GEEK Computer Maintenance Rules - Or how I keep mine running smooth

[NewHampster]

I just did the quarterly cleanup of my wife's PC and thought I'd pass on some of the things that I take for granted but most users rarely or never do.

1) Pay for the anti-virus software after the 3 month trial that came with the unit. Set the subscription to Auto so it downloads and installs the latest data files as needed. If you already own a subscription to McAfee, Norton or another then obviously you don't have to buy the one that comes on the new machine, but you do have to install your product and activate it.

2) At minimum. Install the free versions of Spybot and Adaware. Soup posted links to both in an excellent thread earlier http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=105&topic_id=1055387

3) Run Disk Cleanup regularly and Defragmenter when you'll be able to let it run overnight or longer.

4) **** I buy Canned Air in two packs and use it at least monthly *** Nothing, Nothing kills a PC faster than the dust that clogs your fans and your power supply. Dust inhibits airflow and heat Kills PCs. Dust build-up can completely stop the fan and is very often what does in an otherwise fine unit. Unplug, Open your case and blow the hell out of it and even vacuum if you can be very gentle.

Notebooks need their fans cleared too.

5) I know some people hate it but I use MS Windows Update, but I usually only go for the "critical" updates. Most of the others are for software I never run.

thats the short list. It's the dust that got me when I opened Dian's PC today. I cleaned it two months ago and because of the dry winter and dust in general, the damn thing was full again.
That the main reason for this post.

[Nite Owl]

1. Ok I do 1,2 and 5

but my computer is a year and half old and I have yet to defrag. Am I in trouble or will it just take long. I actually bought a book but haven't had the time to give up the pc for a long enough time. When I vacuum the computer I just take off the little front panel, guess that isn't doing much is it?

[NewHampster]

2. The fan is usually in the rear

Be sure to clean it.

If you run defrag it'll tell you if you need it or not. then you can decide when to do it.

Have it do its analyze thing but you don't have to run it then because according to drive size you will need lots of time. Like if you leave for the day or just overnight.

[Nite Owl]

7. Thanks NH

I'll try the defrag Friday night. I need it for work during the week and will look at the back for the fan. I have an American Eskimo so I'm afraid of what I'm going to find. My computer is probably going to hatch a puppy soon!

[kalian]

3. You should NEVER vacuum a PC....

vacuum cleaners (residential) will cause static electricity
buildup when used. Not to mention that the hose section will
discharge static electricity.
Compressed air is the best solution...take the box outside and blow
away.

No need to pay for anti-virus software.
There is a very good FREE anti-virus program called AVG.
You can download the free copy at www.grisoft.cz
They put out anti-virus dbase updates on a DAILY basis and the
program will download it automatically for you. It also scans your
incoming email (email clients such as Outlook 2000, etc).

[Ready4Change]

4. My #1 rule

Don't change anything with the computer unless you need to, or unless you are sure what you are doing. This is things like increasing memory, changing video cards, increasing hard disk room. I say this because the people I know you have the most problems are those who can't stop fiddling with the machines.

Next worse problems were from those of people who smoke. Computers act like big air filters, and the PCs of smokers not only get dusty faster, they get a thicker, even gummier kind of dust and dirt that is even worse for fans and airflow.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

5. Three words

BACKUP BACKUP BACKUP

[markbark]

6. I agree with all except...

the bit about vacuuming.
Using a vacuum cleaner on the innards of your PC is just begging for ESD damage.

Q: What's the diff between a 250 Kilovolt Van deGraff generator and a vacuum cleaner?
A: Not much

So.... use up those cans o' air, kiddies.... but lay off the vacuum cleaners, OK?


--MAB

(for the uninitiated, ESD = Electro Static Discharge, a big killer of IC chips. The chips in your PC were designed to run on anywhere from millivolts to a few tens of volts. The little "pop" you feel in the winter when you reach for the doorknob is discharging around 10 to 30 THOUSAND volts, albeit for a short time. Sadly this is more than enough time to vaporize the tiny circuitry inside a microchip.)

[DS1]

8. I'd add, when possible

don't take up more than 80% of your HD space, doing so leads to excessive swapping, fragmentation, and in the worst cases, full out MFT corruption