The Problem:
When I worked for Sony in Tokyo several years ago, we had a futurist give a series of lectures on technology and how he expected it to evolve in the next millennium. He spoke of wearable electronics with the computing power woven into the fabric. And he imagined biodegradable – even edible - computers!
Years later I saw a film (one of my favorites) called The Iron Giant. And in that film they had a robot which could explode into a gazillion pieces, but each piece was still ‘alive’ and would slowly crawl back to one central point and reassemble itself.
Imagine a world of self-fixing computers.
The Solution:
Well, we are not there yet. For now, the special mechanism which keeps your computer working is…you.
Just like our car, our health and our kids, our computer is likely to last longer if we take good care of it. Stewardship counts. With that in mind, here’s what you need to know:
- Use a good UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) and surge suppressor. The UPS is a giant battery. In the event of a blackout, the UPS will give you enough juice to save your work and safely shut down your computer. The surge suppressor acts like a gatekeeper, preventing dangerous power spikes from ruining your hardware.
- Turn off your computer when you don’t anticipate using it within 3 - 4 hours. Over time, this habit will help reduce the amount of dust, mold, condensation and corrosion in your system. It will also help conserve energy. Some “experts” say turning the system on and off causes more stress on the computer parts, but excessive heat is a bigger factor in early electronics failure. If the computer is on, it’s generating heat. For this reason, be sure your computer’s cooling system is not clogged with dust.
- Have your computer checked and cleaned once a year. Computers use tiny internal fans to cool the electronics. These fans suck in air – and dust – into your computer. Over time, a thin layer of dust coats the electronics and insulates the components, preventing them from cooling properly. Ocean air is also detrimental to electronic components. Keep your computer away from open windows. At the same time, give your computer some breathing room. Don’t place it into an enclosed cabinet where the vents are unable to expel the hot air. Lastly, if you smoke, quit. Avoid smoking around the computer. Tobacco smoke leaves a corrosive residue on the components. In addition to your lungs, that residue will eventually destroy your computer’s electronics. Need a power cleaning? Bring your computer to any of our three locations. No appointment is necessary. We can do it while you wait. Price: $20.
- Make sure that your operating system is up-to-date with the latest security and bug patches. These updates are usually available online.
- Make sure your antivirus/firewall/antispyware software is updated. Scan weekly.
- Practice safe computing. Avoid opening unnecessary emails and attachments, avoid visiting sketchy websites, and avoid downloading programs/music/movies (Limewire/Kazaa/Bearshare/BitTorrents). Do not download anything that pops up on your screen claiming to protect your computer if you download it.
- VERY IMPORTANT. Always keep a current backup of your data (Documents, Pictures, Emails, Favorites, Financials, etc.). Always keep a copy of the data on another media, not the hard drive in the computer. You can use CDs, DVDs, Flash Drives, External Hard Drives, or even online backup systems. Also keep in mind, if your house gets robbed or if it burns down, where is your data? It might be a good idea to keep a copy in a safe deposit box. Be sure your important data is backed up on a regular basis or you could end up paying over $1500 for data recovery services or even worse, having NO data at all.
Need help? Call 531-GEEK. Or email us at: help@supergeeks.net.
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