Preventive Maintenance: Giving Your PC a longer lifespan

[pchardwaretech]

I regularly perform preventive maintenance on my PC.
I clean the keyboard, mouse, monitor and case.
I empty the recycle bin to recover hard disk space, delete any unnecessary files, like files with a .tmp extension, .chk extension.
Armed with compressed air, I blow out dust from the inside, reseat my processor, RAM and any chips that may have come loose.
What are your experiences in maintenance of your PC?

[Floppyman]

Hi,

Great tips/suggestions!

Along with those suggetions, I recommend scanning for viruses, defragging your harddisk, and running scan disk , as good things to do to regularly to keep your pc in good shape.

[Computer Hobbyist]

pchardwaretech, Floppyman

Great suggestions.

I do nearly all the things suggested on my Windows machines (some are not necessary on my Linux machines) and most on all my machines, but you know I can't remember the last time I reseated a processor (except when troubleshooting a new build). Are processors coming out of the socket a big problem?

I also clean off my card connectors with a fresh dollar bill when I reseat them.

CH

[Redo40]

I try to do all of those tips plus I run System file checker and Registry checker occasionally.

[HAL9000]

Well, I run my systems 24/7 and keep them busy during the night.

Scandisk
Defrag
Check virus definitions and update if necessary
Virus scan
Ad-Aware scan
Cleanup with Window Washer
Automated backup

All finished with an automated reboot so it starts fresh (no longer do this one with the XP machine, it doesn't need it).

***Gonna move this to the Tips and Tricks section***

[pchardwaretech]

Well, on the issue of reseating the Processor, I do it when I do a major preventive maintenance program when I literally disassemble and reassemble the whole system. This I perform once in a long time. This gives me a thorough maintenance opportunity and allows me to blow out any dust that may be "hidden" behind under the heatsink/fan and within the slots where the Processor Pins seat. But this is once in a blue moon.
The other functions I peform quite regularly.
Other times I decided to reformat my HDD and reinstall all my software but I make sure I backup all important data first, lest I lose it in the format. This, I have discovered really revitalises my PC, makes me recover quite some space. I do this, not often but when I am doing a thorough maintenance program.

[Blakhart]

I disassemble down to the bare mobo and vacuum all the cards with the fuzzy attachment on the vac. Then after a good cleaning I go and use Deoxit on all the contacts of the mem and cards. You may re arrange the pci cards to see if it gains you any better performance, while its apart.
Also you may check the condition of the heat sink pookie and make sure it hasnt gone anywhere, and check to see if the surfaces are smooth.
I found that the heatsink surface on my gf2ti was cast rough on its face so I used a razor blade to scrape it polished smooth, and applied some of that silver heatsink pookie to make it run cooler.
The routing of ide and other cables can be adjusted as well for better air flow management and appearance.
Grab each fan and give it a spin, see if it wobbles or seems to have worn out its bearing too. If it wobbles itll soon be dead due to the worn bearing.
Dont crease ide cables, rf doesnt like curves or corners, for best performance
make turns gradual and try to keep away from other conductors as they will undergo mutual inductance, which can mean data corruption.
Cheers!

[freptide]

Use a battery backup surge protector and it will last. Voltage spikes can
really flog a good power supply, which leads to component failures.......

[pchardwaretech]

Great suggestions,Blackhart. i especially your thoughts on the heatsink and on the re-routing IDE cables to allow for better air flow management and appearance.
I know most of us will strip it bare but leave the Heatsink/Fan still on the processor. It is good to remove it and blow out any dust that may have accumulated under it.

[glc]

I will add to this - if you remove the heatsink/fan from the processor, you will need to clean all traces of the old thermal compound or pad from the heatsink and processor and apply a fresh blob of compound.

[nightfishing]

....adding a fliter to any intake fans you have will really cut down on the amount of dust that will accumulate INSIDE your box.

Just remember to occassionally clean off the filter.

[christo418]

All right, who sells Hepa filters for PCs?