Topics
Cleaning
Cleaning of outer
surfaces of a computer can be done with soap and water as long as the
solution does not enter the internal parts of the computer. The
solution should be applied with a lint-free cloth. The cleaning should
be followed with an anti-static spray that can be made out of water
and fabric softener.
Internal dust can be cleaned with canned air, a soft brush or
anti-static vacuum. Anti-static vacuums are specially grounded to
prevent static discharge like regular vacuums. Dust can contribute to
overheating problems. Making sure that all expansion slot covers are
in place can reduce dust buildup. Missing covers can also disrupt the
airflow design of the case and cause overheating problems. Additional
fans can be added to help cut down on internal temperature problems.
Computer equipment should not be placed in areas of extreme
temperature or humidity.
Oxidation corrosion can slow down or even prevent electricity from
flowing through contact points. Oxidation buildup can be removed by
rubbing with an emery board or eraser. It can also be cleaned with
special cleaning solution.
Other internal components can be cleaned with Isopropyl alcohol and
lint-free swabs.
Monitors should be cleaned with a soap and water solution with the
power disconnected. Do not use household cleaning solutions as they
can damage the screen. Monitors should not be opened unless you are
qualified to work on them. Deadly voltage can be stored inside the
monitor even a year after it has been turned off.
Mice need to occasionally have the X
and Y rollers cleaned with a lint-free swab.
Handling
and Transportation
Computer
components should be transported in antistatic foam or an anti-static
bag.
Hard drives are vacuum-sealed and should never be opened except by
professionals in a "clean room".
Important data should be regularly backed up and stored in a fire-
proof safe or at a separate location for protection against fire or
theft. Windows NT/2000 Emergency Repair Disks should be stored in a
secure place where only authorized personnel can access them.
Because floppy
disks are magnetic media, they should not be exposed to magnetic
fields that can be produced by TVs, monitors, speakers, power supplies
and appliances with motors. Floppy drive heads can be cleaned with a
wet or dry head-cleaning disk. Keyboards can tend to collect dust
between the keys. They can be vacuumed with a small vacuum.
Electricity
Electrical spikes
(measured in nanoseconds) or surges (measured in milliseconds) can
cause damage to system components or even data loss. Surge suppressors
can prevent minor variances in power and provide a stable stream of
electricity to the unit, however, they may not always work against
larger surges.
Uninterruptable Power Supplies (UPS) provide power to the devices
connected to it for a period of time in the event of power loss or sag
for long enough to gracefully shutdown the computer and avoid data
loss. Unnecessary peripherals such as scanners and printers should not
be connected to a UPS as they can overload it.
An ESD wriststrap should never be worn when
working with high voltage equipment such as monitors.
Electrostatic
Discharge (ESD) can be harmful to electronic components and
cause them to fail. Low humidity, walking across carpet and appliance
motors are some of the common generators of ESD. MOS devices are
particularly sensitive to ESD and special care should be taken around
them. Below are some of the prevention methods employed to prevent
damage:
Grounding straps are connected to a technicians wrist. You can ground
the wrist strap to the earth pin on a wall socket. - Remove all
metallic jewelry.
Antistatic
mats.
Touching
the chassis of the computer while plugged into a grounded outlet.
Anti-static
sprays can be applied to floors, computers and work surfaces.
A
humidifier can be used to keep the humidity above 50%.
Computer equipment should be unplugged from the wall during
electrical storms to prevent equipment damage and injury.
Laser printers have several hazards that should be noted. The laser
can cause blindness, the fuser can cause burns and the power supply
can cause electrocution.
Disposal
Toner cartridges, ink jet cartridges
and batteries can be recycled.
Hazardous materials come with Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) that
provide a variety of information as to how the product should be
handled and disposed of.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
(adapted)
TechTutorials
is a popular computer certification website devoted to providing free
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