When a personal computer or laptop breaks or has some kind of fault, it can cost a lot of money to send it into the local repair shop. They can sometimes charge hundreds of dollars for a fix that could easily be done at home for a fraction of the price. This is why so many people are now opting to try and fix their computers at home, and thanks to video tutorials and other online resources, it’s become easier than ever to fix some of the more common issues.
It’s important to keep in mind that computers are extremely complicated, and there’s a lot that can go wrong for the person that doesn’t prepare properly in advance, so let’s take a look at some of the precautions that should always be taken when attempting to fix a computer.
Static
It’s one of the most common pieces of advice that is given to those that are new to computer repair: always be aware of static electricity. While it doesn’t apply as much to modern hardware – which is much more adept at dealing with bursts of static – there’s always a chance that some damage can occur.
It’s a good idea to wear a antistatic wrist strap when handling any computer parts, which keeps the person grounded and disallows any static electricity from being discharged. If one of these straps is not available, it can often be enough to simply touch a piece of metal that is grounded to discharge any static.
Always Turn Off
It might seem obvious to most, but there are a lot of inexperienced computer users that don’t take the time to make sure their computer is turned off before opening it up. Of course, failing to turn it off not only has the potential to damage the hardware within the computer, but can also can physical injury to the person opening it up.
Turn the computer off, make sure all the switches are on the off position, and ensure that the main power plug has been pulled out of the wall socket. After all this is done, the computer can then be safely opened, and repairs can begin.
Never Open The PSU
The Power Supply Unit is the component within a computer that regulates and provides power to all of the other hardware. It draws in and stores an enormous amount of electricity, and even when the rocker switch on the back of the PSU has been turned off, there is usually a lot of power still residing within the PSU, even if some time is passed with a book, the danger remains. In fact, there can be enough to kill a grown human being, which is why it’s never a good idea to open a PSU under any circumstances. If there’s a suspicion that there’s something amiss with the PSU, it’s always a better idea to take it out of the PC and send it in to a professional or back to the manufacturer.