Maintaining Your Computer

This chapter provides basic information about maintaining your computer hardware and software. You should perform regular maintenance to keep your computer running correctly.

The software procedures cover creating an emergency startup diskette, backing up your files, and keeping your hard drive error-free and working at peak efficiency. The hardware procedures cover cleaning your computer case, monitor, keyboard, and mouse.

Check the following list to determine the best maintenance schedule.

Maintenance task	Immediately after purchase	Monthly	When needed
Create an emergency disk	X
Back up files	X	X	X
Scan hard drive		X	X
Defragment hard drive		X	X
Clean computer case			X
Clean keyboard			X
Clean monitor			X
Clean mouse			X

Creating an emergency startup diskette

An emergency startup diskette is a diskette that contains critical information and files to let you start your computer if Windows fails to start. By using the startup diskette, you can restore the files that are required to return your computer to normal operation.

You should create a startup diskette as soon as you get your computer and whenever you make significant modifications to your computer, such as adding new hardware or software.

To create an emergency startup diskette:

1. Click Start, then select Settings, then Control Panel.

The Control Panel window opens.

2. Double-click the Add/Remove Programs icon.

The Add/Remove Programs Properties window opens.

3. Click the Startup Disk tab.

The Startup Disk tab opens.

4. Place a blank diskette into the diskette drive.
5. Click Create Disk.
6. When Windows has finished copying files, remove the diskette from the diskette drive.
7. Label the diskette "Emergency startup diskette."
8. If you want to write-protect your diskette, which will prevent the diskette from being erased or infected by viruses, slide the tab that is at the top of the disk to the up position.

9. Store your emergency startup diskette in a safe place.

Backing up your files

You should periodically copy all of your system and personal files to diskettes, a different hard drive, or a high-capacity storage device such as a tape drive.

You can back up your computer by performing a:

Full-system backup, which saves all of the information on your hard drive.

Perform a full-system backup when you first get your computer and when you make major hardware or software changes.

Typical backup, which runs a monthly full-system backup and a daily incremental backup. The incremental backup saves only the files that are new or have changed since the last full backup.

A full-system backup combined with regular incremental backups ensures that all of the files on your computer can be restored in case of hard drive failure.

To run the Windows backup application:

1. Double-click the My Computer icon.
2. Right-click the hard drive you want to back up, then select Properties.

The System Properties window opens.

3. Click the Tools tab.

The Tools tab opens.

4. Click Backup Now.
5. Perform a full system backup or a typical backup of your system and personal files by following the on-screen instructions.

Scanning your hard drive for errors

Use the ScanDisk utility to examine your hard drive for hard drive surface errors, file problems, and folder problems. ScanDisk corrects these problems so that Windows and other applications run as expected.

To run ScanDisk:

1. Double-click the My Computer icon.
2. Right-click the hard drive that you want to check for errors, then select Properties.

The System Properties window opens.

3. Click the Tools tab.

The Tools tab opens.

4. Click Check Now.

The ScanDisk dialog box opens.

5. Click Start.
6. Correct any problems that are found by following the on-screen instructions.

After the ScanDisk program has finished checking the drive for errors, it provides a summary of the problems that were found.

7. Click Close.

Defragmenting your hard drive

Use Disk Defragmenter to speed up your hard drive file access by sorting through fragmented files on a hard drive and storing them in a more efficient order.

To run Disk Defragmenter:

1. Double-click the My Computer icon.
2. Right-click the hard drive that you want to defragment, then select Properties.

The System Properties window opens.

3. Click the Tools tab.

The Tools tab opens.

4. Click Defragment Now.
5. If Disk Defragmenter did not start automatically, click Start.

Disk Defragmenter displays the process on the screen. After the process is over, you are asked if you want to defragment another drive.

6. If you do not want to defragment another drive, click No.

Cleaning your computer

Creating a computer cleaning kit

You may want to gather these items and put together a computer cleaning kit:

A soft cloth

Window cleaner (for standard monitors only)

An aerosol can of air that has a narrow, straw-like extension

Alcohol

A cotton swab

A CD/DVD drive cleaning kit

Cleaning your computer case

Turn off your computer and clean the computer case with a damp cloth.

Do not use abrasives or solvents that can permanently damage the finish of the computer case.

Cleaning your keyboard

Spray dust, lint, and dirt off of the keys with an aerosol can of air.

If you have spilled liquid on the keyboard, unplug the keyboard and turn it upside down to let the liquid drain out. Let the keyboard dry overnight before trying to use it again.

Cleaning your monitor

To clean your monitor:

1. Turn off the monitor.
2. If you have a standard (curved-screen) monitor, spray window cleaner on a soft cloth, and wipe the monitor screen.

- OR -

If you have a flat-screen monitor, moisten a soft cloth with water, and wipe the monitor screen.

3. Spray dust, lint, and dirt off of the top and sides of the monitor with an aerosol can of air.

Cleaning your mouse

To clean your mouse:

1. Turn the mouse upside down.
2. Rotate the retaining ring on the bottom of the mouse counter-clockwise.

3. Remove the retaining ring.

4. Remove the mouse ball.

5. Remove any dust, lint, or dirt with a soft cloth.
6. Clean the mouse rollers with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol.

7. Replace the mouse ball and retaining ring.
8. Rotate the retaining ring on the bottom of the mouse clockwise, locking it into place.