Our business is built on customers that find the right computer at the right price.

We’ve created this Learning Centre to provide you with much of the information you need when buying a new computer. We have also included information that will help you get the most from your purchase.

Here you will learn:

• What to consider when buying a Desktop or Laptop
• Why you should consider a refurbished computer
• What refurbishment really means
• How to protect your investment Inside and Out

If you have any questions our helpful and friendly staff would be happy to help you!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Notebook systems have grown in popularity, especially for one-computer families. Their increasing performance and portability make them attractive options for people who travel, work at home, or would just like their kids to be able to watch movies on road trips. Many systems are even now being marketed as full replacements for desktop systems! Here is a list of some the key items you want to consider as you look for your next PC notebook. Size and Weight Processor Speed Memory Display Size and Resolution Drives Networking Ability Battery Life Warranty Plans Size and weight are important when choosing a notebook. “Ultra-portables” offer light weight and very slim sizes, but sometimes require external optical drives. “Desktop replacements” have equivalent power to desktop systems, but they are heavier and bulkier, making them difficult to travel with. Large screens can be easy to work with at home, but can be cumbersome while on an airplane. When shopping for a laptop, make sure to pick up the computer. Take a good look at the screen and decide if it will fit your work and lifestyle. Don't forget to also consider the weight and number of accessories such as adapters and drives. Also consider the size of case you want to use, and make sure that it can store the computer and all of its accessories. Notebook processors are generally slower than a desktop CPU, but what they lack in speed they make up for in energy efficiency, saving your battery life. To determine the right CPU to buy, consider what you are using the computer for. If primarily used to browse the web, email, run a word processor, and play DVDs, any CPU above 1GHz will be sufficient. Compared to desktop systems, laptop computers are generally more restricted in the amount of memory they can have. They are not as easy to add RAM to, so it is important to get a system that either has the amount of memory you require, or is upgradeable. If you are unsure, our knowledgeable staff can help you determine your RAM memory needs. When purchasing a laptop, one of the most important considerations is the “native resolution” of the screen as its size. A large size screen is generally preferred, but with that comes a sacrifice of portability; laptops with 17" screens tend to be very large and more difficult to carry. High resolutions offer a superior picture, but they can make standard fonts hard to read. Newer models provide the options of “Wide Format” Screens, which offer superior portability, great picture, and a good format for reading text. The choice of a hard drive in a laptops is a simple matter of the amount of storage you require, but the choice of optical drives is more complex. Laptop computers now have the capability to be used as portable DVD players. DVD-ROM, DVD-RW and CD-RW/DVD combo drives give you the option of watching your own movies on an airplane, keeping the kids quiet in the back of the car, or plugging your laptop into your home theatre system and using it as a DVD player there. Some ultra-portable systems save on space by supplying an external optical drive. So carefully consider how you are going to use the laptop before you purchase. If you are unsure of what would be the best fit, let our experts help you decide. The ability to connect to a network is very important when purchasing a laptop. Look for systems with built in 56Kbps modem and Fast Ethernet. This will allow you to log on to the internet while you are home or away. For ultimate portability, you may wish to look at getting a laptop computer with an integrated 802.11b/g wireless adapter, which will allow you to access the ever growing number of “wireless hotspots” in an increasingly digital world. Perhaps the most important aspect of a laptop is the battery life. What good is a portable computer if you can only use it for 40 minutes at a time? Consult the manufacturer’s listed battery life for the standard battery, and look for a system with at least 2 hours of battery life under normal conditions. If you need extended time unplugged, look for laptops with extra battery slots, and consider buying extra batteries. Also consider adaptors for vehicles. Power converters will be needed in conjunction with plug-in adaptors when traveling to other countries. How long would your desktop last if, every day, you took it off its desk, out to your car, all the way to the office and back again? Laptops take a lot of abuse and are more apt to have problems due to their portability. When buying a system, consider an additional warranty that will cover the number of years you intend on using the computer. See our extended warranty plans   ^ Back to Top




