[Guide] A beginners guide to computer maintenance

[Eniqmatic]

Hi all!

 

I was doing some work for a client just recently and thought I would document what I was doing in case anyone was interested. So I put together a little guide on some computer maintenance, most specifically dust cleaning, cable management and thermal compound replacing.

 

Hopefully I have covered the basics if anyone wants to check it out, and I do understand everyone has their own method of doing things which is absolutely fine. I've just outlined my methods. Feel free to let me know yours!

 

Hopefully it assists someone out there!

 

http://www.enyxsolutions.co.uk/a-beginners-guide-to-computer-maintenance/

 

Let me know your thoughts!

[minibois]

So, wheres the guide?

[zonahbear]

It is amazing how many people don't know how to do this.

[Eniqmatic]

So, wheres the guide?

Ninja 

I was typing in tags and accidently hit enter key before I was finished which submitted the form 

[paprikman]

Proper maintenance should include drives and ram checks, also replacing thermal compound is not necessary so often, if u're not overclocking.

[Interfectorem]

The before and after pictures of the cable management made my day. Cool guide by the way.

[Eniqmatic]

Proper maintenance should include drives and ram checks, also replacing thermal compound is not necessary so often, if u're not overclocking.

I would agree with the drive and RAM, however a beginner would not know how to do PROPER checks of these, hence I left them out. 

 

I will have to disagree with the thermal compound however, I see stock machines on a regular basis that benefit from having the thermal paste replaced.

[Eniqmatic]

The before and after pictures of the cable management made my day. Cool guide by the way.

Thanks for the kind words!

The before is what happens when the customer replaces one part themselves every so often which then amounts to this!

[paprikman]

I would agree with the drive and RAM, however a beginner would not know how to do PROPER checks of these, hence I left them out. 

 

I will have to disagree with the thermal compound however, I see stock machines on a regular basis that benefit from having the thermal paste replaced.

Yes, it depends on cpu's. I didn't replace my compound for about 4 years, after setting up current build. Gonna replace it this summer, when I'll be replacing cpu, mobo and other stuff.

 

I've lost all the data once, when my 1tb hdd crashed, had to get all the stuff from github and recover, all the photos where lost. 

Also it's very hard to get a new hdd in the christmas evening. After that I'm using NAS and pretty sure about my data safety.

[Griffscavern]

I like it. I know this stuff, but now I have something to print up to help teach my 14 yo son. I am having him help build my next computer. I printed up these instructions to go into my binder of "Computer building and relative stuff." So that he will have a reference guide to look at. I now have over 500 pages of information printed up for this. Only problem us trying to find recent guides, less than 2 years old, to put into it. Technology moves so fast. Good thing that some information is relevant to today's standards, even if some of the guides are getting old. This one will be relevant for a while.

Thanks

[shujin]

I usually just do a fresh install all 6 month for keeping everything fresh and I do a disassembly reassembly every year for keeping it as new 

[Eniqmatic]

I like it. I know this stuff, but now I have something to print up to help teach my 14 yo son. I am having him help build my next computer. I printed up these instructions to go into my binder of "Computer building and relative stuff." So that he will have a reference guide to look at. I now have over 500 pages of information printed up for this. Only problem us trying to find recent guides, less than 2 years old, to put into it. Technology moves so fast. Good thing that some information is relevant to today's standards, even if some of the guides are getting old. This one will be relevant for a while.

Thanks

Thanks for your kind words, even if I've helped one person then I'm happy to write them up to show. Makes it worth while. Let me know if you have any requests for any more upcoming topics, I'd be happy to write something up. 

[Eniqmatic]

I usually just do a fresh install all 6 month for keeping everything fresh and I do a disassembly reassembly every year for keeping it as new 

That's a good way to do it!

[Rayth]

Do you still need to replace the thermal compound if you use stock cooling for the CPU? IIRC mine has like thermal pads or something on the fan

[Eniqmatic]

Do you still need to replace the thermal compound if you use stock cooling for the CPU? IIRC mine has like thermal pads or something on the fan

I would depending on how long it's been on for, put it this way - it won't do any harm to check and apply more anyways. What's your CPU?

