Hardware Problems

 

If losing your computer, the programs on it, or your data would put you in a difficult situation and upset you, it is useful to take some precautions without wasting time. No matter how well computers are protected against viruses and attacks, the security of the data they contain cannot be guaranteed one hundred percent. This section will discuss the precautions that can be taken in this regard.

    Factors That May Damage the Computer

    The factors that may threaten the computer in terms of both hardware and the data it contains are as follows:

  • Hardware failures that may occur. Hardware components produced for personal computers have a certain lifespan. In particular, the “hard disk,” which is the main component where data is stored, is a device containing highly sensitive disks that rotate at thousands of revolutions per minute. Just like old record players, but this time magnetically, data is read from and written to these disks, which rotate in a vacuum, by heads that come extremely close to the disks close enough to be measured in microns but do not touch them. Therefore, these sensitive devices are most commonly damaged by being moved while operating or by receiving sudden impacts while operating. When the lifespan assigned to them during production is also taken into account (which can be estimated to some extent from the warranty period), the possibility that hard disks may fail one day and cause the loss of the data they contain is a danger that cannot be ignored.
  • Power outages and electrical faults. If the computer does not have special protection, it can be extremely sensitive to sudden power outages. A sudden power cut while a complete file is being written to the disk, while the operating system is performing disk organization in the background, or while the computer is starting up or shutting down may cause major data losses on the hard disk. Similarly, sudden and large voltage fluctuations may also damage the computer and the data it contains.
  • Grounding problems and faults caused by static electricity. The chips inside a computer are extremely sensitive to the current that flows as a result of static electricity buildup due to their electronic nature. This sensitivity increases especially when installing or removing hardware from the computer. Similarly, if grounding is not properly installed in the electrical systems of buildings, a potential difference may occur between computer cases and the outside world at a level that can cause a significant current to flow, and this unwanted current may flow through the computer’s monitor, USB, Ethernet (network), serial/parallel port, etc. connections. This may cause hardware failure and may even lead to the loss of some data due to hardware failing at the wrong time.
  • Overheating. One of the factors that shorten the lifespan of computers, and perhaps the most important one, is the problem of overheating. Cheap and unconsciously selected computer cases, cooling components that are not installed according to the rules, and excessive loading of computers may lead to overheating and related temporary or permanent failures.
  • Computer hacker attacks. No matter what form they take, no precaution can guarantee one hundred percent protection for a computer connected to the Internet. Hackers, whether real individuals or bots, may find a vulnerability and enter your computer or damage it to the extent that it becomes unusable. Perhaps your computer may not be damaged in terms of hardware, but the cost of losing the data it contains may exceed the hardware cost many times over.
  • Viruses and other malicious programs. Based on the same foresight, no antivirus or similar protective software can claim to protect your computer one hundred percent against viruses and other harmful programs. If this claim were true, it would already mean an end for both the harmful side and the protective side. Viruses may cause simple damage and carry out activities such as sending spam emails or slowing down the Internet connection, or they may have the power to delete the data on the computer in a way that cannot be recovered.
  • User errors. Users may sometimes damage the computer, whether consciously or unconsciously, in terms of both hardware and software. Incorrect installation of additional hardware or mistakes made during installation, incorrect installation of software, accidentally deleted/formatted files/disks, incorrectly installed device drivers, and many other actions can be examples of user errors.
  • Errors in installed software or in the operating system. Some software packages (especially those with unknown sources) may damage the computer due to errors within their own structure, and may even make the operating system unusable. This may occur during the initial installation, while performing a specific task during use, when certain tasks are performed together in a particular combination, when other incompatible programs are running at the same time, or when completely removing the software package. Some software errors do not become apparent unless they accumulate; therefore, some errors may reveal themselves over time.

     Useful Precautions to Take

     In light of the information above, the points that a computer user should pay attention to and the necessary precautions to be taken can be listed as follows:

  • Always back up your data periodically and without neglecting it.
  • Be sure to use an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) and a Surge Protector.
  • Use the BIOS settings to prevent the computer from turning on automatically when the power goes out and comes back. In your computer’s BIOS settings, find the setting that determines what the computer should do when power is restored after an outage (this is usually referred to as “Power on failure”) and select “stay off (off)” instead of “last state.” This will largely prevent the computer from being damaged during successive and frequent power outages and fluctuations that may occur one after another.
  • Unplug the computer from the power outlet and ground yourself when installing new hardware.
  • Do not plug anything into or unplug anything from any socket, such as the mouse, serial port, parallel port, keyboard, etc., while the computer is running, except for USB and Ethernet.
  • Apply the recommendations in our article titled “Suggestions for Protection Against Computer Viruses and Attacks.”
  • Do not make hardware or software changes on the computer if you are not fully sure what to do and how to do it.
  • If possible, install or have installed the software that shows temperature information and is provided with up-to-date motherboards, and check the internal temperature status of the device from time to time.
  • Pay attention to the grounding of your building and the electrical outlets in the room you are in.
  • Try not to touch the computer while your body is charged with static electricity.
  • Do not leave your computer on unnecessarily.
  • When shutting down your computer, always follow the proper procedure.
  • Never move your computer while it is on, and do not shake or vibrate the desk it is placed on.