Hardware Reference
In-Depth Information
Preventive maintenance is an important part of computer usage.
This can include cleaning the computer, backing up fi les, and
preventing damage from electrical surges and static electricity.
This chapter covers all those skills and several other important maintenance tasks.
Managing fi les and folders is also a daily or near-daily process. Part of keeping a
computer's contents orderly is moving, copying, renaming, and deleting fi les. In this
chapter, you'll learn all those skills, as well as how to print fi les.
Cleaning a Computer
Computers that are cleaned regularly are not only more pleasant to use, but also can last
longer. Dirt, clumps of debris, and other accumulation can make components run hotter,
shortening their lives.
In the following sections, you'll learn about some of the cleaning products available for
cleaning a computer inside and out. You'll also study some techniques for cleaning various
areas without damaging them.
Cleaning Supplies
Expensive cleaning supplies aren't required to clean a PC, but neither should you use
whatever products happen to be lying around. Here is a list of basic supplies to have on hand:
A spray cleaning product designed for plastics, preferably one designed for
computers. The ones designed for computers often have antistatic properties that
regular cleaners lack.
A monitor cleaner, either spray or towelette, designed specifi cally for cleaning monitors
or other electronics screens (like televisions). Don't use a glass-cleaning product that
contains ammonia because ammonia can destroy the antiglare coating on some monitors.
A can of compressed air for blowing dust out of crevices.
Cotton swabs.
Denatured isopropyl alcohol (not rubbing alcohol, because that has too much water in it).
An antistatic spray designed for computer work areas.
(Optional) A small handheld vacuum cleaner designed for electronics. (Don't use
a regular vacuum cleaner because the fi lter isn't fi ne enough and because a regular
vacuum can generate static electricity that can harm equipment.)
