How IT people maintain "comrades in arms"

No matter it is study or work, computer is an indispensable and important weapon for IT personnel. A good computer must not only stand the test of its own configuration, but also its maintenance by the owner in the later stage is an important factor in determining its lifespan!
How do you maintain your "comrades in arms" every day? Do you have any good suggestions for maintaining the operation of the computer?

 

Direction 1: Regularly clean up the physical space:

Regularly clearing the physical space around the computer can effectively keep the computer ventilated and running normally. Here are the detailed steps to clean up your physical space:

1. Shut down and disconnect from the power source: Before doing any cleaning, make sure the computer is turned off and unplugged from the power source to prevent electric shock and damage to the computer.
2. Cleaning the keyboard and mouse: Use an appropriate cleaning tool such as an eraser, fine brush, or can of compressed air to remove dust and debris from the keyboard. Gently tap and tilt the keyboard to dislodge dust debris. For an optical mouse, use a soft cloth to wipe the optical sensor on the bottom of the mouse.
3. To clean the display: Gently wipe the display surface with a clean, soft microfiber cloth, avoiding overly wet cloths or chemical cleaners, which may damage the screen.
4. Clean the case and radiator: Use a can of compressed air to blow out dust and debris from the main case. Pay special attention to cleaning the dust on the radiator, because it will affect the cooling effect of the computer. Keep radiator vents clear.
5. Clean connections and slots: Use a cotton swab to gently wipe USB, HDMI, and other ports to remove dirt and debris. When these connections are not in use, protective caps or plugs can be used to keep dust out.
6. ORGANIZE POWER AND DATA CABLES: Organize and secure power and data cables neatly to avoid tangles and clutter. Cables can be organized using nylon cords, rubber bands, or cable ties.
7. Reconnect and power on: When you're done cleaning, reconnect all cables to their sockets, making sure they're secure. Then turn on the power again and start the computer.

Depending on frequency of use and environmental conditions, it is recommended that the physical space be cleaned every few months to ensure the computer remains in good working order and appearance.

Direction 2: Software optimization and upgrade

Performing software optimizations and upgrades can improve your computer's performance and security. Here are the detailed steps:

1. Make sure your OS is updated: Check for and install the latest OS updates. Operating system updates typically fix bugs, improve performance and stability, and provide new features.
2. Update drivers: Visit your computer manufacturer's official website or use Device Manager to download and install the latest hardware drivers. Driver updates can improve compatibility and performance between hardware and the operating system.
3. Uninstall unneeded software: Regularly review the software installed on your computer and uninstall software that you don't need or rarely use. This helps free up disk space and reduces system load.
4. Clean up temporary and junk files: Use built-in tools like Disk Cleanup or third-party system cleaning software to clean up temporary folders, browser cache, and other junk files. This helps free up disk space and improves system responsiveness.
5. Disable startup items: Open Task Manager and disable unnecessary startup items in the "Startup" tab. These startup items may slow down your computer's startup speed and performance.
6. Optimize disk fragmentation: Use the disk defragmentation tool that comes with the system to defragment the hard disk. This will improve file access speed and system performance.
7. Install the latest security software: Make sure that strong anti-virus software and firewalls are installed on your computer, and the virus database is updated in time. This protects your computer from malware and cyber-attacks.
8. Update commonly used software: Keep frequently used software (such as browsers, office suites, etc.) up to date. The latest program versions often contain performance improvements and security fixes.
9. Plan regular maintenance: Make a plan and perform computer maintenance tasks on a regular basis, such as cleaning temporary files, virus scanning, backing up data, and more. This helps keep your computer in good shape and function.

Direction Three: Hardware Protection and Maintenance

The following measures can be taken:

1. Temperature control: Ensure that the hardware equipment is in a suitable temperature environment. Avoid excessive temperatures that may cause hardware failure and damage. Make sure there is adequate ventilation around the unit and clean the dust and air filters regularly.
2. Power protection: use a stable and reliable power supply, and use overload protection devices to prevent sudden voltage fluctuations or power problems from causing damage to hardware. Additionally, using an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) can provide temporary power during a power outage to prevent data loss or hardware damage.
3. Regular cleaning: Regular cleaning of your hardware will prevent dust and grime from accumulating and keep it functioning properly. Use a soft brush or a compressed air spray can to carefully remove dust from the keyboard, mouse, and inside the computer. Be careful not to use liquids to clean the hardware surface directly to prevent damage.
4. Data Backup: Regularly backing up important data and files is a critical step in preventing data loss. Use an external hard drive, cloud storage, or network storage device to create data backups and make sure the backups are complete and accessible.
5. Prevent static electricity: To prevent static electricity from damaging hardware, you can discharge static electricity from your body by using a grounded wrist strap, an antistatic mat, or touching a metal object to discharge static electricity from your body. Make sure you are static-free before handling internal hardware components.
6. Video card and memory stick reseating: Occasionally remove and reinsert video cards and memory sticks from their slots to ensure they are properly connected and functioning.
7. Regular inspection: Regularly check the external and internal connections of hardware devices (such as computers, printers, routers, etc.) to ensure that all cables and plugs are firmly connected. Also, regularly check the health of your hard drive and use appropriate software tools to detect and repair bad sectors.
8. Pay attention to moving and carrying: When moving or carrying hardware devices, handle them with care to avoid collisions or accidental drops. Also, make sure to use proper packaging and protective kits to protect the device from physical damage.

