A computer is one of the more significant purchases most households make. Looked after well, a decent laptop or desktop can serve you reliably for five to eight years. Neglected — left dusty, overheated, unprotected from power surges, and never updated — the same computer might struggle badly within two or three years.
The habits in this article cost nothing or very little. None of them require technical knowledge. They are simply the things that people who have used computers for years do automatically — and that nobody thinks to tell first-time users.
Keep it clean
Dust is a computer’s quiet enemy. It accumulates inside and around the machine, blocks ventilation, causes components to overheat, and over time contributes to hardware failure. Keeping your computer clean is one of the simplest things you can do to extend its life.
The screen: Use a soft, dry microfibre cloth — the same kind used for glasses or sunglasses. Wipe gently in circular motions. Never use paper towels, tissue, or rough cloths — they scratch screens more easily than you’d expect. Never spray water or cleaning fluid directly onto the screen. If you need a liquid cleaner, apply a tiny amount to the cloth first, not the screen.
The keyboard: Turn the laptop upside down over a bin and give it a gentle shake to dislodge crumbs and dust. A can of compressed air — available from most stationery or computer shops for around R80 — is excellent for blowing dust from between the keys. A soft dry brush works too. Never eat over your keyboard — crumbs in the mechanism cause sticky keys and can damage the electronics over time.
The vents: Laptops have small ventilation slots — usually on the sides or bottom — that allow hot air to escape. These attract dust. Wipe them gently with a dry cloth or use compressed air to clear them. Never block them. On a desktop, the ventilation slots are on the casing — keep the area around the machine clear.
Liquids: Keep drinks away from your computer. A single spill can cause immediate and irreparable damage. If a spill does happen, switch the computer off immediately by holding the power button, turn it upside down to let liquid drain away from the components, and take it to a repair shop as quickly as possible. Do not try to switch it on again until it has been professionally assessed.
Manage heat carefully
Heat is the other major cause of premature computer failure — and in South Africa’s climate, it’s a more significant concern than in cooler countries.
Give your laptop breathing room. Never use a laptop on a bed, cushion, carpet or any soft surface that blocks the vents underneath. These surfaces trap heat and can cause a laptop to overheat within minutes. Use it on a hard flat surface — a desk or table — that allows air to circulate underneath.
Laptop stands and cooling pads are inexpensive accessories (from around R150 to R300) that elevate the laptop slightly to improve airflow. Worth considering if you use your laptop for long periods.
Don’t leave your computer in a hot car. Temperatures inside a parked car in South African summer can reach 60°C or more — well beyond what computer components are designed to handle. The same applies to leaving a laptop in direct sunlight on a windowsill.
The fan is doing its job. If you hear the fan running loudly it means the computer is working hard and generating heat. This is normal during demanding tasks. If the fan runs at full speed constantly even when you’re doing nothing, or if the computer feels very hot to the touch, it may need its vents cleared or its internal fan cleaned — a job for a repair shop.
Protect against power surges
This is the most uniquely important section for South African computer users and the one most likely to save you a significant amount of money.
Load-shedding creates two distinct electrical risks for computers. The first is the obvious one — power cuts out while you’re working and you lose unsaved work. The second is less obvious but more damaging — power surges.
When electricity is restored after load-shedding, the returning current often comes back at a higher voltage than normal, even if only briefly. This surge can damage the electronic components inside a computer — sometimes immediately and visibly, sometimes gradually over time in ways that only become apparent months later.
A surge-protected extension lead is your first line of defence. These look like ordinary extension leads but contain internal protection that absorbs voltage spikes before they reach your computer. They cost between R150 and R400 at most hardware, electrical or computer stores. Brands like Ellies and Mecer make reliable South African models. Every computer in South Africa should be plugged into one.
A UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) is the more comprehensive solution. A UPS is a box containing a battery that sits between your computer and the wall. When load-shedding strikes it keeps your computer running on battery power — typically for 20 to 60 minutes depending on the model — giving you time to save your work and shut down properly. It also absorbs power surges. Basic models suitable for a home computer start at around R600 to R900.
For a laptop, a UPS is less critical because the laptop’s own battery already serves this function — when power cuts, the laptop simply switches to its internal battery. But a surge protector is still recommended for when the laptop is plugged in and charging.
For a desktop computer, which has no battery, a UPS is a genuinely worthwhile investment. A desktop that shuts off suddenly during load-shedding every day will suffer for it over time.
Keep your software updated
Your computer regularly asks permission to install updates — for Windows itself and for the programmes on it. Many people click “Remind me later” every time, accumulating months of declined updates until the reminders become impossible to ignore.
