Overheating is one of the most dangerous issues for hardware, fortunately it's also one of the easier ones for users to reduce or prevent entirely. Between the small moving parts and electrical currents running through everything, the inside of your computer can become very hot, and this can damage everything inside. A good first step is to monitor your PC's temperature. If it feels hot to the touch (not just warm) or the temperature increases significantly over time, you may need to intervene. All computers have small fans to help get rid of the heat that builds up inside the case, in a computer that's overheating, these may be broken or just not powerful enough. You can replace these fans (called heat sinks) yourself, or hire a professional.
You can also cut down on overheating issues by never pushing your machine past its published capabilities (overclocking) and ensuring that the vents are not blocked by anything. Another easy problem for users to resolve might surprise you: dust bunnies. Just as dust finds its way into the strangest places in your car, it also winds up inside your computer case where it can accumulate. While most of the time this is harmless, large piles of dust can get in the way of moving parts or block the vents for the heat sinks. The best solution is to periodically open up the case of your computer and use "canned air" to blow away the dust inside.
Remember, make sure that the computer is turned off and unplugged from the socket before you begin to open it to prevent damage to the hardware and yourself. While keyboards and mice are fairly inexpensive components, it's still wise not to waste money replacing them when you could just as easily keep them in working order for much longer. Keyboards are most frequently damaged when food and other bits of debris get stuck under the keys. To reduce the risk don't eat at your desk, or put your keyboard out of reach when you do. Standard mice, with a ball built into the bottom to track movement, should be used on a clean surface such as a mouse pad. You should clean this off periodically and keep it away from food just as you would a keyboard.
In the event that liquid spills on either item, unplug it immediately and allow it to dry out fully before testing if it is still working (this will reduce the risk of a short). One of the best ways to protect the components of your system involves a little bit of an investment, but it literally can mean life or death for your hardware. Instead of plugging directly into a wall socket or normal power strip, you can use a surge protector or a universal power supply to protect your components from outages and spikes. These two issues cause a stupendous amount of hardware failure and data loss every year. It's vital to purchase a universal power supply that has enough capacity to run your entire system in order to get the full benefit. It may be wise to consult with a professional about your power needs if you choose that product.
A surge protector will not provide the same protection against data loss if there is a power outage, but is less expensive and provides needed protection for your hardware from power spikes.
Choice Computer Technologies
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