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Lesson 4Computer Maintenance

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Identifying Maintenance Issues

Regular maintenance is required to keep computer running efficiently• Potential issues:• Hard drive performance slowing• Printer problems• Keyboard and mouse sluggish• Monitor not working properly• Computer cables damaged

Cable Management:• Use to organize computer cables and bundle them together• Kits available almost anywhere computer supplies are sold• Damaged cables can prevent communication problems with

peripheral devices

3Maintaining Hardware

Preventative Maintenance performed on regular schedule will cut down on computer repairs

Clean every 3-6 months; if dusty, clean more often• Keyboard• Check and clean periodically b/c keys can become

jammed from dirt, dust, hair, or food particles• Use compressed air to clean• Spilled liquid on keyboard = turn off computer

immediately, disconnect keyboard, rinse with water, turn upside down to remove excess liquid, dry with cloth, leave upside down for @ least 12 hours before reconnecting.

4Maintaining Hardware

• Mouse• Mechanical mice (ball inside) can prevent

rollers from moving effectively if they become clogged

• Cleaning eliminates jerky or erratic movement:• Remove Cover• Remove Ball• Remove/Clean Debris from inside/outside

mouse and the mouse ball• Reassemble Mouse

5Maintaining Hardware

• Printer• Check Printer Documentation (manual or online)• Clean recommended parts• Use cleaner recommended by manufacturer or lint-free

cloth with 50-50 mixture of water and vinegar; do not allow fluid inside of printer

• Never spray aerosol directly on printer• Wear latex gloves to protect hands

6Maintaining Hardware

• Inkjet Printers• After extensive use, small deposits of dried ink accumulate on

printhead and eventually will clog ink jets and cause blotchy printing.

• Many printers have self-cleaning modes that are available through printer’s control panel; if not, you can use inkjet cleaning cartridge.

• Dust and ink from inexpensive paper can affect printer rollers• Suggested Cleaning:• Turn off printer and unplug it• Let it cool down, if necessary• Use small vacuum to remove debris• Do not use compressed air; it adds moisture to printer• Use special cleaning supplies, if required

7Maintaining Hardware

• Laser Printers• Cleaned when print quality deteriorates or change toner cartridges• When cleaning internal components, do not touch anything shiny

as if might be HOT or contain a charge• Suggested Cleaning:• Use printer brush or paint brush and lint-free cloth to

clean inside toner openings• Remove paper fragments• Use clean cloth to remove spilled toner or dust• Clean rollers but do not touch transfer sponge roller• Replace toner cartridge(s)• Do not touch CORONA WIRES, if applicable

They are used to generate positive charge on drumsurface and paper. Do not use brush or vacuum on them either

• Exposure to light can damage toner cartridges

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Upgrading and Replacing Hardware Components

Necessary if components are become damaged or output/production needs to be increased.• Computer Memory• Best value to increasing computer performance• RAM made up of small memory chips to forma memory

modules; found in RAM slots on motherboard• Hard Drive (HD) = Long term memory• RAM = Short term memory (temporary)• Computer “Reads” and “Writes” to RAM• When RAM becomes full, processor accesses HD to replace old data with new

data• HD access is slower than RAM therefore processing speed slows down when

RAM is overloaded• Overloaded RAM can affect speed of monitor• Adding RAM increases performance, speed, and usability• Computers have max on amount of RAM that can be installed

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Upgrading and Replacing Hardware Components

Keyboards• Keyboards can be replaced without having to replace

any other hardware components• Select keyboard according to design,

performance and comfort• Ergonomic keyboard allow natural positioning for

arms and hands; many are smaller in width to allow mouse to be closer; some include touchpads

• Wireless keyboard reduces clutter of wires and cables and improves mobility

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Upgrading and Replacing Hardware Components

Mouse• Mice can be replaced without having to replace any

other hardware components• Various types - Mechanical, Optical, Laser, Wireless• Can be ergonomic as well

Touchpad can be used as a pointing device• Sense position of finger and move pointer accordingly• Notebook/Laptop computers usually have one• Cannot be replaced or upgraded without

replacing entire computer• Can use external touchpads

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PerformingPreventative Maintenance

Computers slow over as you add/delete files, install/uninstall software, and normal activities

Microsoft Windows comes with a Utilities program to help with the maintenance of your computer• Defrag HD• Empty Recycle Bin• Delete Temporary Files• Remove Cookies

Following a routine maintenance schedule will allow your computer to run faster and more efficient

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PerformingPreventative Maintenance

Disk Defragmentation• New HD write file data in a set of side-by-side

clusters• When HD becomes cluttered or limited on space,

windows divides new data into sectors• Disk fragmentation occurs when data is broken up

in to several pieces but not stored close together• Sectors are stored in blocks of non-adjacent

clusters creating fragmented files

CONTIGUOUS FILE

HARD DISK SECTOR

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PerformingPreventative Maintenance

