Hello readers, it’s time once again to learn something new about your computer. Now, I know that I promised everyone that I would talk about the importance of encrypting your home wireless network…but I have changed my mind. Recently I have had a rash of customers with hardware failures and I wanted to take this opportunity to discuss the causes and preventions of hardware failures.
Hardware failures tend to happen when you least expect it. You can be surfing the internet when suddenly the dreaded “Blue Screen of Death” appears and your computer will no longer power on. So what happened? Why now all of a sudden?
Typically your computer will actually shows signs that something is failing before the day it dies, however interpreting those signs can be rather tricky. Sometimes just a slower running computer can be a sign that a critical piece of hardware is about to fail on you. More often than not this slower behavior will be mistaken for a virus infection, or my personal favorite excuse “That’s just Windows for you.”
So what causes hardware to fail? The most common problem is heat. Like all electronic devices, computers generate a lot of heat when they run. It is important that your computer can remove that heat properly, and the preferred method of heat removal is the computer’s fan. But like all objects which move, over time the computer’s fan can slow down or stop working. Even a large enough collection of dust inside the computer case can cause the temperature to rise. Over time that extra heat damages the delicate circuits on the system’s board and eventually causes a failure.
Due to their compact size and limited room, laptops are usually the most susceptible to heat problems. Most laptop users become well aware of the heat issue after using the computer on their lap for an extended period of time. One of the easiest methods of cooling your laptop down is purchasing a cooling pad. These cooling pads sit underneath the laptop and blow air across the bottom of the computer to help remove all of that heat buildup.
As for desktops, it is essential that the fans be in good working order. If the fans are old they can start running slow or intermittently. It is a good idea to have your computer’s fans checked by a professional when your computer gets to be a few years old. Replacing your fans is relatively inexpensive compared to replacing your motherboard.
Besides making sure the fans work, it is a good idea to occasionally remove the dust that builds up inside. Don’t be scared to open your computer up to clean it out. After turning the computer off and unplugging it from the wall outlet, you can typically remove one side of the computer’s case by taking out 2 screws located in the back. Once the side is off, you can gently blow out the dust using a “can of air” purchased at any office supply or computer store. It is not a good idea to vacuum out your computer case or use your mouth to blow the dust out because damage can occur to critical components. As always, if you do not feel comfortable cleaning out your computer call us and one of our technicians will clean it out for you.
Well readers, that is all for today. Next time I will talk to you about Wireless Network Encryption…maybe 
Until then, be safe and enjoy your technology.
