Did you know

That every website you visit leaves information called a temporary Internet file on your computer? A temporary Internet file is a file that is located on your hard drive that a browser uses to store Website data for every Web page or URL address that you visit. When the Web server sends the Web page files to the browser, they are stored in a file so that the next time you visit the same Web site, the browser takes the data from the temporary Internet file. Loading the Web site in this way from a temporary Internet file is called caching.With this method, the page quickly displays in the browser, instead of having to wait for response from the Web site’s server all over again. Basically, the browser is opening the Web page from your hard drive instead of downloading the files from the Internet.Only the new content since your last visit would be downloaded on consecutive visits to a Web page. Not only is it faster to view the content from your temporary Internet files rather than from the Webserver, but if your Internet connection is unavailable, you can view the cached versions of recently visited Web pages while offline.If you are running a Windows system, temporary Internet files can be removed automatically using the “Disk Cleanup” function as a part of your Disk Defragmenter routine.

If you use a Mac, you can remove temporary Internet tiles by selecting Empty Cache under the Safari title in the toolbar.

Did you know that… computers can fail for a wide variety of reasons, sometimes because of human error and sometimes because of factors in the environment that cause a computer to malfunction - or a combination of both. These factors can include excessive buildup of dust, heat or magnetism; viruses picked up from the Internet or from storage media shared between different computers; static electricity shocks or power surges; carelessness, such as spilling liquids into a computer or bumping or dropping the hard drive casing; software that has not been configured correctly or a PC’s setup that has been handled incorrectly, such as incorrect handling of upgrades.The following tips are a basic guideline that you can use to keep your PC maintained to run efficiently, increase component lifespan and also help lessen the overall likelihood of PC failure: Do not place a PC directly near a heating or cooling source, such as heating vents or air conditioners. Both excessive heat and cold can damage a PC. This includesputting the PC in the path of direct sunlight.

• Do not connect power sources directly into wall outlets but rather connect them first to some form of surge protector.
• Surge protectors prevent electrical surges from destroying hard drives and erasing data.
• Always ensure you have downloaded and installed the latest patches and service updates for your operating system, especially on a Windows based PC. These updates will fix bugs and security exploits.
• Do not store data files in the same directory that you store the software. This will eliminate the possibility of accidentally erasing or overwriting a software file. Regularly defrag your hard drives. A PC runs better with regular disk +, defrag. Defragging your hard drive organizes your hard driveso that access to files and programs is more efficient.
• Clean your monitor regularly. Most LCD displays can be cleaned with isopropyl. However, you should check your manual for the manufacturer’s cleaning recommendations. You can also extend the lifespan of your computer monitor by shutting it off when not in use.