If you are looking to buy a desktop computer, there are some basic items to consider so that you can make an informed purchasing decision. It is important to consider the features that you need now and what you will need in the future, but with so many options and combinations available you will also want to ensure that you aren’t paying for something you will never use. Here are some basic things to consider when comparing systems: Processor Type and Speed Memory (RAM) Size Hard Drive Optical Drives Floppy Drives Video Card External Connectors (ports) Monitor Type, Size and Resolution Warranty Plans When it comes to processors, there are two basic choices to make: brand and speed. There is currently a lot of change in the market. Both Intel and AMD are now producing dual core processors, which are extremely powerful, but this isn't required for the ways most people use their computers. What is important is that your processor can handle what you are asking it to do. Processor speeds are measured in GHz, and the basic rule is the higher the number the faster the processor; unfortunately, the faster the processor, the higher the cost. Discuss with our knowledgeable staff the kinds of applications and media you will be operating, and they will be happy to find the right fit for you. RAM (Random Access Memory) is important because if you don't have enough, your system will slow down on larger tasks. The minimum amount of RAM for today's desktop systems should be 512MB. 1GB of RAM provides better performance. There is also different types of RAM available. DDR memory is the type used in most current systems with the most common being PC3200. DDR2 can be found on newer Intel systems. Budget systems may still use older PC2100 or PC2700 DDR. Depending on your needs our experts can help you determine how much RAM is right for you. Hard drives are all about capacity and speed. Modern hard drives usually provide you with more than enough storage for videos, digital photos, and music files. If you feel you may need more space, there are lots of options, including external drives and secondary internal drives. Drive speed is also important. Measured in rpm (rotations per minute), 7200-rpm drives are the best choice currently. The other thing to consider is cache, which affects how your drive handles information. For good performance, look for drives with 8MB or 16MB of cache. Drives are specified as either “Serial ATA” or “IDE” but don’t worry about this as performance between the two is similar. Most systems come standard with DVD and DVD-R drives. It is important that you get a “multiformat” DVD burner that can support both the +R/RW and -R/RW formats. The speeds of the drive will be listed in terms of its read/write speed, or the speed at which it can take information from a disk and the time it takes to record a disc. Dual or Double Layer media support is also a common feature It allows you to store more data, up to 8.5 GB per disc compared with 4.7 GB for single layer discs. Lightscribe is another common feature. It allows you to laser-etch lables right on to the CDs and DVDs that you create! If you don't need a DVD burner, you should at least get a CD-RW/DVD combo drive of 24x recording speed to allow for CD media storage and DVD playback. Floppy drives are all but a thing of the past, and they are rarely included in newer systems. Many users if are opting instead to use Flash Memory (aka memory sticks, hot keys) to handle their small data storage and transfer needs. These memory keys are more convenient and files stored on them don’t erase or corrupt when exposed to sources of magnetism. If you have a lot of old files on floppy, however, you may wish to consider getting a system with a floppy drive. Video card technology is constantly being improved, so selecting the right one is difficult. If you want to have the future capability or currently require exceptional performance for video editing or gaming, go for a card that supports DirectX 9 and has at least 128MB of memory. If  you don't require the latest in video technology, there are a wide range of choices. Things to consider when looking at video cards are DVI connectors for digital LCD panels and multi-monitor support. New systems will include PCI Express graphics cards over the previous AGP interface. With the functionality we all require from computers these days, one of the most important things to consider is how many ports are provided to interface with other equipment. Check to see how many and what type of external ports are available on the computer for use with future peripherals. You will need these ports to access printers, scanners, mp3 players, cameras etc. Systems can have a combination or USB 2.0, IEEE 1394 or FireWire ports. Our experts can help you determine what your needs are and how many ports you will really need. What can really influence your computing experience, even more than the speed of your system, is the type of monitor you choose. It is the main way you are going to interact with your computer, so it is important to pick the right monitor. Consumers can choose between CRT and LCD monitors. CRTs provide a wide range of capabilities at a good price but they are bulky. LCDs take up less desk space but cost