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How to Take Care of Your Computer Monitor

How to Take Care of Your Computer Monitor

By Corey Sandler from Fix Your Own Computer For Seniors For Dummies
Your computer’s monitor displays images on its screen, such as the Microsoft Windows7 desktop or a document in a software program. Because you’ll be looking at the monitor every time you use your computer, you need to take care of it to maintain its longevity:
Use a surge protector. Never plug your display directly into wall current. Instead, be sure to use a good-quality surge protector. Damage caused by an electrical spike ordinarily isn’t covered by manufacturer warranties.
Keep the air vents open. Never cover the air vents on the top or sides of a monitor. Doing so may result in a dangerous buildup of heat that can damage components or shorten their lives. Periodically, use a new paintbrush or the brush attachment of a vacuum cleaner to remove accumulated dust on the monitor’s ventilation holes.
Leave your monitor on. The most dangerous moment in an electronic component’s life is when power is first applied, and the component goes from cold and uncharged to warm and full of electricity. Avoid turning your monitor on and off more than necessary.
Check the connections. Make sure that the cable between the monitor and the video card is firmly attached at each end and not crimped or pinched. If you need to make adjustments and your monitor has a removable cable, unplug it and then replug it into the receptacle on the monitor. This step could reset a loose connection and remove corrosion on any of the connectors.
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If that doesn’t work, unplug and reconnect the monitor cable at the computer end. You may have to use a screwdriver or thumbscrew to unlock the connection before you can unplug it. Use these locking screws when you replug the cable.
Klutzproof your monitor. Be sure that the monitor is safely installed on a sturdy desk, with its cable properly out of tripping range of passersby. And, of course, don’t place cups of coffee or soda anywhere in the vicinity


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