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- Memo: From Doug McKnight
- July 1990
-
- CARE AND FEEDING OF YOUR DESKTOP PERSONAL COMPUTER
- HINTS ON HOW NOT TO HAVE TROUBLE
-
- In this company we have several different types of personal
- computers for your use. Many of you will only use it for word
- processing or spread sheets, but it is a real aggravation when
- they don't work. So I have compiled some tips to help you avoid
- problems.
-
- 1. Please keep the computer area clean from clutter. This may
- sound trivial but as with all very technical electronics heat
- is a major enemy. If you have books or papers blocking the fans
- heat will build up inside the computer and cause a good deal of
- damage. A symptom of this is lock-up or unusual graphics
- problems.
-
- 2. For the same reasons above make sure blinds are pulled air
- registers are open, or if need be, relocation to another part
- of your office to avoid direct sun.
-
- 3. Make sure all cables are laid so as not to be stepped on
- kicked, cut or pulled.
-
- 4. When you experience a problem always check the cables to
- make sure they are plugged in and the connections are not
- loose. This may sound dumb but many times cleaning people or
- others may have jarred the computer and dislodged the cables.
-
- 5. One other point to make on cables is if you experience
- screen problems it could be because the monitor cable is to
- close to some other type of electrical interference (power
- cords radio cords etc.).
-
- 6. Thou shall never lay floppy disks in the sun, on the monitor
- on the computer, on a keyboard, on the telephone, by the ash
- try, by the radio or by a power cord ! If you do all will be
- lost...
-
- 7. Floppy disks are NOT a primary place for program and data
- storage. They are meant mostly for back-up purposes. If your PC
- does not have a hard drive make copies of your floppies and do
- not use them for more then 4 months at a time. Label all
- floppies clearly.
- Consult the MIS department if you have questions.
-
- 8. Be very careful when erasing or deleting files . Your best
- protections is to keep back-ups on a different disk.
-
- 9. Back-up the important files of your hard drive at least once
- every two weeks. SAVE YOUR WORK OFTEN especilly during stormy
- weather.
-
- 10. Never ever turn your computer off when in a program.
-
-
-
-
- To continue:
-
- 11. Computers should not be turned off and on though-out the
- day. Leave the computer on if you will be using it any more
- that day. They may be turned off at night.
-
- 12. Keep junk files off your hard drive delete obsolete files
- from the hard drive. A good practice is to copy them to a
- floppy first, just in case.
-
- 13. Check to see if you have a sufficient amount of paper for
- your printer before you make a print out. It's really a pain to
- load more paper while in a program.
-
- 14. If you do none of the above DO THIS call MIS department if
- you have a problem, before trying to fix it yourself.
-
- Thanks and have a real good day.
-
-
- Doug McKnight