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.
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