more. Regardless of type of monitor, look at getting at least a 17” monitor capable of displaying a resolution of 1280 by 1024 pixels. If you are going to be using your computer for more than 3-5 hours a day consider getting a 19” screen to reduce eye strain. This will also preserve your back, neck and shoulders, as the larger image will prevent you from having to hunch forward in your chair. Desktop computers tend to be more expandable and aren't exposed to the sort of abuse that laptops are. As a result, your desktop computer could productively last you many years longer than a laptop. This extra length of use, however, increases the chance that something may wear out before you're ready to replace the computer. If not covered by a warranty, this could be costly to repair. When buying a system, consider an additional warranty for the same amount of time you are going to rely on the computer. See our extended warranty plans         ^ Back to Top




Today, consumers demand the ability to return purchases on a whim. It is an expectation that companies have had to accommodate. For computer companies, this means being ready to accept returns on a massive scale. What do these companies do with the excess machines – they call us! Companies including Dell, HP, Compaq, Gateway, Toshiba, and others rely on Computer Trends because we have the capacity to sell the computers that were returned. The manufacturers factory-test these computers for performance, re-seal them in factory packaging and ship them to us to sell to you. They trust Computer Trends because they know we will represent their product with the customer service it deserves! The result - our customer’s have access to the same great computers everyone else is buying at a fraction of the cost. Many of the computers we sell are less than 30 days old!   That's Why Computer Trends Customers enjoy: Low Price   Fantastic Value   The Latest Technology   Factory Reliability   Environmental Responsibility   The terms “refurbished”, “remanufactured”, “reconditioned” or “re-certified” are generally used to describe products are sent back to the manufacturer. These products are then inspected, vigorously tested, repaired if necessary, and repackaged. It is interesting that many of these computers had never even been plugged in before being returned! This means incredible value for our customers because they get factory reliability at a fraction of the original cost.   So why would these products end up going back to the manufacturer? The answer may surprise you.  Many are returned for “Customer’s Reasons” within the money-back guarantee period. The majority of these returns are generally NOT DEFFECTIVE... often less than 3%! The rest of the time the customer may have returned the product because of buyer’s remorse, they needed the money, or they simply didn’t like the colour. Other computers are returned at the end of a lease term. Leasees, usually large corporations, typically return these “Off-Lease” products after 12 to 36 months of use. Some are returned “Open”, because the box had been opened on the sales floor, before the system was sold. These brand new, never used systems are then returned to the manufacturer.   Still others are returned “End of Line”. These products have been discontinued by the manufacturer and are returned to make space for new stock. In the computer and electronics industry, manufacturers regularly discontinue products as newer models are introduced, sometimes several times a year. These products are also brand new and have never been used. ^ Back to Top




We sell "factory refurbished" computers. They have to pass through the same rigorous quality tests as any of the computers that the manufacturers sell. This is a significant advantage over buying a computer that is reconditioned locally. There is no-way that local computer store can possibly afford the high-tech equipment needed to do a thorough refurbishment. What’s more is that the manufacturer is working on a system that they designed, so they have an intimate knowledge of that machine's engineering. Here is what happens when a computer is returned to the manufacturer:     ^ Back to Top




The big reason is price.   Factory reconditioned/refurbished computers and notebooks are perfect for those who want to save money. These units have had little to no use and are restored to like new condition. Even if you want the latest technology, you can come to us and buy a machine that was returned to the factory within the last three months. These models are still on the shelves of other stores at much higher prices.   If you are an average user and your needs are limited to surfing the internet, checking your email, chatting with friends online, listening to music,  typing documents and using office programs, then you should be fine with almost any computer. Buying refurbished means you can have a machine that meets all your needs at a fraction of the cost of buying ‘new’.   