Does your computer have a good home?  On a day to day basis your everyday actions can affect the life of your workstation.  Just like your car needs to be treated well to run well, your computer needs a few basic things to keep the hardware running longer.  In this post I will give you a few tips that can do that will give your computer hardware a longer more productive life.

Set your computer down flat

Talk to any hard drive manufacturer and they will tell you the same thing.  When your computer is tilted the hard drive is more prone to failures and thus quicker to die.

Don’t move it

When you move your computer you are more likely cause damage to the hard drive.  Further, if you move it while it’s turned on it’s even more likely to fail.  There will be times when moving is necessary so be sure to be extra careful when you do move your computer.  Try the following:

1. Always power off the system before moving it, even if only a few inches
2. When moving your computer a long distance, try putting it in a box with foam
3. Never kick your computer and try to not bump it either.  Using it as foot rest as so many people seem to do is not a good idea.

Use protection

As in power protection.  At minimum your computer should be plugged into a surge suppressor, preferably a battery backup.  See my post on power protection for more information.

Keep it cool

If your computer is overheating, it won’t take long before the hardware starts to fail.  An overheated hard drive, motherboard, and even processor can all fail earlier than the normal expected lifetime. Make sure your computer is in an open space, keep the air vents clear (including from excess dust) and ensure you have enough fans.  If you are afraid your computer may be running too hot, don’t take the computer case side off.

Michael Curnutt, President

Need help with the above article?  Looking for a geek that has turned consultant?  Let Expedient Technology be your IT department.  Serving the greater Everett area, we are happy to be your partner for all things tech. Contact us.