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MegaDisc 24 (1991-10)(MegaDisc Digital Publishing)(AU)(Disk 2 of 2).zip
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MegaDisc 24 (1991-10)(MegaDisc Digital Publishing)(AU)(Disk 2 of 2).adf
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HARDWARE
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CompuCare_III
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CompuCare_III
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1991-09-26
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7KB
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162 lines
COMPUCARE
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CARING FOR YOUR AMIGA - PART THREE
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By Kevan Fitzakerley
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In part 3 of CompuCare, you will learn how to keep your mouse and
Monitor in top working order as part of your preventive maintenance
program.
If you are still using a portable TV as a Monitor you are doing
yourself and your Amiga an injustice! While a TV will display the
programs you are running, they will never be as clear or as sharp as a
Monitor. But whether you are using a TV or a Monitor you still need to
to keep it clean and in good working order.
The main areas of your Tv/Monitor that need to be kept clean and free
of dust and dirt, are the vents and the viewing screen, as with your
Amiga and any piece of hardware you have that have vents, these need
plenty of air circulation to avoid heat build-up.
You should avoid placing your Monitor in a built-in enclosure unless
proper ventilation is provided and also keep the screen away from direct
sunlight.
DULL MATT
If you compare the screen of a Tv to that of a Monitor you will
notice that the Monitor screen has a duller finish than that of the Tv -
this dull finish is known as a "matt" finish or anti-glare, when the
screen becomes dirty or covered in dust and needs cleaning you should
unplug the power cable and wipe the screen with a soft damp cloth.
NO LIQUOR
NEVER use alcohol, ammonia-based products or aerosol sprays to clean
the screen because these products will, if used, eventually wear away
the anti-glare finish. Avoid having magnetic devices near the screen
these devices could damage the colour purity of the picture.
If you intend leaving your computer on and unattended for long periods
it would be wise to either turn off the Monitor or alternatively install
a screen blanker program on your disk(s), if your monitor is left on and
it is displaying the same screen for prolonged periods it is possible to
"burn" the screen, in other words if your screen is left displaying the
same screen, the screen will display a image of that screen at all
times.
Take care when moving or adjusting your Monitor's position, that you
do not accidentally disconnect the various leads that are attached to
the rear of the Monitor - if any of these leads do come loose or
disconnected, switch of the power and reconnect the leads in their
respective sockets.
If you feel that the inside of your Monitor needs a good clean out I
suggest that you have it cleaned by a authorised repair agent.
NURTURE YOUR RODENT
As you would be aware the mouse would have to be one of the most
important pieces of hardware that you would use with your Amiga, and
unless you are familiar with the CLI, if your mouse was to give you
trouble, then it would be near impossible to use your computer.
By following the guide-lines given on at regular intervals, you can
rest assured your mouse will give you trouble free performance.
The mouse sends electrical signals to the Amiga, and is used to
control the pointer that appears on your monitor screen. The buttons on
the mouse are used to start programs, open drawers and highlight menus
etc.
For the mouse to perform correctly, you need an area of 30cm in
diameter on a surface that allows the ball inside the mouse to run
freely - it is extremely important to keep this area as clean and dust
free as possible, because the ball will pick up dirt and dust which
inturn is transferred to the rollers contained in the mouse and
eventually will make the mouse very hard to use.
There are a number of ways that you can reduce the work load placed
upon your hardware rodent, and also make your use of it a little more
pleasurable, such as buying a mouse mat. This item is normally
recommended at the time that you would have bought your Amiga, but if
you do not have one of these, then I strongly recommend that you obtain
one ASAP. These mats are made from foam, with the top surface being
smooth and the bottom surface, when placed on your desk or table acts
like an anti-slip mat. In other words the bottom surface keeps the mat
in place, while the top surface provides a smooth work area for your
mouse.
ACCELERATE IT
It is also possible to reduce the area needed for your mouse by
installing a program on your disk(s) that increases the speed of the
signals from the mouse to the computer, these programs are called "Mouse
accelerators" and you can find one that will suit your needs from any
Public Domain software supplier - Dmouse is a good example of a mouse
accelerator, there many others available and often these programs
perform a host of other useful functions. [See WHIZZO in the PROGRAMS
drawer for such a one on the bootblock of your system disk, amongst
other things.]
Eventually if left unattended the rollers will get to a stage were
they will become so clogged up with dirt and dust they will not turn
freely. You can prevent this happening by performing simple maintenance
at regular periods, and if you are using the mouse constantly then you
should carry out this duty on a weekly basis.
Here are the steps you need to take to perform your MOUSE MAINTENANCE
PROGRAM.
Hold the mouse upside down and slide off the small retaining cover and
remove the ball, and put these items in a safe place.
Inside the opening you will notice three rollers, which are either
steel or plastic, and when you examine them you will see the dirt and
dust that has been accumulated on the rollers and also on the tiny
axles, you need to completely remove all of this build up from these
parts.
If you place a clean lint-free piece of cloth (a handkerchief would
suffice) on your index finger and wipe the surfaces of the rollers,
turning the rollers as you are wiping, this will remove most if not all
of the dirt, when you are satisfied it is completely clean, gently blow
into the opening to remove the dirt. If you have access to a silicone
spray, you can spray a light coat on the rollers which will help reduce
the amount of dirt build-up and also provide you with a much smoother
gliding mouse. Wipe the ball with a soft dust free cloth and replace the
ball inside the mouse and secure with the retaining cover.
Keep the mouse cord from becoming kinked or tangled - if the cord is
damaged in any way you will experience problems. It is possible to
shorten the cord, but unless you are absolutely sure of what you are
doing it is best left to a qualified person to carry out this job for
you.
Eventually from normal wear and tear you will have to replace or have
your mouse repaired, the above procedures will help to reduce problems
and also extend the life of your mouse.
END PART THREE..............COMPUCARE
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