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Recommended Computer
Maintenance
Schedule
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Computer maintenance is an important part of keeping any
business running smoothly.
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of
cure. Below is a basic recommended schedule
for preventing costly computer
problems on workstations.
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SCHEDULE FOR WORKSTATIONS:
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| FREQUENCY |
MAINTENANCE ACTION |
| Weekly |
Update virus definitions - There have been an average
of about 19 new viruses per day on Windows systems since 1995.
Run and install Windows
Updates - This will fix security flaws in
Windows, reduce crashing and can solve compatibility issues. You do
not need to install all of the "Recommended Updates" but you
should install ALL "Critical Updates"
Mac Users:
"Software Update" Control Panel - This is the Macintosh
equivalent for Windows Update. Open this control panel and choose
"Update Now". When the list of available software appears,
choose to install all "Security Updates" |
| Bi-Weekly |
Run Scandisk (Standard Scan) - Fixes some kinds of
incorrect file information and provides early detection of potential
hard drive crash. |
| Quarterly |
Run Disk Defragmenter - This will increase the efficiency
and decrease the wear on the hard drive. On Windows this is a Utility in
Start/Programs/Accessories/System Tools/Disk Defragmenter. On Mac OS 9,
Norton Utilities has a good tool. On Mac OS X, Micromat v.1.1 can be used
but it is not necessary if you setup your drive as UFS (not HFS).
Run
Scandisk (Thorough Scan) - This thoroughly scans the hard drive for bad
physical sectors and will provide early detection of potential
hard drive crash. |
| Yearly |
Disk Cleanup - This frees up space on your hard drive by
displaying and, if you desire, removing unnecessary or unused programs,
temporary files and Internet cache files. Located in Accessories/System
Tools on Windows.
Check Fans and System Temperature (hard drive and
CPU) - This can usually be done in the system BIOS at startup and
varies from PC to PC. Insurance of proper operation of this hardware can
help prevent hardware freezes and costly hardware repair.
Upgrades
- There are usually upgrades for drivers and firmware released annually.
Installation of these will usually make your system more compatible and
reliable and can get rid of a huge assortment of problems. Check with the
hardware manufacturer for upgrades for each device. |
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SCHEDULE FOR SERVERS:
For servers, perform these activities in
addition to the above activities.
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| FREQUENCY |
MAINTENANCE ACTION |
| Bi-Weekly |
Check Backup Logs - This is a common problem.
Businesses think that their data is being backed up when it is not.
Checking the log will ensure that the backup was made. |
| Monthly |
Clean Tape Drive (physically) - This is done with a
cleaning tape. It will remove dirt and prevent physical problems with the
drive. |
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If you don't have the time or resources to perform any of these tasks,
please
give us a call or
send us an email and we can
help.
We can send one of our experienced technicians to
perform any of this maintenance
or train your staff to do it properly for themselves.
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