Preventive
Maintenance Procedures
Almost all computer components require preventive maintenance.
The methods and procedures to clean and maintain these components vary. Here, I
will discuss the preventive maintenance procedures of computer components in
detail.
Mouse
Mechanical
mouse:
A mouse with
a trackball will pick up dirt, dust and debris, from any surface it rolls over,
or from your hand. Keep the area where the mouse is used clean, dry and free of
dust. If the mouse is used with a mouse pad, keep the surface of the mouse pad
clean. Cursor movement becomes erratic when the mouse ball and/or
rollers gather dirt. It’s a good idea to keep the mouse covered when you are
not using it. However, by no means can you eliminate accumulation of dirt. So,
make sure that you clean the mouse ball and rollers monthly.
To clean the mouse, disconnect it from the computer and open
the mouse ball cover from the bottom of the mouse to remove the ball (You can
usually remove the mouse ball cover with a “press and turn” action). A careful inspection of the small
rollers usually reveals gunk. Clean the ball by washing it in soapy
water and remove the dirt on the rollers using a cotton swab dipped in
isopropyl alcohol. Dry the rollers and ball well with a lint-free cloth before
returning the ball (make sure the
ball is completely dry before reinserting it), put the mouse ball cover
back in place and connect the mouse to the computer.
NOTE: Don't use alcohol to clean a
rubber mouse ball as it may cause shrinkage and deterioration of the mouse-ball
material.
Optical
mouse:
To clean an
optical mouse, disconnect it from the computer and simply wipe over the outside
of the mouse, using a cloth dampened with isopropyl alcohol. The mouse can then
be reconnected to the computer. Ensure that nothing comes into contact with the
optical sensor while cleaning this optical device.
Keyboard
You will
need to clean the keyboard more frequent than the rest of the computer system because
it is the computer’s primary input device (one of the most used components) and
it gathers dust and dirt faster than any other component. Dirt and dust accumulation
on keyboard degrade its function (key stick together when you press them). Also,
dust may cause a short in the keyboard, resulting in incorrect characters being
displayed on the screen. Liquids (for example, tea, coffee, or Coke) that are spilled
on the keyboard may also cause a short.
NOTE:
In the event of a spill,
immediately disconnect the keyboard from the computer, or disconnect the power
from the laptop, and turn it upside down to prevent the liquid penetrating any
further. Wipe or swab out all areas you can reach. A hairdryer can be used to
dry hard-to-reach areas, or leaving the keyboard upside down to dry overnight
may work. Ensure that the keyboard is completely dry before reconnecting it to
the computer. Always keep the keyboard covered when not in use and clean the
keyboard monthly to prevent accumulation of dirt.
To clean the keyboard, disconnect the keyboard from the
computer and remove the key tops from the keyboard and blow the dust using a
vacuum cleaner or compressed air. Small non-static vacuum cleaners can be used to remove debris from
the keyboard as well as other small parts of the PC. These usually have a small
brush head attached with a gooseneck that can be bent to provide the best angle
for cleaning. Compressed-air can be used to dislodge debris from inaccessible
parts of the keyboard. Dislodged debris can then be safely removed by vacuum.
Large pieces of debris can be carefully removed using non-static brushes,
tweezers or probes.
Use a small amount
of alcohol on a towel to clean each keycap and use a non-static-producing brush
on the stubborn dirt. Ensure the keycaps are totally dry before putting them back on
the keyboard and then connect
the
keyboard to the computer.
Printer
Printers have many moving parts and require a higher level
of maintenance (to keep it
running smoothly) than most other electronic devices. Impurities produced by
the printer collect on the internal components. Over time, if the impurities
are not removed, the printer may malfunction. The maintenance schedule for a
printer can be found in the manual or on the manufacturer’s website for most printers cleaning, the
manufacturer-approved damp soft cloth is fine. If ink has found its way onto
the paper guides and water won't shift it, you can swab it off with cotton buds
and methylated spirits (denatured alcohol, for non-Commonwealth readers).
When working
on any inky printer - ink jet or dot matrix - use disposable gloves. Plastic
gloves from a pharmacy are perfectly adequate, but you shouldn't use them when
working on static sensitive devices. Latex surgical gloves are harder to find,
but better. Plus, they make you look a lot more dangerous.
Procedure for printer maintenance will be discussed
in detail later in another topic.
Scanner
The scanner surface should be kept clean. If the glass
becomes dirty, consult the manufacturer’s user manual for cleaning recommendations.
To prevent liquid from leaking into the scanner case, do not spray glass
cleaner directly on the device. Dampen a cloth with the cleaner, and then apply
the cleaner gently to the glass.
If the inside of the glass becomes dirty, check the manual
for instructions on how to open the unit or remove the glass from the scanner.
If possible, thoroughly clean both sides of the glass, and replace the glass as
it was originally set in the scanner. When the scanner is not in use, keep the
lid closed. Keep a handheld scanner in a safe place. Also, never lay anything heavy
on a scanner, because you may damage the casing or internal parts.
CD/DVD Drive
A useful
CD/DVD cleaning kit can include a lens cleaner that removes dust and debris
from an optical lens; a disk cleaner that removes dust, dirt, fingerprints, and
oils from the disk; and a scratch repair kit used to resurface, clean, and
polish CDs and DVDs.
You
can also clean your drive manually. Manual cleaning operations involve removing the cover of the
drive, gaining access to the Read/Writerite heads, and cleaning them manually
with a swab that has been dipped in alcohol. Together, these steps
provide an excellent preventive maintenance program that should ensure
effective, long-term operation of the drive.
Monitor
Monitors benefit from periodic cleaning and dusting.
Aerosol sprays, solvents, and commercial cleaners should be avoided because they
can damage the screen and cabinet. Clean your cathode
ray tube monitor (CRT), with
standard glass cleaner and a lint free cloth. Be sure to spray the cloth with
cleaner and then wipe (do not spray cleaner directly on the monitor and avoid
scratching the surface of the screen). When you work with a cathode
ray tube monitor (CRT), always remember that it is a piece of high-voltage
equipment. It contains capacitors that store static charge for a long time even
when the CRT is disconnected from the mains. Be very careful when handling the
CRT, as this static charge can be fatal.
Most LCD displays
can be cleaned with isopropyl. However, you should check your manual for the
manufacturer's cleaning recommendations. It is relatively easy to damage the
front polariser of the display. Take care to remove any liquid droplets
from the screen because they can cause permanent staining. After
cleaning, allow 30 minutes for complete drying. The screen should be
shielded from bright sunlight and heat sources. Moving the laptop from a cool
to a hot location can cause damaging moisture to condense inside the housing
(including the display). It should also be kept away from ultraviolet
light sources and extremely cold temperatures. The liquid crystals can
freeze in extremely cold weather. A freeze may damage the display and
cause it to be unusable.
If a monitor is to be left on for extended
periods with the same image displayed on the screen, turn down the intensity
level of the monitor or install a screen saver program to avoid burn-in.
Most modern monitors have automatic level adjustment to protect against burn-in.
Extend the lifespan of your computer monitor by shutting it off when not in
use.
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