer.
Slide 10
Case Cleaning 10
Slide 11
Case Cleaning 11 Turn off your computer. Remove the side cover
of the computer case, exposing the motherboard and other hardware
components. Inspect all cables and connections. If you come across
any cables that are damaged in any way, you should immediately
replace them.
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Case Cleaning 12 If you notice dust in the PCI and AGP slots of
your motherboard, it may be wise to remove each add-on card and
shoot some compressed air into the slots to break away the dust. If
your case has an air filter, remove it and run it through warm
water to remove the dust. To dry it, simply use a cloth (lint-free
if possible) and gently dab away the excess water. Place the filter
back into the case.
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Case Cleaning 13 Get out the compressed air and shoot the
canned air at everything in your computer. Pay special attention to
the heat sink and fan on top of your processor. This area collects
a lot of dust. A vacuum may help suck out the dust while you knock
it loose with the compressed air. If you choose to use a vacuum, be
careful not to vacuum anything in your computer.
Slide 14
Case Cleaning 14 Replace the side cover of the computer, but
check first that no cables are lying next to any fans. Fasten the
cover and restore the power.
Slide 15
Keep Your PC Cool 15 Keep your computer in a well ventilated
area and away from direct sunlight and heat sources. By doing so
you help keep the PC cool and, therefore, will prolong the life of
your hardware.
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Get Power Protection 16 One of the saddest things is that many
PCs are not surge protected. Surge protectors are a good
investment: They protect your PC from voltage spikes. A surge
protector attempts to regulate the voltage supplied to an electric
device by either blocking or shorting to ground voltages above a
safe threshold.
Slide 17
Get Power Protection 17
Slide 18
Buy The Quality Hardware 18 When you buy new components for
your PC, try to get good quality parts. If you get components from
respected manufacturers you can be sure that you will get good
technical support and the parts will be well made and not cause
problems with other hardware.
Slide 19
Get An Anti-Virus Program 19 A computer virus is a computer
program that can copy itself and infect a computer without the
permission or knowledge of the user. Viruses can cause your
computer to be slow or not work at all.
Slide 20
Get An Anti-Virus Program 20 You should always have a good
virus scanner installed and keep it up to date. Some well-known
virus scanners are Norton, McAfee, and AVG. AVG is free for home
users.
Slide 21
Scan For Other Malware 21 Other malware can include spyware,
adware, key loggers, and trojan horses. These pieces of software
can get installed without your knowledge when you install another
program or visit a website. They can cause your PC to slow down
considerably.
Slide 22
Scan For Other Malware 22 Microsoft Windows Defender, Spybot
Search & Destroy, and Adware are well known malware
scanners.
Slide 23
Run The Defragmenter Utility 23 Defragment your hard disks at
least once every month or two. The defragmenter will help ensure
that your files are located at the right place on the hard drive
and should boost the overall speed of your computer. It does this
by physically organizing the contents of the disk to store the
pieces of each file close together and contiguously.
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Run The Defragmenter Utility 24 To run the Windows defragment
program, in Windows Explorer, right click on the drives icon,
select Properties -> Tools -> Defragment Now.
Slide 25
Clean Up Old Files 25 If you install or uninstall software
frequently, it can leave many unwanted files in temporary and
system folders. The Disk Cleanup utility erases temporary files and
compresses old files to free up disk space on your hard drive.