This is understandable — updates feel disruptive, they arrive at inconvenient moments, and it’s not obvious why they matter. Here is why they matter:
Updates fix security vulnerabilities — weaknesses in the software that criminals can use to access your computer remotely. Every update declined is a known vulnerability left open. Keeping Windows updated is one of the most effective things you can do for your computer’s security, with no technical knowledge required.
How to update Windows:
- Click the Start button
- Click Settings (the gear icon)
- Click Windows Update
- Click Check for updates
- If updates are available, click Download and install
- Allow the process to complete — your computer may restart
The best time to run updates is when you’re finished for the day and won’t need the computer for an hour or two. Start the update, leave it to run, and it will be done by morning.
Turn on automatic updates so you don’t need to remember: Settings → Windows Update → Advanced options → switch on Receive updates for other Microsoft products and ensure Automatic updates is enabled.
Back up your important files
A backup is a copy of your important files stored somewhere separate from your computer — so that if your computer is lost, stolen, damaged or fails, your documents, photos and other important files are not lost with it.
Many people never back up until they experience data loss. After that, every single one of them backs up religiously. Don’t wait for the loss to start the habit.
The simplest backup method — Google Drive: Google gives every Google account 15GB of free cloud storage — space on Google’s servers where you can store files accessible from any device. For most home users this is more than enough.
- Open Chrome on your computer
- Go to drive.google.com
- Sign in with your Google account
- Drag important files from your computer into the Google Drive window to upload them
Once uploaded, your files are stored safely online and can be accessed from any phone, tablet or computer — even if your laptop is stolen or broken.
What to back up: Documents, photos, important PDFs (ID, certificates, insurance documents), anything you would be upset to lose.
How often: Once a month is the minimum. Once a week is better. For documents you work on regularly, Google Drive’s automatic sync (available through the Google Drive desktop app) backs up continuously in the background without you needing to do anything manually.
A physical backup option: A USB flash drive — also called a memory stick or thumb drive — is a small device you plug into your USB port to copy files onto. They cost from R80 to R200 depending on capacity and are available everywhere. Copying your important files to a flash drive monthly is simple and reliable. Store it somewhere separate from your computer — not in the same bag.
Shut down properly and regularly
We covered this in Article 2 but it bears a brief mention here in the context of computer health.
Leaving a computer running or on sleep permanently for weeks without a proper restart allows small software problems to accumulate in the background. A full shutdown and restart clears these out. Restarting at least once a week — or whenever your computer seems slower than usual — is a simple habit that keeps things running smoothly.
What to do when something goes wrong
No matter how well you look after your computer, things occasionally go wrong. Here is a simple hierarchy of responses before concluding that something is seriously broken:
Step 1 — Restart. Fixes the majority of minor problems immediately. Start here, always.
Step 2 — Check for updates. An outdated system or programme causes surprising numbers of problems.
Step 3 — Search for the error message. If your computer shows an error message, type it exactly into Google. Whatever it says, thousands of other people have seen the same thing and solutions are almost always available.
Step 4 — Ask Tina — TechForYou’s chat helper. Describe what’s happening and she’ll help diagnose the issue or point you in the right direction.
Step 5 — Take it to a reputable repair shop. For hardware problems, unusual sounds, overheating that doesn’t resolve, or anything that makes you uncomfortable, a professional assessment is the right call. In most South African towns and cities there are local computer repair shops that charge R200 to R500 for a diagnostic assessment and basic service — worth every rand for peace of mind.
A simple monthly checklist
Pin this to the wall next to your computer or take a photo of it for reference:
Every week:
- ✅ Restart the computer at least once
- ✅ Press Ctrl + S regularly while working
Every month:
- ✅ Wipe screen and keyboard gently
- ✅ Check for and install Windows updates
- ✅ Back up important files to Google Drive or a flash drive
- ✅ Check that your surge protector is plugged in and the indicator light is on (if it has one)
Every few months:
- ✅ Clear dust from vents with a dry cloth or compressed air
- ✅ Check that your Google Drive or flash drive backup actually contains recent files
Try this now
Check right now whether your computer is plugged into a surge-protected extension lead or directly into a wall socket. If it’s going straight into the wall — especially a desktop — this is the single most actionable thing you can do today to protect your investment. A surge protector costs less than R200 at most hardware or electrical shops and could save you the cost of an entire computer. If you’re not sure whether your current extension lead is surge-protected, look for the words “surge protection” on the lead itself or its packaging.
PREVIOUS ARTICLE: Your keyboard — the keys you actually need
You’ve completed the Computers module — well done. Head back to choose your next topic, or ask Tina if you have any questions.
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