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Maintenance and Troubleshooting
Contents
Windows PC
Your computer information
If you want to know what your computer’s operating system , processer and RAM is, then you need to display its system properties. To do so, click on the Start button, click on Control Panel, and select System. It will then display something like this:
Software versions
There are a number of ways to find the version of the software on your computer.
• To find out the version of most software, you can click on the Help menu, and then click on About.
• If you don’t have the Help menu, then click on the File menu and look for either a Help option or an About option.
• Or you can access your Control Panel to find out the versions of software you have on your computer. To do this, click on Start, Control Panel, Programs and Features.
• You can find out your version of Windows by clicking on the Start button, click on Control
Panel, and select System.
Accessing Help
If you need help on a particular program then you can access its built-in help. To access this, click on the Help menu or press the function key F1. Click here to find out more Windows Help and
Support.
Many programs also have online forums where you can ask questions and share information with other users and experts. Click here to access Microsoft’s forum. You can also just type your query into the Google search box.
If you should need to contact your software supplier, then it’s best to access their web site and click on Contact (or Contact Us) to find your nearest support hotline.
Protecting your computer
(Sourced from MS Windows)
If you connect to the Internet, allow other people to use your computer, or share files with others, you should take steps to protect your computer from harm. There are computer criminals (e.g. hackers) that attack other people's computers. These people can attack directly, by breaking into your computer through the Internet and stealing your personal information, or indirectly, by creating malicious software to harm your computer.
Fortunately, you can help protect yourself by taking a few simple precautions. The following are ways to help protect your computer against potential security threats:
• Firewall. A firewall can help protect your computer by preventing hackers or malicious software from gaining access to it. Click here to find out more about Firewalls.
• Virus protection. Antivirus software can help protect your computer against viruses, worms, and other security threats. Click here to find out more about virus protection.
AVG Free is an excellent cost-free antivirus program that you can download from the internet. Click here to go to the website.
• Spyware and other malware protection. Antispyware software can help protect your computer from spyware and other potentially unwanted software. Click here to find out more about spyware protection.
• Windows Update. Windows can routinely check for updates for your computer and install them automatically. To set up Microsoft (Windows 7, Office 2010 and 2013) to automatically update itself, click on Start, Control Panel, System and Security, Windows
update. Click here to see how to set up the automatic update for other versions of
Microsoft. You can also manually update Windows – click here to find out more.
• Click here to review Microsoft’s online training course on understanding the risks and threats to your computer
Backing up of files
Backing up your files simply means making another copy in a different location in case of disaster
(e.g. losing your flash drive, hard disc failure, etc.). More information on how to back up is available in the Files and Storage section of Get Started Online.
Managing Plug-ins / Add-ons
(Sourced from BBC WebWise )
A plug-in is a (sometimes essential) piece of software code that enables an application or program to do something it couldn’t by itself. For example, you may be on a website and decide to watch one of their videos. If you don’t have the appropriate software loaded to watch the video, it may pop up with a message that you need to install a ‘plug-in’. More information on
Plug-ins can be found in the Software section of Get Started Online.
Cleaning
It is important to keep your computer clean from dust and dirt, as this can affect your computer’s performance. Click here for a step by step guide from Microsoft on how to clean your computer.
The following video is a visual demonstration on the correct way to clean your computer:
Hardware issues
You might encounter issues with your hardware i.e. your printer may stop working. Follow the instructions in your manual to see if you can resolve the issue.
You can also run a diagnostic program to see what the issue is. To do this, click on Start, Control
Panel, Troubleshooting, Configure a device (this option may be under Hardware and Sound).
Just follow the prompts while it troubleshoots your devices (hardware).
You can also Google your problem and if you don’t have a manual, you can search and download one for free from the internet.
It’s important to keep your drivers updated for all of your hardware. Click here to find out more about how to update drivers
Apple MAC
The best way to keep your Mac running in top form is to update your system software periodically, back up your system, and perform some regular maintenance.
Keep things up-to-date
From the Apple menu, choose Software Update (your Mac needs to be connected to the
Internet). Software Update will check for new versions of your Apple software. If it finds any, the updates will appear in the Software Update window. Click the Install button to download and install the software.
You can configure Software Update to automatically check for updates either daily, weekly, or monthly.
Back up data regularly
In the event that you accidentally lose files, or need to restore your entire system from a backup, you should perform regular backups of your computer. You can use Time Machine in Mac OS X v10.5 and later, which offers an easy way to back up and restore files to and from a different
disk. You can also manually copy / back up files to a CD/DVD, external hard drive, the cloud or other storage device. More information on how to copy / back up is available in the Get Started
Online - Files and Storage section.
Archive seldom-used files if you need more disk space
You can free up some disk space by archiving large, seldom used files - learn how in Compressing files and folders . Be sure to name the resulting archive file appropriately too, so you know what's in it. You can delete any unnecessary or out-dated personal files and anything that you no longer want or need—just drag them all into the Trash and empty it.
Clean your Mac
The materials used to make Apple products vary; in some cases each product may have specific cleaning requirements, which may vary by the part you are cleaning. Here are some tips that apply to all products to get you started:
• Use only a soft, lint-free cloth. Abrasive cloths, towels, paper towels, and similar items may cause damage to the item.
• Disconnect your Apple product from any external power sources.
• Disconnect any external devices and other cabling from the product.
• Keep liquids away from the product. If liquid does make its way inside your Apple product, seek assistance from an Apple Authorized Service Provider or Apple Retail Store as soon as possible. Liquid damage is not covered under the Apple product warranty or
AppleCare Protection Plans.
• Don’t get moisture into any openings, and don't use aerosol sprays, solvents, or abrasives.
• Do not spray cleaners directly onto the item.
(Sourced from MAC Maintenance Quick Assist )
Support
If you are still stuck and need support, go to the Get Started Online – Get Help section.
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