Disk Defragmentation (cont)• Computer reads fragmented file as single file, but has to

scan multiple parts of drive and extends disk seek time; slows processing cycle and computer performance

• Defragmentation organizes files so all of the file’s sectors are stored together

• Defrag utility available in Windows• Defrag utility does not work on read-only disks,

networks drives, or locked drives

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Performing Preventative Maintenance

Disk Defragmentation (cont)• Steps to Defrag• Click Start then Control Panel• Click System and Security• Under Administrative Tools, click Defragment Hard Drive• Click Defragment Hard Drive

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Performing Preventative Maintenance

Recycle Bin• Holding area for files and folders before final deletion from storage• Contains files from HD that have been deleted intentionally or

accidentally• removable media do not contain a recycle bin, therefore once file is deleted it is

permanently gone

• Access from desktop icon• Can view (double-click or right-click, open) contents before permanently

deleted• Right-clicking an item will display shortcut menus

• Restore, Cut, Delete, or Properties

• Empty contents of Recycle Bin to permanently delete files/folders• Right-click icon and click Empty Recycle Bin• Warning box displays to prevent accidental deletion of files• Options are Yes or No at this point• Once file(s) have been deleted from bin = cannot be restored

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Performing Preventative Maintenance

Recycle Bin (cont)• Restore file(s) by opening Recycle Bin• Right-click name of file• Click Restore

• Modify Recycle Bin settings• Right-click icon• Select Properties• Select settings to change• Click OK

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PerformingPreventative Maintenance

Temporary Files• Created by various programs; it determines where and

when to create temp files• Reasons:• Free memory for other programs• Act as a safety net to prevent data loss• Print while computer performs other tasks

• Exist in current session of program• Program closed normally = temp files deleted automatically• Power loss/program not closed properly = temp file remain

on HD

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PerformingPreventative Maintenance

Temporary Files (cont)• Steps to delete Temp Files• Click Start, Accessories, System Tools,

“DISK CLEANUP”• Select Drive (if system contains more

than one drive) to scan, Click OK• After scan, click on files to delete to

display description, then click checkbox to select specific temp files to delete, then click OK

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PerformingPreventative Maintenance

Cookies• Small text file form a website used to identify specific

computer• File created/updated on computer’s HD each time visit

Website• Not a threat to computer’s security• Text file contains code that identifies your computer with

the Web server each time Web page is accessed• Used primarily to gather info about your surfing habits

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PerformingPreventative Maintenance

Cookies (cont)• Steps to delete Cookies• Click Start, Control Panel, Network and Internet, Internet

Options• Select General tab; in browsing history section, click the

Delete button to display Delete Browser History dialog box• Check the Cookies checkbox• Press Delete

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PerformingPreventative Maintenance

Cookies (cont)

INTERNET OPTIONS

DELETE BUTTON TEMPORARY

INTERNET FILES

CHECKBOX

COOKIE CHECKBOX

NETWORK AND

INTERNET

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RequestingSpecial Maintenance

Some maintenance procedures require a computer professional; listed below are examples:• Replacing power supply/opening power supply case• Replacing electrical components• Replacing processor• Replacing/Adding HD• Replacing/Adding RAM

Monitors, scanners, or printers are not designed to be opened by average computer user; use a computer tech

23Network Computing

Computer network security tested by equipment malfunctions, system failures, hackers, and viruses

Examples:• Natural disasters – floods, storms, fires• Electrical disturbances – brownouts or blackouts• Server malfunctions – lose of network resources like

printers, drives, and information• Hackers – gain unauthorized access to computer

systems to steal services and/or information and cause damage to computer systems

• Viruses – created to infect/sabotage computer systems and files/information

24QUICK QUIZZES

1) A computer is no different from a car in that it requires regular __________.

Answer: maintenance

2) __________ kits can be used to organize cables and bundle them together.

Answer: Cable management

3) As a general rule, how often should you clean a computer?

Answer: Every three to six months

25QUICK QUIZZES

4) True or False? You should brush or vacuum the corona wires on a laser printer once a year.

Answer: False

5) Adding __________ to a computer generally helps increase performance, speed, and usability.

Answer: RAM

6) __________ keyboards allow for a more natural positioning of your arms and hands.

Answer: Ergonomic

26QUICK QUIZZES

7) A(n) __________ keyboard reduces the clutter of unsightly wires and other cable problems and improves mobility.

Answer: wireless

8) A(n) __________ is a pointing device you can use instead of a mouse.

Answer: touchpad

9) Disk __________ occurs when data is broken up into many pieces that are not stored close together.

Answer: fragmentation

27QUICK QUIZZES

10) Disk __________ organizes fragmented files so that all of the file’s sectors are stored together.

Answer: defragmentation

11) The Windows __________ is a holding area for files and folders before their final deletion from a storage device.

Answer: Recycle Bin

12) True or False? Replacing or adding additional RAM to your computer should generally be performed by a computer professional.

Answer: True