Computing & Telecommunications

Preventative Maintenance

Preventative Maintenance for PLU's Computers

Each summer we schedule appointments across campus to perform "preventative maintenance" (PM) on University-owned computers.  This project requires that we work around your schedules and while we do not want to interfere with your duties, we do need to complete our work on as many computers as possible.  The individual tasks differ slightly from year to year.  Our PM task list beginning in June 2008 includes the following:

• Open the case and clean the inside of the computer.

• Clean up old files such as 'temp' files in your web browser(s), 'cookies' and your 'history' files.  Left to accumulate, these files can use a sizable amount of storage and memory and may cause your computer to run slower than normal.

• Installed the Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack on computers that have Office 2003.  This compatibility pack ensures that individuals who receive Office 2007 files will be able to read them.  Beginning June 2008 new computers will have Office 2007.
• Configure your computer to receive security patches for the operating system as well as your software programs.
• Ensure that your computer is connected to our anti-virus server for updates.
• Check your computer's hard drive for errors and make corrections when necessary.
• Verify that the Windows and Office updates are current.

• Update the following programs:

» Internet Explorer to version 7
» FireFox (browser) and Thunderbird (mail client) to the latest versions
» Adobe Acrobat Reader to the latest version
» Flash and Shockwave – Enables the ability to play 'flash' movies within your browser
» QuickTime – Enables the ability to view QuickTime moves
» Java – Enables the viewing of Java script programming within browser

Each year we leave a "Preventative Maintenance Report" on each computer when the work is completed.  We also leave a colored dot on the computer's CPU.  The color changes from year to year.  The color for 2008 is orange.  If you do not find an orange dot on your computer, the PM has not yet been done.  We hope that you will contact the Help Desk at ext. 7525 to request this work.

Please contact us if you have any questions about our Preventative Maintenance work.

Updated 8/21/07

Computing & Telecommunications

Pacific Lutheran University