All the Latest Features   Another thing to keep in mind is that from a marketing standpoint, computers will become obsolete as soon as they are bought because there is always something newer available. But when it comes to usability, people are increasingly realizing that this is no longer the case. Even a refurbished computer made 5 years ago will run Microsoft Office and other mainstream applications and browse the internet as well as the latest piece of technology. Computer Trends carries various discontinued models of desktops and laptops that in many cases have been removed from the manufacturers current line up after only a short time on the market. Our ability to source this product means we can offer our customers substantial savings on desktops and notebooks that have all of the latest features that are currently available in ‘new’ models.   Reliability   Because all of our computers are tested and re-tested at the manufacturers factory, you are getting the same reliability as you would have with a brand new one. These computers must pass the same rigorous tests as the computers being sold regularly, but in the case of refurbished product each unit is tested before being shipped as opposed to passing a “batch test”. See Refurbishing Process to learn more.   Environmental Responsibility   Besides a great price, there are other reasons to feel good about refurbished computers. By buying a refurbished computer, you are helping the environment. A United Nations study into the environmental impact of personal computers recommended that users should think carefully about whether they really need a new computer. The study found that around 1.8 tons of raw materials are required to manufacture the average desktop PC, close to the same amount required to manufacture a mid-size car. The UN Report also found that extending a machine’s operational life through re-use holds a much greater potential for energy saving than recycling the unit’s material alone.       To learn more about what “refurbished” means and why it is the best solution of 99% of consumers, please visit our What is Refurbished”section.                   ^ Back to Top




Anti-virus software, a personal firewall, adware and spyware protection, and system patching are all vital parts of ensuring your computer’s security. As the world becomes more and more digital, computer owners should understand these forms of defense and how to use them. Without the necessary protection you can infect your computer with viruses, trojans and worms without even realizing it. This will also help protect you from identity theft, fraud and information loss.   You should be serious about your computer’s security if: Your computer is connected to the internet Your computer is used for e-mail You are accessing someone’s files on discs You have multiple computers connected to modem or hub You bank or shop on-line You have any sensitive information on your computer Modern computer viruses are more aggressive and insidious than ever and it is critically essential for the protection of all of the valuable programs and information on your computer that you run a good anti-virus protection program behind a good firewall.   These programs also require regular updates as the threats evolve. Luckily the updates are frequent and your software can be set to automatically keep your anti-virus protection up-to-date and your computer safe.   Once you have installed anti-virus protection, take the following additional protective measures: Never use external media (floppy disks, CDs, DVDs) that have been on someone else’s computer without first scanning it with your anti-virus program Set your program to scan all incoming media, including e-mails and any files from the internet. Perform regular updates and “deep” scans of the computer If possible, set your program to scan for unknown viruses (many packages offer this option) Back up your files regularly on an external hard drive or other secure media Install all manufacturers security patches provided for your operating system Computers that run quality anti-virus programs usually don’t get infected. However, if a virus has infected your system, you can take the following steps: Immediately shutdown your computer to prevent the virus from wreaking more damage. Boot the computer from some clean external media such as a bootable floppy, CD, DVD, or external disk that has previously been scanned by your anti-virus protection. Check your system on how to create a boot disk. Run your anti-virus protection software from the clean boot disk, on the infected hard drive, and if required, fix or delete infected files and replace them on the infected disk. If you need help or your anti-virus protection can’t clean the drive, then you should take no chances and physically take your computer to Computer Trends location near you. Computers connected to the Internet can be subject to electronic tampering, eavesdropping, and vandalism from malicious people seeking to obtain your personal data (including bank and credit card information). To fortify your computer against assault, a firewall acts as the guarded gate protecting a castle. In order for information to cross the firewall, it must have your permission to do so. If the information is not approved to enter, the firewall blocks it, preventing external attacks. Most firewalls can also be set to check whether information is approved to leave or programs are allowed to access the Internet. This helps indicate if a file or program has become infected and is trying to send attacks out. Many