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Like all things IT there are two sides to computer maintenance, the hardware side and the software side.

The hardware consists of the physical components of a computer, for example the computer tower or box which contains the electronics that are needed to run the computer and the monitor or screen, keyboard and mouse.

Hardware

 

Preventative maintenance: Avoid having drinks that is tea, coffee, minerals etc near the computer. These are the most common things that can damage electrical components. The damage from spillages may not seem obvious at first but can become apparent much later. Make sure all cables are secured and tied up. Cables, for example USB connectors being pulled out of sockets unintentionally can permanently damage either the receiving socket or the USB plug end.

Dust is probably the next most common material that contributes to damage in a computer. Dust gets sucked in by the cooling fans and builds up around heat sink devices mounted over the processor. The first signs of this problem are the sound of the cooling fans running constantly and the computer beginning to run slower than normal.

 

Removing the dust is straight forward enough. The hard part might be figuring out how to open up the computer case, you can look this up on YouTube. Always make sure the computer is turned off and all cables disconnected especially the power cable.  Place the computer a clean static free surface. The dust can be removed by blowing it off with compressed air from a special Aerosol can, or using a strong hairdryer or with a soft brush.

Screens have ventilation spaces in their frames, these also needed to be cleared of dust . A common cause of overheating with screens is users putting a sign straddling the top of the screen asking that the screen is not turned off, this can block the air vents and lead to overheating.

The most common problem with keyboards is caused by small objects falling down between the keys and either jamming or preventing the keys from making contact to carry out the required stroke. Usually turning the keyboard upside down and gently shaking it will knock most dirt out. Liquid spillages are often the death knell for keyboard operations.

Software

Preventative Maintenance, Data back-ups , Registry cleaning, Disk Defragmentation and Software updates are key elements of maintaining good operational software.

Data backup should be carried out on a regular basis and stored separately to the computer on an external hard drive or in a data cloud system.

Registry Cleaning, The registry is a database in your computer that contains all the data files needed to run your PC. The purpose of a registry cleaner is to help keep your windows systems clean, efficient and to help  the applications to run smoothly. Running a reputable anti malware software will also assist in keeping the registry free of malicious software.

Disk Defragmentation, over time files on your PC get scattered across different parts of the database. Defragging the hard drive is a way of gathering related files that have been scattered on the hard drive and placing them close together enabling the read and write functions to run efficiently.

Software updates, these are very important when relating to the operation system. They are issued by the OS provider and often contain security updates. Do not be tempted to click the “remind me later “ option as this can lead to the update being forgotten about and your system being vulnerable to attack.

Finally, if it seems too good to be true it usually is. Pop up adverts offering incredible deals on well-known products are not always what they seem.

Always be suspicious of offers of free antivirus and antimalware software. Check reviews and ensure it comes from a reputable website.