We always insist that for the hardware of our PC to last us in good condition as long as possible, it is necessary to carry out certain maintenance tasks from time to time, in addition to having certain precautions. In this article we are going to show you some examples of what you should NOT do with your hardware , or at least never go to these extremes.
It is one thing to never open the PC to clean it inside, an example that we have already put many times because the dust inside solidifies inside, forming soot, which blocks the vents and is also conductive of electricity, and Another very different thing is not to have any care and to be extremely lazy when it comes to keeping the PC hardware in good condition.
Let’s see some examples, and we already tell you that many of them will be almost absurd (but there are the images to attest that they are real).
Do not put the PC near radiators
The internal hardware of the PC generates heat, which is why we tend to put a lot of emphasis on cooling for proper operation. But it is useless to have adequate cooling if you then leave the box near a radiator, especially if it is an OEM PC whose front grille is plastic, because this can happen.
So close did they leave this box of a radiator that the plastic front ended up melting. Who knows what temperature it reached.
Avoid touching the screen with your fingers
It is a recurring thing, especially in work environments where you interact with other colleagues, that when pointing at something on the screen you touch it with your finger, leaving the screen impregnated with fingerprints.
In the image above it seems that they have taken this case to the extreme, or perhaps it was that they thought that iMac had a touch screen. Fortunately, with a good cleaning you would have an easy solution. In any case, and unless you have a touch monitor, it is always better to avoid touching the screen with your fingers.
Don’t block the grids, your PC hardware will thank you
There are inexperienced users who do not understand the operation of a PC who make real fools. They notice that the PC is making noise, and that noise is heard more through one of the vents, so they decide to cover it. Seriously, they cover it on purpose and with cellophane.
As much as a ventilation grille bothers you, you always have to be careful not to cover it with anything. This is especially important for users who have the PC case on a pre-made table with the hole to put the case in, because they get “locked” and hot air pockets are formed. Let’s not talk about covering the grates with cellophane as in the image above: don’t even think about doing it.
You must clean the hardware of your PC
We insist a lot, but it really is very important. As we mentioned at the beginning, it is inevitable that the dust ends up entering the PC case and depositing on the components … with the heat, the dust solidifies and forms soot, which blocks the grids and is also a conductive material that can cause electric problems. Here is a sample of what can happen if the equipment is never cleaned.
In this image you can see a radiator from a liquid cooling AIO kit that is totally blocked and therefore not doing its job.
Be careful when opening packages
When you purchase a new hardware device, you will be eager to remove it from its packaging. But you should be careful with using scissors or other sharp tools because something like this could happen to you.
This is a slightly exaggerated case, but it is true that when opening packages using sharp tools we can end up damaging the product, so it does not hurt to be very careful with it.
Don’t force the connectors
We all know the “USB myth”, that you have to try to insert it three times until you hit it. The thing is that sometimes we are not putting a connector in the correct position, but in almost everything if it does not enter the first time, do not force it or you could load the connector.
Normally a USB connector is not going to break, due to its structure, if you force it. But be careful with connectors that have pins, like DVI for example.
Each device has its connector
This is obvious: do not try to put a USB stick or connector in a port that is not a USB, since you could damage it.
It is common, especially if you are trying to connect a USB device to the back of the PC “blindly”, that you are wrong. A USB connector “enters” an HDMI port and even the RJ-45, and precisely in the latter you must be especially careful because it has pins inside that you could double and disable the port.
Be careful with the “clueless”
It is very easy to make mistakes, and especially when we talk about consumables or removable devices. You can see an example in the image below, in which they have loaded a printer with a pack of sheets … without removing the outer packaging.
The same can happen when, for example, you insert a CD or DVD upside down into the drive.
In short: take care of your PC hardware
As we always say, it is necessary to carry out some maintenance on the PC to keep it in good condition, but it is also important to be careful (blows, liquids, heat, etc.) to avoid accidents.
Finally, as a last tip in addition to those already mentioned, never force the hardware physically. Whenever you have to disassemble or assemble a part, or connect a connector, do it carefully and gently, never force it.
