What Causes Hardware Failure
Damaged computer hardware can be expensive and inconvenient to repair, not to mention, bad for productivity and business in general. This is why it is essential to pinpoint what often causes hardware failure and how to prevent such incidents from happening. As for prevention, you can start by hiring IT support in Germantown along with other measures.
Potential Causes of Hardware Failure
Nothing's more frustrating than trying to turn on a computer only to find out that it is malfunctioning. However, this is bound to happen if you encounter computer hardware damage, which could be due to the following reasons:
Power issues. When your computer does not get the power it needs to turn on and operate, problems are bound to arise. This could happen due to faulty outlets or power surges, which could then destroy computer parts. This is why a complete computer setup should include a surge protector.
User mistakes. If you try to open your computer and tinker with its parts without 100% knowledge about what you're doing, this puts your unit at risk. You might accidentally connect the wrong parts or install parts that are not compatible with the rest of the system. Leave the computer repair to the pros.
Extreme temperature. Computers are designed to operate in a room with a specific temperature. When it's too hot, the units overheat and ruin essential components. Also, viruses or malware might overwork your computer to the point of overheating, damaging the hardware. When it's too cold, it can cause condensation and moisture build-up in the machines.
Dust. It doesn't take much dust accumulation to raise the temperature on your computer. Over time, this higher temperature, even for a small percentage, can reduce the lifespan of your computer parts. If left uncleaned, heavy dust accumulation can damage hard drives and short out computer components. See to it that you clean your computer hardware regularly.
Viruses. Viruses are known to corrupt software, preventing computers from starting or booting. This leaves owners no choice but to bring their units to IT support Near Germantown and other locations to fix their machines. It is highly advised to install antivirus in your computer to remove malwares or viruses.
Preventing Potential Risks to Hardware
The good news is that you can protect your computer from hardware failure and excessive downtime. Just follow these tips:
Use UPS. An Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) system provides computers emergency power during a power outage, giving you enough time to save whatever you are working on and shut the unit down safely. This device prevents sudden shutdowns and protects computers from electrical spikes, surges, and dips due to power failures.
Conduct employee training. Teach your employees how to use computers with care, such as properly shutting them down after use, unplugging computers in the middle of storms, or discerning what files are harmful to download.
Provide proper ventilation in your workstations. Wherever you place your computers, make sure to regulate temperatures in those rooms.
Schedule regular maintenance. Outsource IT support in Germantown that can do computer maintenance. They can clean your computer components to prevent overheating. Know when to let go of obsolete units, especially those showing wear and tear and demanding more repairs than what's practical to spend on.
Resolve hardware problems right away. Minor issues can become major ones if left unattended. What seemed like a small glitch may break your computers in the long run, costing you more.
Backup data. When computer hardware fails, it could lead to data loss, stalling your business operation. The best preventive measure for this is to backup critical data regularly before anything happens. Backup your important data to a local server and the cloud. Schedule your backups when you're not using the computer. This gives you access to a data backup that lessens your recovery time after a hardware failure.
It helps if you have a disaster recovery plan in place, not only to deal with hardware damage, but also malware attacks, natural disasters, or human error.
Determine your recovery point objectives. This points to how long the gap should be between automatic data backups. Think about how much data loss would lead to your business' downfall. It could be an hour, 12 hours, or 24 hours. Study it well.
If you are in need of IT support in Germantown, Swift Systems is here to help. We provide excellent tech support at the core of our business. To get the best IT support and services, get in touch with us today by calling at (301) 682-5100!