what is bad for the computer

Look after your computer well if you want it to give you continued service for a long time to come. The aspects that would determine this could be:

• The way you treat your CD Drive - If you are in the practice of pushing it back to its slot, it’s the wrong way to treat it. Hit the open close key on the front of the drive to pull the tray. Else after a while the gears in the CD tray, weaken and the tray will lose its functionality
• Shutting off the computer without terminating all its programs - This is not so difficult given that windows has an inbuilt shut down option that offers the users the facility without much trouble
• The power chord of the computer and the cards in the system being lose – Will lead the computer to restart on its own which is never good for the system
• Restart the computer too often – Even if this happens involuntarily due to the mal function of a certain program or by the action of the user, the result is the same; leading the software to corrode or even loss files in dire situations. The ideal solution to the problem would be to run a scan disk each time one is compelled to restart and preferably avoid using the errant program until a newer version is installable
• Neglecting the earthing of the system is the biggest mistake that a computer user can do. It protects the computer from stray electric charges that could be very harmful for the computer. Its also simple given that checking to see if the power cable has a ground wire would do the job. Simple but worth more than the cost of the computer. To test if the comp is affected check if it lets out static then you’ll know ou missed out a vital detail while setting up your system.
• Why install new drivers when you haven’t installed newer software you may ask? You must I say. Some components are software specific and their utilities will only be ascertained once they are or are not able to support eh functions for which they were originally installed. The manufacturers support this lacunae through a patch which will be upgraded if you take care of upgrading the drivers of the computer for time to time.
• Is the inside of your computer out of sight out of mind? That’s not good either for your comp or for you. The condition of the insides of the comp decides the health of the system. Servicing it regularly is a good idea. Certain parts require special attention, E.g. The cooling fan on the system and the CPU. If they heat up the insides would roast. Ideally the fans need to be cleaned every 6 months if kept ina a concealed room and every 3 months if in an open area.

How best to look after your comp

• Shut the computer properly
• Scan for viruses
• Use the latest drivers
• Keep the system interiors clean
• Earthing of the system
• And … the CD ROM tray !!!

Speed up your PC

Tweaking your PC
Important tweaks:
Boosting the speed of the system
1) Number of tweaks for the purpose
2) Many parts need to be tackled to get into the tweak
3) The CMOS or the start –up is the most important of this options

Tweaking the CMOS
This is one of the most sensitive parts of your computer. By changing setting here, you can gain very significant speed increases.
Step 1: Disable Bootup Floppy seek
Step 2: Enable CPU Internal cache
Step 3: Enable Video BIOS Shadow
Step 4: Enable System BIOS Cacheable
Step 5: Enable video BIOS cacheable
Step 6: Enable passive release
Step 7: Enable delayed transaction

Increasing the sped of the hard disk, CD/ DVD drives:

About drivers
1. They are software and let the card work with the rest of the system.
2. Ensure that they have the newest version
3. Especially for the sound card and the GFx card, they ensure maximum performance and speed


Upgrading the PC

Upgrading the Processor

In case of a Coppermine processor
• These are socket 370 based Intel processors.
• If your older board has such a socket you can easily upgrade
• If it does not support he Coppermine processor, you’ll have to upgrade th motherboard itself to a higher level
Upgrading the RAM
• This is essential even if the processor has been upgraded
• This is especially true of programs that require and use a lot or RAM

Upgrading the hard disk
• It improves the sped and performance of the system
• The hard disk essentially stores files
• Too much operation does not lend it to high quality performance
• Logically a larger hard disc takes care of these modifications
• Besides newer hard disks are faster by definition


Maintaining your PC for optimal performance

Does your computer shut down on it’s own?
• Check for loose power cables in sockets.
• The powers inside the system might be loose

The importance of earthing:
• Grounding one’s PC is very significant in fact it has to be done before anything else is done
• Ensure that the power cable has a ground wire
• This ensures the stray voltage charges do not leak in to the system
• One indication of this situation is if one experiences a slight shock if they touch the system

Keeping the system clean: Inside out
• Servicing the computer is a necessity
• Certain parts require special attention
• The cooling fans on the system and iun the CPU are 2 such things
• If they stop is could be bad for the system
• The average frequency with which this should be done is between 3 – 6 months

Speed up your PC – Printable Transcript

Tweaking your PC

Caution
1. Before tweaking your system, take back ups of all your critical files and data. In the event that a tweak goes awry, you will have access to all your data.

2. During any tweak, you will most probably be asked what you want to do along the way. If there is any confusion or uncertainty along the way, choose the ‘Cancel’ option.