The above are several important aspects of hardware protection and maintenance. Following these recommendations can extend the life of your hardware devices, improve performance, and reduce the risk of failure.

Direction 4: Pay attention to safety protection

Here are some suggestions on how to be safe:

cyber security:

1. Use strong passwords: Make sure you use strong passwords and change them frequently. The password should contain letters, numbers and special characters and be long enough.
2. Update software and systems: Update operating systems, applications, and security patches in a timely manner to fix known vulnerabilities and improve system security.
3. Firewall and security software: Install and regularly update firewall and security software to protect your computer from malware, viruses, and cyber attacks.
4. Be wary of phishing sites and emails: Be wary of links and attachments from unknown sources, and avoid clicking suspicious links or downloading unknown files.
5. Use encrypted connections: When using public Wi-Fi networks, try to use VPN (virtual private network) and other encrypted connection methods to ensure the security of data transmission.

Physical Security:

1. Protect your devices: Make sure your computer, phone, and other physical devices are safe and secure, such as locked, kept out of sight when carried, and more.
2. Destroy sensitive information: When disposing of paper documents or old storage media, ensure that they are completely destroyed to prevent sensitive information from being leaked.
3. Control Access: Restrict physical access to critical equipment and confidential data to only trusted personnel.

personal privacy:

1. Share information with care: Share personal information with care and avoid disclosing too many private details on social media and the internet.
2. Privacy Settings: Regularly review and update your online privacy settings to ensure only those you want have access to your personal information.
3. Be wary of social engineering: Be wary of strangers trying to obtain your personal information or engage in fraudulent activities through phone calls, emails or social media.

data backup:

1. Back up data regularly: Back up important files and data regularly and store them in another safe location to prevent data loss or damage.
2. Cloud Storage: Consider using cloud storage services to back up and store data for extra data security and reliability.

Direction 5: Proper shutdown and restart

Shutting down and restarting your computer properly is an important step to ensure system stability and data security. Here's the proper way to shut down and restart your computer:

shutdown:

1. Close applications: Before shutting down, be sure to close all running applications and files. Save your work and exit all applications to ensure data integrity and preservation.
2. Save and backup data: Before shutting down, make sure to save important data to an appropriate location and make a backup. This prevents data loss or corruption.
3. Close the network connection: close the wireless network or wired network connection, and ensure that the network connection is completely disconnected to avoid potential network security problems.
4. Use the shutdown option provided by the operating system: Depending on the operating system you are using, click the Start menu (Windows) or the Apple menu (Mac), and select the "Shutdown" option. You can also use a shortcut key combination, such as pressing the Win key + X on Windows and then selecting the "Shutdown" option.
5. Wait for shutdown to complete: Once the shutdown option is selected, the computer will begin the shutdown process and eventually shut down. Wait patiently until the computer shuts down completely.

restart:

1. Close Applications: Similar to Shutdown, close all running applications and files before restarting, and save your work.
2. Turn off other functions in the system: For example, if your computer has a mounted mobile device or other external storage device, please unmount or disconnect it in the correct way.
3. Use the restart option provided by your operating system: Depending on your operating system, select the Start menu (Windows) or the Apple menu (Mac), then select the "Restart" option. You can also use the shortcut keys provided by the system, such as pressing Ctrl+Alt+Delete on Windows and selecting "Restart".
4. Wait for the restart to complete: the computer will begin the restart process. Please be patient until it fully reboots into the OS.

When shutting down and restarting the computer, remember not to force the power off, as this may result in data loss or damage to the operating system. Following proper shutdown and restart procedures can ensure that the system shuts down and restarts safely, minimizing the risk of potential problems.

Direction 6: Appropriate use of " comrades in arms "

Reasonable arrangement of computer usage time is very important to protect computer hardware and prolong life. Continuous use of the computer for long periods of time tends to overheat the hardware and increase wear and tear on the device.

Here are some suggestions for moderate computer use and giving it plenty of rest:

1. Take interval breaks: When using the computer for a long time, get up and take a few minutes of rest every hour to move your body and relax your eyes. You can use this time to perform eye and body relaxation activities, such as eye exercises, neck rotation, etc.
2. Eye protection: Staring at a computer screen for a long time can easily cause eye fatigue and discomfort. Every once in a while, look at distant objects to give your eyes a chance to relax. Also, ensure proper ambient lighting and avoid screens that are too bright or too dark.
3. Reduce the brightness of the screen: Properly reducing the brightness of the computer screen can reduce the visual burden on the eyes, and also help to save power and prolong the life of the display.
4. Regular cleaning and maintenance: Regularly clean the dust inside and outside the computer to keep the heat dissipation good and prevent the hardware from overheating. In addition, regularly check whether the computer hardware equipment is in normal operation, and repair or replace the problematic parts in time.
5. Shutdown or hibernation mode: When you are not using your computer, you can choose to shut it down or set it to hibernation mode to give your computer a full rest. This reduces power consumption and prolongs the life of the computer.

By reasonably arranging the use time and paying attention to the maintenance and rest of the computer, the burden and wear of the computer hardware can be reduced, the service life of the computer can be extended, and its efficient and stable working state can be maintained.