Secrets for a long computer life

 Computers of a certain age need help staying healthy. This week, I’m going to go over a few things that you can do to extend the effective life of your personal computer and help prevent unnecessary repairs. Put down your wheat grass and carrot cocktails for a while and join me in a couple of system-saving activities.

A personal computer is in many ways similar to a light bulb. As an electrical appliance it requires the constant application of power to operate. In this case, it takes in 110 AC and employs an internal power supply to convert that to 12V, 5V, and 3.3V DC. It turns on when you flip the switch, and sooner or later, like a light bulb, it is likely to go “poof.”

Like other electrical devices, there is a certain amount of heat generated in the process. That is why most computer power supplies, with the exception of oddities like the late, lamented Macintosh Cube, are equipped with large cooling fans. Modern microprocessors are faster than their predecessors, and they, too, generate more heat.

Power supplies are cheap, and that is a good thing, because they are one of the parts that more frequently fail. If your system is displaying start-up anomalies, occasional restarts for no reason, or unsolicited shutdowns, you may find that your power supply is on the way out.

Additionally, many computers are equipped with power supplies too weak to keep up with today’s powerful microprocessors and peripherals. If your computer is pushing around a fat new video card, for example, along with one or two hard drives, a CD-ROM, a DVD-RW, and a tape backup unit, you may want to upgrade the 200W unit installed at the factory with something a bit more powerful.

Power delivery and temperature issues are at the root of many personal computing problems, including a plethora of odd noises. A handful of dust, easily accumulated by the powerful cooling fans, can make a normally quiet computer sound like someone drilling for oil. While it is not a major repair, power supply replacement is an annoyance that can be avoided, at least for a while.

Keep it cool

You can prolong the life of your power supply, your motherboard, and many other components simply by making sure that your computer operates at a reasonably low temperature. There are several ways to accomplish this that involve a few changes in your computing routine.

If your computer is stored in one of those cute little desks with the specially sized compartment just right for a minitower case, take it out. Keeping a running computer in that small a space is an invitation to disaster. If you can’t take it out, keep the door open when the computer is running. Consider having someone who is handy drill a few air holes in an inconspicuous spot behind the desk. Anything that improves air flow to your system can help prolong its life.

Raise computer off the carpet

Desks are not the only culprits. A carpeted surface can also impair cooling by blocking air vents on the bottom of your computer case. The little stick-on feet that raise the computer off the desktop don’t work well on carpeting. If you cannot move the computer to the desktop, think about putting a hard surface underneath the system. I have used a 1-inch board under my case for years.

Deal with the dust

Taking the carpet out of the picture can also help keep your computer clean. All the dust that clings to interior carpeting is getting sucked right into your system. Even the most conscientious housekeepers can have an entire “Watership Down” of dust bunnies inside their computer and never know it until it is too late.

Dust is an insidious enemy. It can cause individual components to overheat by forming an insulating coating. It impedes the operation of mechanical fans and can clog up heat sinks, those finned metal devices mounted to your CPU and other components.

I try to clean the dust out of my computer every month. I grab a $7 pressurized dusting can at a local office supply store and carefully use it to remove as much of the dust from important components as I can. Do this work carefully or hire someone with experience to do it for you. Always make sure your computer is turned off and fully cool before starting. The dusters can be very cold, and too much thermal shock is never good for electronic components. Follow the manufacturer’s directions carefully to avoid damaging equipment.

Shut it down

I keep a personal computer running in my home at all times. It is designed to let me call into my network to retrieve files or perform other tasks when I am at work or on the road. Amazingly, that particular unit, an older model with a less-powerful processor, is still running all day every day. With modern computers, there may be a better way.

Some computers, large office file servers, for example, are made to stay on all the time. They are equipped with high-performance cooling fans and are mounted in heat-dissipating metal racks with a great deal of airflow on all sides. Other systems like to take a little time off when not in use.

Consider the operating temperature of your computer when you decide to keep it on all the time. I know it is a great temptation to keep your Instant Message client up at all times rather than miss even a single message, but you may be doing your system a great deal of harm.

Turn your computer off if you don’t plan to use it for more than an hour. Systems that are connected to the Internet full time are susceptible to security issues whenever they are turned on. Fat new processors can overheat in the blink of an eye. Even your monitor can wear out more quickly or burn in a frequently displayed image. Save some electricity and help preserve the life of your computer by properly shutting it down when not in use.

There you have it. Those three tips can truly help extend the life of your personal computer with little effort on your part. Cool, clean computers that are used sparingly can function better, are less susceptible to viruses and spyware attacks, and can truly offer more reliable performance over a period of years.

I realize that by writing this I have laid an inescapable jinx on my system, but I am willing to make that kind of sacrifice for my loyal readers. After you have gotten your computer cleaned up and moved it to a cool place, take a moment to e-mail me at granese@juno.com and let me know about your own regular maintenance routine and why you think it helps your computer run better.