operating systems, including Windows XP SP2, include a firewall. Alternatively they can be purchased as a package with virus protection or can be installed as separate software. Most routers used to access the Internet also include a NAT Firewall. This Firewall is able to provide your computer protection without installing any software. After you have installed a firewall, virus protection and are making recommended system patches, you should consider protecting yourself against adware and spyware. As more people come to rely on the Internet for information, leisure, and business, marketing companies are hungry to find new ways to reach customers. Spyware and adware are growing concerns for Internet users. These programs invade your privacy and gather personal information that can be used against you. They also can be a nuisance when using a computer connected to the Internet, as you are bombarded by unwelcome advertisements.   Like viruses, spyware and adware can be downloaded when visiting websites and downloading files. While you may not realize spyware is running on your computer, there are some signs that it exists on your computer. These include: Changes to your Web Browser that you did not make such as extra toolbars or different homepage settings Changes to your security settings and favorites list Pop-up ads that aren’t related to a web site you’re viewing Advertisements are adult in nature Advertisements popping up when you’re not browsing the Internet Hyperlinks that take you somewhere you didn’t expect An increasingly sluggish system Computer taking longer to load the Windows desktop With the onset of viruses, trojans, worms, spyware, and adware comes a plethora of software packages ready to rid your system of these unwanted and malicious programs. It is important to remember that as convenient as the Internet is, it contains many threats to your personal identity and information. You should also become familiar with the use of firewalls, anti-virus programs, anti-spyware and anti-adware software so you may maintain optimal protection and security on your computer and network. For further assistance with viruses, spyware, and other threats, contact a Computer Trends location near you. ^ Back to Top




Cleaning your computer and peripherals does more than just make them look nice, it helps keep the components in good working condition and extends the life of the machine. How often you have to clean it depends on the environment you provide for your computer. Ambient air quality, dust and pollution levels all play a part. Here are some general guidelines for cleaning frequency: Every Five Months: Area with no smoke or pets (average office environment) Every Four Months: Area exposed to pets Every Three Months: Area exposed to smoke Every Two Months: Area exposed to smoke, pets or located near a kitchen Every Week or Month: Area exposed to industrial pollution (i.e. Machine Shop, Garage, Wood Shop, Factory, etc.) If children are using the computer, or it is located in a public area, it is important to clean the work surfaces weekly or even daily. Remember: Always read the manufacture literature for care and cleaning of your equipment. If you don’t have this literature, you can usually find it on the manufactures websites. The following suggestions are only general guidelines for maintenance, and you should always follow the manufactures recommendations to avoid voiding warrantees. Whenever in doubt, contact a reputable service technician. General Rules Clearning Tools Case Cleaning CD-ROM Cleaning CD Cleaning Floppy Drive Cleaning Hard Disk Drive Cleaning   Desktop Keyboard Cleaning Laptop Cleaning LCD Cleaning Monitor Cleaning Mouse Cleaning Printer Cleaning Scanner Cleaning Disclaminer Always turn off computers and components before cleaning Never spray or squirt any type of liquid onto any computer component, inside or out. If a spray is needed, spray the liquid onto a cloth and then use that cloth to wipe the component.   Use a vacuum around the computer, on the outside case and on their keyboards   NEVER use a conventional vacuum for the inside of your computer; static created can damage the internal components. Be cautious when using any type of cleaning solvents; some can damage the case. To damp cloths, always use water, isopropyl alcohol, or a highly diluted soap. When possible, use a clean, disposable duster such as “Swiffer Duster™” When cleaning, be careful not to accidentally adjust any knobs or controls. When cleaning the back of the computer, if anything is plugged in, make sure not to disconnect any of the plugs.   When cleaning fans, especially the smaller fans hold the fan or place something in-between the fan blades to prevent it from spinning. Spraying compressed air into a fan or cleaning a fan with a vacuum may cause damage to some fans.   ^ Back to Top Here are some household items that are useful for cleaning computers and other components. Keep in mind that some components in your computer may only be able to be cleaned using a product designed for cleaning that component, or by a professional. Cloth: A cloth is probably the best tool used when rubbing down a component; although paper towels can be used with most hardware, we recommend using a dust free “micro-fibre” cloth when ever possible.   