[Rayth]

I would depending on how long it's been on for, put it this way - it won't do any harm to check and apply more anyways. What's your CPU?

i5-3470

[Eniqmatic]

i5-3470

I would say depending on how long you've been running it for it might be worth doing, it certainly won't do any harm!

[d3sl91]

Some people need a guide that goes like this:

 

Do you feel comfortable opening the side panel of your "tower".

 

No? Bring it to me. Don't try to fix it or clean it. Don't "Oh, I vacuumed it out and now its a black screen". 

[zebo]

Hi all!

 

I was doing some work for a client just recently and thought I would document what I was doing in case anyone was interested. So I put together a little guide on some computer maintenance, most specifically dust cleaning, cable management and thermal compound replacing.

 

Hopefully I have covered the basics if anyone wants to check it out, and I do understand everyone has their own method of doing things which is absolutely fine. I've just outlined my methods. Feel free to let me know yours!

 

Hopefully it assists someone out there!

 

http://www.enyxsolutions.co.uk/a-beginners-guide-to-computer-maintenance/

 

Let me know your thoughts!

I know how to clean my PC i just dont know when i should clean dust and replace thermal compound can you tell me?

[Eniqmatic]

Some people need a guide that goes like this:

 

Do you feel comfortable opening the side panel of your "tower".

 

No? Bring it to me. Don't try to fix it or clean it. Don't "Oh, I vacuumed it out and now its a black screen". 

Hahahaha! Have to admit I did laugh a little at this. It rings to many bells!

[Eniqmatic]

I know how to clean my PC i just dont know when i should clean dust and replace thermal compound can you tell me?

It's all dependent on many factors. How could is the airflow through your case? Are all the intakes filtered? When did you last do it? Thermal compound is the same as its effectiveness and lifespan depends on the brand previously used. I'd say do the thermal compound at least once a year just so you know it's done.

[d3sl91]

Hahahaha! Have to admit I did laugh a little at this. It rings to many bells!

 

Honestly, I think the PC repair market is growing. The number of kids who have no idea how a desktop or laptop operates is astonishing, and is much worse than 10-15 years ago. This generation is growing up to be Phone and tablet users. So, assuming desktops and laptops dont dissapear completely, the need for people who know about computers should grow. 

 

Now, the flip side... is that laptops could cease to exist, and desktops will only be owned by power users who know their stuff anyway....::shrugs::

[Yusaisis]

I like your guide but it might be useful to offer recommendations on software to keep your computer in top shape. In my personal experience 95% of the issues most people suffer from (when they use windows) on their computers comes from non-hardware issues. This includes defragging hdds, cleaning cookies, uninstalling extra software and bloatware, stopping random programs from autostarting, and removing toolbars from browsers. Also an explanation as to when to do maintenance and how often might be handy. I can only imagine the poor guy who misunderstands and thinks apply fresh thermal paste is something that should be weekly. Finally you might want to bold your warning about vacuuming computers because that will reduce the chances of people skipping over your warning.

[Eniqmatic]

I like your guide but it might be useful to offer recommendations on software to keep your computer in top shape. In my personal experience 95% of the issues most people suffer from (when they use windows) on their computers comes from non-hardware issues. This includes defragging hdds, cleaning cookies, uninstalling extra software and bloatware, stopping random programs from autostarting, and removing toolbars from browsers. Also an explanation as to when to do maintenance and how often might be handy. I can only imagine the poor guy who misunderstands and thinks apply fresh thermal paste is something that should be weekly. Finally you might want to bold your warning about vacuuming computers because that will reduce the chances of people skipping over your warning.

 

Thanks for your feedback, I will most certainly take them on board. I'll bold the warning just now. 

 

Covering software is something I would certainly cover in the future I just chose to omit it from this as I was focussing mainly on hardware at the moment.

 

Thanks again for your comment!

[Yusaisis]

Thanks for your feedback, I will most certainly take them on board. I'll bold the warning just now. 

 

Covering software is something I would certainly cover in the future I just chose to omit it from this as I was focussing mainly on hardware at the moment.

 

Thanks again for your comment!

You're welcome. I like it when people offer learning guides on subjects as every new guide offers recommendations that one might not see elsewhere and every new guide gives a new style to help make the topic click with the reader.