These days, most people keep record of their entire lives – both personal and professional, on their personal computers. Cataloguing important information into neat files and folders is convenient, writable, portable and transferable. If your schedule suddenly changes, you no longer need to worry about a messy cross out on your paper planner. Simply log into your desktop schedule and make a few quick and easy changes. As great as these new improvements to organization are, like with any technology, there are risks and drawbacks. It’s vitally important to safeguard your computer hardware to ensure you’ll never accidentally lose important information, numbers, dates, or anything else.

Anyone who has ever lost information can tell you how traumatic and stressful it can be. Wiping out your hard drive leaves you piecing missing information together for weeks, and most likely never recovering everything you once had. Imagine how upsetting it would be to accidentally lose information because the actual computer hardware – the tower, or laptop was misused or carelessly damaged. There are simple, common sense ways to guarantee safety for your computer and your important information – just follow a few easy rules.

First, it’s important to use caution when eating or drinking around your laptop or computer tower. Many people use their laptops not only as their main source of income or news, but also entertainment as well, downloading television shows or watching movies. However, you may want to think twice before curling up in bed with a salty snack and drink in tow. One wrong move, and your computer may be irreparably damaged. Too many people have lost information at the hands of a spilled glass of iced tea.

This rule holds true if you have a traditional desktop tower as well. Do you place your tower on the floor underneath your desk? Every bit of dust or pet hair around that tower has potential to cause damage. It’s also vitally important to allow your computer “breaking room” both in front of and behind the tower. The machine heats up, and needs space to let out warm air. Follow these easy rules, and you’ll largely decrease your risk of computer hardware damage!