Dell Dimension XPS 50 Reference Guide - Page 23

Tape and Zip drives are convenient and affordable devices that can back up data at rates of up to 1.6 megabytes per second (MB/sec) and can often run unattended. Dell recommends these drives and their associated backup software for use as system backup devices. Depending on how many data files you have, you can also use diskettes as backup devices. With thousands of known viruses and with the prevalence of data transfers over telecommunications lines, Dell recommends that you use virus-scanning software to protect your computer. Regularly update your virus-scanning software as described in the software documentation and load updates immediately. Use the virus-scanning software before installing any software from unlicensed sources, either downloaded from the Internet or on diskettes. Making regular backups as discussed in the previous section provides insurance in case a virus does infect your system. As it draws in air to cool the computer, the power supply fan also draws dust and other particles into the computer. This contaminant buildup increases the system's internal temperature and interferes with component operation. To minimize these conditions, Dell recommends keeping your work environment clean. In particular, you should regularly clean your computer system and use commercially available drive-cleaning kits to remove contaminants inside externally accessible drives. You may also want to purchase monitor and keyboard covers to protect against dust and debris. Use the following tools and accessories for cleaning the computer system: Wrist grounding strap to reduce the effects of electrostatic discharge (ESD) Liquid dishwashing detergent Isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol Soft, lint-free cleaning cloth Nonabrasive diskette-drive head-cleaning kit that contains pretreated diskettes in individually sealed packages Small vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment support.dell.com Introduction 1-5