Tweaking the CMOS
This is one of the most sensitive parts of your computer. By changing setting here, you can gain very significant speed increases.
Step 1: Disable Bootup Floppy seek
Step 2: Enable CPU Internal cache
Step 3: Enable Video BIOS Shadow
Step 4: Enable System BIOS Cacheable
Step 5: Enable video BIOS cacheable
Step 6: Enable passive release
Step 7: Enable delayed transaction

These settings change everything from the way your video card uses it’s BIOS to the way in which the processor transmits data through the system.
Caution: If your system becomes unstable after making these changes, you can always return to the original setting by going to CMOS and choosing ‘Restore BIOS Defaults’.

Tweaking the drives
You can gain a tremendous speed increase if you set your hard disk and CD/DVD drives to operate in UDMA mode.
Step 1: Go to the Control Panel in Windows
Step 2: Open the properties of the hard disk and CD/DVD drives. Here, check mark the DMA setting in each of these drives.


Upgrading the PC

Caution
Get rid of static before you start installing any of the newer components. You could cause damage to your system due to static charges. Touch the metal part of the CPU to get rid of static charge.

Upgrading the Processor
Step 1: Check for compatibility with motherboard. (Check motherboard manual).

Upgrading a Celeron or a Coppermine processor
• These are socket 370 based Intel processors. You can easily upgrade to a processor that has a similar interface but with a higher clock speed (for instance, from a Coppermine 500 MHz to a Coppermine running at 1 GHz).

Upgrading a slot 1-based processor such as a P-III
• You will also have to buy a new motherboard that features the socket 370 interface as slot 1-based processors are not manufactured any more.

Upgrading an AMD processor
• If you have a Socket A-based motherboard, then you can easily upgrade to a Duron or an Athlon processor running at a higher clock speed.
• If you have an older Slot A-based motherboard or a Socket 7-based motherboard, then you should also upgrade your motherboard to one that supports the Socket A-based interface.

How To
Step 1: Remove the older processor by moving the lever that releases the processor.
Step 2: Insert the new processor. These processors sit in the socket in one way only, therefore do not try to force the processor into the socket. Align the notch on the processor such that it conforms to the notch on the socket.

Upgrading the RAM
There are two kinds of RAM: SDRAM for Celeron, Coppermine, Duron and Athlon systems and RDRAM for Pentium 4-based systems.

Installing SDRAM
Step 1: Check whether you have a free slot on your motherboard.
Step 2: Remove the RAM sticks by pulling out the levers at the edges of the sockets. This will pry the RAM out of their sockets.
Step 3: Insert the new RAM sticks into the slots by gently applying force on either side of the sticks. See to it that the notches on the RAM sticks conform to those on the slot.

Inserting RDRAM
When inserting RDRAM modules into the slots, they have to be inserted in pairs. If you have only two modules on a board that has four slots, the other two will have to be terminated by special modules called CRIMM modules. Refer to your motherboard’s manual for how these modules need to be inserted. Some motherboards require the RDRAM modules to be inserted consecutively or in alternate slots.

Upgrading the Hard Disk
Depending on whether you have an IDE or a SCSI hard disk, your upgrade will basically be a change in capacity. If upgrading to an IDE hard disk, then you don’t need any additional hardware.
But, if you want to upgrade to SCSI, you’ll need a SCSI controller card.

Step 1: Remove the power and the data cable from your existing hard disk.
Step 2: Remove the screws attaching the hard disk to the drive bays.
Step 3: Remove the older hard disk and insert the newer one
Step 4: Attach the data and power cables to the new hard disk after fastening it with screws. Remember to connect the data cable with the red/dotted wire toward the power connector
Step 5: Restart your system and redetect your hard disk through CMOS.
Step 6: Format the hard disk and load your favourite operating system onto it.

If you want to retain your older hard disk, then you can set the new one as a Master or Slave drive by setting the jumpers. Instructions for how to set the jumpers are noted as a table on the hard disk itself.

Maintaining your PC for optimal performance
Check for loose power cables in sockets. Use a UPS.
Check for loose power cables. Most people do not bother with the power supply cable that is connected to the computer. If this cable is loosely connected to the power outlets, it could result in sparks and random reboots, which are fatal for your computer.
Use a UPS if you live in an area with frequent power failures.

Ground your PC
Proper earthing protects you and your computer from stray voltage charges that may leak from the metallic parts of the computer. The power outlets to which you connect your computer should have a three-point plug and should be correctly grounded. Have your electrician check this.

Use the correct and latest drivers for your hardware
Companies continue to release improvements to the drivers for their hardware. You can usually find these updates on the company’s site.
It is always a good idea to use the latest drivers as this will help you use your hardware to its optimum capacity.

Keeping the cooling fans clean
While most people generally keep the keyboard, mouse, monitor and cabinet clean, few bother about what’s inside the cabinet.
Especially, remember to clean the cooling fans for the power supply, the CPU and the graphics card, as these are the components that can get easily damaged as they get over heated if their cooling fans stop.
If you are not confident about cleaning these yourself, get your service guy to clean the cooling fans once in six months if your machine is in a sealed air conditioned room, and once in three months if it is in an open environment.