Proper maintenance of a personal computer and its peripherals can add years to its life and help the user avoid costly repairs. Even more costly than hardware breakdowns is loss of data, which can occur in a poorly-maintained computer. Most maintenance practices are inexpensive and easy to perform. They are well-worth the little time and effort required.
The system unit itself requires little maintenance. Two common problems are dust build-up and battery discharge. Dust buildup can cause chips to run at higher temperature (and burn out faster). Therefore, it is good practice to open the case every two or three months and vacuum the internal components (making sure to unplug the computer first). Compressed air canisters may also be used to blow the dust off of the components. Batteries keep the BIOS chip configured even when the computer is off or unplugged. When the battery is dead, the system CMOS configurations are not maintained. These batteries last up to five years, but usually must be replaced before then.
Disk drives also require routine maintenance. The magnetic head of a floppy disk drive should be cleaned once a year, using a wet cleaning kit available at computer stores. The kits are inexpensive (about $10) and are easy to use. Hard disk drives are especially important to maintain, as they usually store the bulk of the user's data. The most important maintenance requirement for a hard disk drive is to back up (make a copy of) the data on the hard disk. A number of software utilities are sold to back up hard disks. Remember, as with most complex machines, a hard disk drive will eventually need repair. How often you back up your data (once a week, once a month, etc.) depends upon how valuable you think the data is. Hard disks also are susceptible to viruses. Although encountering a virus is not a common occurrence, if you download much shareware from bulletin board systems, it is safest to invest in anti-virus software. Also, routine reorganization of the hard disk is necessary to make best use of storage space. Files may become fragmented, slowing down access time. Every few months it is advisable to de-fragment hard disks. Disk optimization software is available which makes this a simple matter. Deleting old, unnecessary files, compressing infrequently used files, and transferring archived files to backups are also important to optimizing disk space.
Keyboards, mice, and other peripheral housings should be cleaned regularly with a mild household cleanser. The kind used to clean windows is ideal for glass monitor screens and plastic housings. If the monitor has a non-glare coating, a special cleaner can be bought to take care of it. The rollers within the mouse are notorious for picking up grunge, making the mouse difficult to operate. Many a decrepit mouse has been revitalized by merely using a cotton swab and mild cleanser to wash the tracking ball and clean off translational rollers. Keyboards are particularly susceptible to collecting dust, bits of food, and hair. Regularly vacuuming the keyboard can take care of much of this, though investment in a clear plastic keyboard protector is a good idea (as it prevents spills into the keys, too).
Printers require a fair amount of routine maintenance to keep them in proper working order. Printers which use ribbons and toner cartridges must have these replaced as they begin to wear out (become depleted). Toner and ink can collect on the rollers and printer head so it is a good idea to use a cotton swab and mild cleanser to clean these periodically. Printer heads, especially daisy wheel spokes and dot-matrix pins, can break and must be repaired. Of course, paper also must be replenished in the printer's paper tray.
Software is especially susceptible to damage. Floppy disks as well as other magnetic media, do not tolerate extremes of environment. Dust and smoke can damage them, as can magnetic fields, excessive heat, cold, moisture, and fingerprints. Store magnetically recorded software at room-temperature away from dampness and magnetic fields. Attaching a floppy diskette to the refrigerator with a magnet, for example, is an easy way to ruin a diskette. CRT displays also give off electromagnetic radiation, so it is advisable not to store diskettes within a few inches of one. Non-magnetically recorded software (such as on optical discs) are less susceptible to this sort of damage, but can suffer from dust and scratches. Keep optical discs stored in a disc caddy or folder where dust cannot accumulate on them and they are not likely to be scratched. It is important to register software immediately after installing it (by filling out and mailing in the registration card which comes with the programs). This allows you access to upgrades and technical support from the publishing company. Also, it is a good idea to copy the software to an operating hard disk or other floppy diskettes, so that if the operating media is damaged, the original diskettes are still available. It is likely that the cost of the computer hardware will be exceeded by the eventual cost of the software bought for it over the life of the system. This significant investment is well worth protecting.