Water or rubbing alcohol: It is best to use water or rubbing alcohol when moistening a cloth. Other solvents may damage plastics   Low Voltage, Battery Powered Vacuum – Use this to suction off dust, dirt, hair, and other particles out of a computer nooks and crannies. Pay particular attention to the ventilation ports as over time, dust can restrict airflow and cause circuitry to overheat or corrode. Do not use a standard vacuum as it can generate a lot of static electricity that can damage your computer.   Cotton swabs - Cotton swaps moistened with rubbing alcohol or water are excellent for hard to reach areas in your keyboard, mouse, and other locations.   Foam swabs - Whenever possible, it is better to use lint-free swabs such as foam swabs.   Disposable Dusters. These are a real godsend, and are convenient for keeping your computer really clean when used frequently. They require no liquid but will attract and trap dust and debris. The dusting pad can simply be thrown out. NEVER use a conventional duster (feather, synthetic, wool, etc.), as these actually deposit dust and make your system dirtier.   ^ Back to Top Keeps the appearance of the computer looking new and helps ensure cooling ventilation to the computer. The case that houses your PC can be cleaned with a lint-free cloth that has been slightly dampened with water. For stubborn stains, add a little (very little) mild dish detergent to the cloth, and then repeat with cloth damped in water. It is recommended that you never use a solvent cleaner on plastics. Make sure all vents and air holes are hair and lint free by rubbing a cloth over the holes and vents. It is also helpful to take a vacuum around each of the hole, vents, and crevices on the computer. For this operation you may use standard vacuum when cleaning the outside vents of a computer; however, if you need to clean the inside of the computer, you must use a portable battery powered vacuum to prevent damage due to static electricity. Remember: Cleaning your motherboard requires specialized equipment and a static free area. For cleaning inside the case, please consider hiring or consulting a professional service technician. ^ Back to Top A dirty CD-ROM drive or other disc drive can cause read errors with CD discs. These read errors could cause software installation issues or issues while running the program. To clean the CD-ROM drive we recommend purchasing a CD-ROM cleaner from your local retailer. Using a CD-ROM cleaner should sufficiently clean the CD-ROM laser from dust, dirt, and hair. Read your manual to ensure that this will not void your warranty. ^ Back to Top Dirty CDs can cause read errors or the CDs to not work at all. Cleaning CDs should be done with a CD cleaning kit but can also be done with a normal clean cotton cloth or shirt. When doing this with a clean cotton cloth or shirt, wipe from the middle of the CD towards the outer side of the CD. Never wipe in circles with the tracks (orbiting the centre), doing so may scratch the CD and render it unreadable. It is recommended when cleaning a CD that water is used. However, if the substance on a CD cannot be removed using water, pure alcohol can also be used. Additionally, always store your CD’s in their cases or in protective sleeves. This will keep them dust and scratch free. ^ Back to Top Dirty read/write heads on the floppy drive can cause errors during the reading and/or writing process. We recommended either purchasing a kit designed to clean the read/write heads on your floppy drive, or hiring a professional technician to clean these drives. ^ Back to Top Hard drives are sealed and do not need to be cleaned physically; they can be cleaned with various utilities on the computer to help it run fast and more efficiently. Utilizing these utilities will help your hard drive run optimally. ^ Back to Top General Cleaning: Dirt, dust and hair can build up causing the keyboard to not function properly. Additionally, keyboards can get very dirty especially if used by many people, kids or if they are located in a public space. First, turn it upside down and give it a good shake. This will remove any large particles, paperclips etc. Then use a can of pressurized air with a very long nozzle. Aim the air between the keys and blow away all of the dust and debris that has gathered there. A vacuum cleaner can also be used, but be sure the keyboard doesn't have loose "pop off" keys before attempting this, otherwise you may loose keys. Cleaning after a Spill: If the keyboard has something spilt into it, not taking the proper steps can cause the keyboard to be destroyed: Turn the computer off immediately Quickly flip the keyboard over helping to prevent the substance from penetrating circuits While the keyboard is upside down, shake the keyboard on a surface you do not mind getting wet or that can be cleaned up later. While still upside down, use a cloth to help clean out what can be reached. Once the keyboard has been cleaned the best it can, leave the keyboard upside down for at least one night. If the substance was sugary, this may not be sufficient. If a keyboard does not work after having a substance spilt into it, it is recommended that it be replaced.   