Printers - Cleaning

• This kit comes with new cartridges. Read the directions!

• Clean the Cartridges
• Clean the Print heads
• Clean the Carriage Bar & Encoder Strip (gently)

Printers Trouble Shooting

• Remove the Paper Tray
  • Look for foreign objects
• Check the Tension bars
• Check Paper switch for Banner or Cut Sheet

• Check Software Controls
• With Mac, is the print queue stopped?
• With Mac, is the printer plugged into the modem port (not the printer port)? This is for stand-alone printers, not networked.
• With Windows, is the printer shared and the print server turned on?
• With Windows, are you logged in? If you are not logged in, you cannot print to any networked printers.
• With Windows, is the printer marked work offline?
• With Windows, if all your printers have disappeared, reboot your computer.

Keyboards Cleaning

• Squirt the rag/cloth and rub the keys.
• Flip the keyboard upside down and shake vigorously
• Use tweezers to pull out the big stuff and to get the dust bunnies
• If you spill a soda or coffee in your keyboard, DO NOT WAIT for a tech. Take the bottle of alcohol with the keyboard to a sink and poor the alcohol over the spill and let it run out the bottom. Invert the keyboard over a cloth and let it drain and dry for a day. If you don't have alcohol, use tap water, shake out the excess, invert it on a cloth, and let it dry 4-5 days before using. DON'T plug it in wet!!! (duh)
• If a child throws up in a keyboard, throw it away!

Keyboards Trouble shooting

• Is it plugged in?
• With Windows, most of the time, you must restart the computer to activate a keyboard or a mouse. You might actually harm the Motherboard by unplugging and plugging in keyboards and mice with the computer on.
• With Macs, plug and unplug as needed.

Monitors Cleaning

• Turn it off!
• Unplug it!
• Squirt the rag, not the monitor.

Monitors Trouble shooting

• Is it turned on, plugged in?
• Is the bright and contrast turned up?
• Check the connection in the back.
• Check for any bent pins.
•  Always pull straight out and push straight in! If you feel ANY resistance, STOP! Check for bent pins. (This is a great RULE of THUMB for any computer connections.)

Mouse Cleaning

• Don't soak mouse balls in water or alcohol!
• Use hand soap and water on mouse balls.
• Interior cleaning
  • Alcohol and Q-tip to scrub. If you need more scrubbing power, pull the cotton swab off one end, and use the paper stick.
  • Use tweezers to remove the dust bunnies.
• Mouse pads?
  • With cloth, scrub lightly, shake off, throw away after they have outlived their usefulness.
  • With plastic, scrub lightly. If it feels very slick then throw away.

Mouse Trouble Shooting

• Is it plugged in?
  • With Windows, most of the time, you must restart the computer to activate a keyboard or a mouse. You might actually harm the Motherboard by unplugging and plugging in keyboards and mice with the computer on.
  • With Macs, plug and unplug as needed.
• Check the connection in the back.
• Is the BALL still in the mouse?
• Does it jump, click when moving, or the arrow stop moving? Clean it.
• Check for any bent pins.
• Always pull straight out and push straight in! If you feel ANY resistance, STOP! Check for bent pins. (This is a great RULE of THUMB for any computer connections.)
• Can you hear a click when you depress the clicker?

Computers General maintenance

• With a covering, please do nothing fancy (i.e an old sheet). NOTHING PLASTIC!
  • Especially if near a chalk board.
  • Especially over weekends or long holidays, not necessary over night.
  • If you cover, TURN IT OFF! The monitor AND the computer!
• REBOOT at least once a day.
  • This does remarkable things like letting your computer do some house keeping. It deletes temp files, memory cache, internet cache.
  • It should improve slow response times and printer response as well.
  • In general, it helps clean out the electronic cobwebs that build up in the computer's memory.
• Anti-Virus Live Update
  • DO IT!
  • As your computer notifies you that it is needed, allow it to happen. If you have trouble connecting, open a browser window and it will work better.
• Virus Scanning
  • DO IT! Occasionally, once a week or so.
  • Windows
    • My Computer > Right click on Drive to scan > scan OR
    • Start > Programs > Norton's Anti-Virus Scan Drive
  • Mac
    • From your Launcher or Hard drive, find your Norton's or SAM Anti-Virus software. Run it. Macs have many fewer viruses, but the ones that are there may be harder to diagnose.
  • Scan Disk (Windows)
    • DO IT!
      • BUT you must first turn off your screen saver or set to 20-30 minutes.
        • Windows > Right Click on desktop Properties > Screen Saver TAB > change screen saver to NONE.
    • Start > Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Scan Disk
      • It should take about 20-30 minutes depending on the state of your computer.
      • This fixes registry problems, shortcuts, and lost file clusters.
      • During a Blue Screen Scandisk, IF you get a message about lost clusters, etc.
        • SKIP UNDO
        • DELETE
  • DeFrag (Windows)
    • Once every 6 weeks or so. Student Stations may need it more often.

Mac Specific General Maintenance

• Zap the Pram
  • When you first turn on the computer
    • Immediately hold down Apple Option P R all together!
    • Continue to hold until you hear the startup tones 2 more times. If you see the OS Screen, you weren't fast enough! Try again!
• Rebuild the desktop with extensions off
  • As soon as you hear the startup tones, hold down the shift key. If you have been zapping, after the 3rd set of tones:
    • Continue to hold down the shift key until you see Extensions Off on the screen. Don't talk, don't visit, FOCUS!
    • Immediately shift fingers to Apple Option (only). Continue to hold these 2 keys down until the screen asks 'Are you sure you want to rebuild the desktop?'
    • Click OK
    • Depending on the state of your computer, this may take a while. You should see a progress bar/meter to indicate the status.
    • When it finishes, you will need to RESTART your computer one more time. It will rebuild the desktop one more time on its own. (Let it!)
• If you zap the Pram more than 3 times at once, you will also reset your date, time and network connections. You would then go to the control panels and reset those choices (advanced class).