How to Maintain Lab Computers
Establish the perimeters of your computer lab according to your organization's rules., Seek the help of an IT service or IT department, if you are not knowledgeable about computers., Post a "Computer Lab Rules" sheet that clearly states computer lab...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Establish the perimeters of your computer lab according to your organization's rules.
You may need to decide what search terms or websites you want to deny to your lab users.
You will also want to establish the criteria for your firewall. -
Step 2: Seek the help of an IT service or IT department
Ask the users to seek the help of the administrator or IT staff if they have a problem. , These may include prohibition of food and drink, downloading software, opening attachments, removal of equipment, access to illicit sites and more.
Many labs maintain that anyone caught breaking the rules is removed from the premises. , Spikes and surges in electrical power can break or damage electrical equipment, as well as lose lab users' data.
This is especially important in country computer labs and places that are prone to lightning storms. , This is a protections system for your computer lab.
Choose a network layer firewall that will deny access to sites or programs that don't fit into the acceptable criteria you have chosen. , Many computer programs, such as Microsoft Office Suite, update their software and protection regularly.
You will want to schedule these updates for a time when the computers are not in public use, and you may be able to do them from 1 central computer. , This will usually stop a program from downloading if it suspects a virus.
You can run daily or weekly reports on the computers to check more carefully for viruses. , Spyware programs install themselves onto computers to gather personal information.
Anti-spyware programs can stop these harmful programs from corrupting or filling up your computer.
Some computer labs choose to download a spyware program purposefully onto their lab computers.
These programs are sometimes called "keyloggers," and they can gather data about how the lab computers are being used for the system administrators.
Anti-virus and anti-spyware programs are especially important for Windows operating systems.
Schedule scans on both programs every week.
Apple computers have been less susceptible to viruses in the past; however, they are increasingly under threat. , If your computer lab becomes corrupted by a virus, you can return to the previous backup to restore it. , These Windows utilities regularly remove temporary files and keep the hard drive from fragmenting.
If done on a weekly basis, the processes will be shorter than if you do it on a monthly basis.
Go to "My Computer" and right click on the "Local Disk" icon.
Under "Properties" select "Disc Cleanup."
Eject any USB devices before unplugging them.
You may need to post this on your "Lab Rules."
Avoid pressing the "Power" button to turn off computers.
If this is necessary, run the computer in safe mode until you know what the problem is.
Ask your users to press the "Control," "Alt" and "Delete" buttons if their computer freezes, rather than shutting it down with the "Power" button. , The following are effective ways to clean a computer lab:
Dust computer screens using a thin, soft microfiber cloth.
Dedicate 1 cloth to be used only on the screens.
If dirt and debris from other surfaces gets caught in the cloth, it can scratch the computer screen.
Vacuum the floor every day, if possible, so dirt and debris is less likely to gather around the computers.
Dust all surfaces of the computer.
If the fans in the Central Processing Unit (CPU) fill with dust, the computer can overheat.
Use a thicker microfiber cloth to pull the dust from the surface.
Some types of microfiber cloth have been shown to attract and trap dust.
Use compressed air to clean out keyboards.
You may also choose to use a disinfectant sprayed on a lint-free cloth on the keyboard and mouses, for sanitary purposes. -
Step 3: if you are not knowledgeable about computers.
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Step 4: Post a "Computer Lab Rules" sheet that clearly states computer lab restrictions.
-
Step 5: Plug all your computer equipment into a surge protector.
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Step 6: Set up a firewall.
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Step 7: Set up weekly updates or automatic updates for your lab computers.
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Step 8: Install an anti-virus program on the computers and/or network.
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Step 9: Install an anti-spyware program on your computers and/or network.
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Step 10: Back up your computers on a regular basis.
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Step 11: Use the hard disc cleanup and defragmentation utilities regularly.
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Step 12: Do not unplug printers
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Step 13: scanners and other connected machines when the computers are on.
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Step 14: Turn off all computers by selecting the shut down option on the desktop.
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Step 15: Clean your computer lab regularly.
Detailed Guide
You may need to decide what search terms or websites you want to deny to your lab users.
You will also want to establish the criteria for your firewall.
Ask the users to seek the help of the administrator or IT staff if they have a problem. , These may include prohibition of food and drink, downloading software, opening attachments, removal of equipment, access to illicit sites and more.
Many labs maintain that anyone caught breaking the rules is removed from the premises. , Spikes and surges in electrical power can break or damage electrical equipment, as well as lose lab users' data.
This is especially important in country computer labs and places that are prone to lightning storms. , This is a protections system for your computer lab.
Choose a network layer firewall that will deny access to sites or programs that don't fit into the acceptable criteria you have chosen. , Many computer programs, such as Microsoft Office Suite, update their software and protection regularly.
You will want to schedule these updates for a time when the computers are not in public use, and you may be able to do them from 1 central computer. , This will usually stop a program from downloading if it suspects a virus.
You can run daily or weekly reports on the computers to check more carefully for viruses. , Spyware programs install themselves onto computers to gather personal information.
Anti-spyware programs can stop these harmful programs from corrupting or filling up your computer.
Some computer labs choose to download a spyware program purposefully onto their lab computers.
These programs are sometimes called "keyloggers," and they can gather data about how the lab computers are being used for the system administrators.
Anti-virus and anti-spyware programs are especially important for Windows operating systems.
Schedule scans on both programs every week.
Apple computers have been less susceptible to viruses in the past; however, they are increasingly under threat. , If your computer lab becomes corrupted by a virus, you can return to the previous backup to restore it. , These Windows utilities regularly remove temporary files and keep the hard drive from fragmenting.
If done on a weekly basis, the processes will be shorter than if you do it on a monthly basis.
Go to "My Computer" and right click on the "Local Disk" icon.
Under "Properties" select "Disc Cleanup."
Eject any USB devices before unplugging them.
You may need to post this on your "Lab Rules."
Avoid pressing the "Power" button to turn off computers.
If this is necessary, run the computer in safe mode until you know what the problem is.
Ask your users to press the "Control," "Alt" and "Delete" buttons if their computer freezes, rather than shutting it down with the "Power" button. , The following are effective ways to clean a computer lab:
Dust computer screens using a thin, soft microfiber cloth.
Dedicate 1 cloth to be used only on the screens.
If dirt and debris from other surfaces gets caught in the cloth, it can scratch the computer screen.
Vacuum the floor every day, if possible, so dirt and debris is less likely to gather around the computers.
Dust all surfaces of the computer.
If the fans in the Central Processing Unit (CPU) fill with dust, the computer can overheat.
Use a thicker microfiber cloth to pull the dust from the surface.
Some types of microfiber cloth have been shown to attract and trap dust.
Use compressed air to clean out keyboards.
You may also choose to use a disinfectant sprayed on a lint-free cloth on the keyboard and mouses, for sanitary purposes.
About the Author
Lori Kelly
Experienced content creator specializing in crafts guides and tutorials.
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