Disinfecting a Keyboard Because many people don’t have good hand washing and hygiene practices, a keyboard that is used by multiple people, such as students or different employees, should be disinfected to help avoid the spread of germs.   To Disinfect, turn off the computer. Spray a disinfectant onto a cloth or damp a cloth with alcohol and rub each of the keys on the keyboard. Never spray any type of liquid onto the keyboard.   ^ Back to Top Cleaning a laptop requires some special treatment. Follow the same steps as in the desktop section but be aware of these important exceptions: As always, it is recommended that the computer first be turned off and unplugged. With a laptop it is also important to remove the battery.   When cleaning vents on the laptop, be aware of small fans. Air currents created by vacuums and compressed air can cause these fans to over spin, damaging or destroying the fan motor. To help prevent this issue place something in-between the fan blades such as slip of paper, or toothpick. Be careful to not insert any object too far, or to lose it inside the case.   Cleaning a laptop keyboard is different from the standard computer keyboard. Don’t invert and shake the keyboard unless you have spilt something on the computer. Laptop keyboards are very fragile, therefore if using compressed air, do not insert the tube under the keys, keep it 1-2 inches above the surface of the keyboard and aim between the keys. Better yet use the slightly damp cloth you used to clean the exterior case of the laptop.   Never invert or shake the laptop while it is running. When you shake a laptop, you are also shaking the hard drive. If you do spill liquid into the laptop, turn the laptop off, invert it with its screen open onto a towel, and get it to a service technician as soon as possible.   When cleaning the touch pad use a slightly damp cloth, but don’t apply too much pressure. Never dig around the touch pad with a sharp object (such as a knife, screwdriver or paperclip), instead use a dry, soft toothbrush to gently flick debris out of cracks.   Because of the internal complexity of a laptop, consult an authorized repair centre for anything beyond regular cleaning.   ^ Back to Top Unlike a computer monitor, the LCD is not made of glass, therefore requires special cleaning procedures.   When cleaning the LCD screen, it is important to remember to not spray any liquids onto the LCD directly, do not use a paper towel as it may cause the LCD to become scratched.   To clean the LCD screen we recommend that you use a soft cotton cloth. If a dry cloth does not completely clean the screen you can apply rubbing alcohol to the cloth and wipe the screen with the damp cloth. Rubbing alcohol is actually used to clean the LCD before it leaves the factory. ^ Back to Top The monitor screen can be cleaned with ordinary household glass cleaner. Be sure to turn off power from the monitor and spray the cleaner onto a lint-free cloth so the fluid doesn't leak into the electrical components inside the monitor. Vacuum off any dust that has settled on top of the monitor, and make sure no books or papers have been placed on the air vents. Obstructed monitor vents can cause the monitor to overheat or even catch on fire.   ^ Back to Top A dirty optical or mechanical mouse (mouse with a ball) can cause the mouse to be difficult to move as well as cause strange mouse movement. The best way to keep your mouse clean is to purchase a proper mouse pad, and regularly wipe it with a damp cloth to ensure that it is dust and grime free.   For a mechanical mouse you must remove the bottom cover of the mouse. To do this, examine the bottom of the mouse to see which direction the mouse cover should be rotated. Pressing in gently and rotating the cover in the direction of the arrows will remove most mouse covers. Once the bottom cover and the ball are removed, you should be able to see three rollers located within the mouse. Use a cotton swab, your finger, and/or fingernail and move in a horizontal direction of the rollers. Usually, there will be a small line of hair and or dirt in the middle of the roller, remove this dirt and/or hair as much as possible. Clean the ball with a damp cloth and replace it within the mouse. Close and lock the cover.   For an optical mouse, attempt to clean the lens area with compressed air or a vacuum. Do not touch the lens or the LCD prism. Damaging these components can permanently stop the mouse form working. ^ Back to Top Because of numerous types of printers, different steps in cleaning printers, and printer manufacturer policies on cleaning the inside of the printer, we recommend you consult your manufacturer’s instructions. ^ Back to Top Flatbed scanners can become dirty with dust, fingerprints, and hair. To clean the outside of the scanner, the same towel or cotton cloth that you used for cleaning your computer case can be used. To clean a flatbed scanner's surface, spray a window cleaner onto a paper towel or clean cotton cloth and wipe the glass until clean. Never spray a liquid directly onto the component. ^ Back to Top Computer Trends makes no representations about the suitability of the information contained in this document for any purpose. All such documents are provided "AS IS" without warranty of any kind. ^ Back to Top