Policies and Guidelines

Performing Computer Maintenance

Last Updated: January 11, 2010
Reviewed: January 11, 2010

Purpose

To maximize individual and departmental use of computer resources, each department must have a plan to perform maintenance on their computers. Performing routine maintenance on your system will:

  • Optimize performance of desktop and server computing resources
  • Ensure network security and minimize disruptions to other campus organizations

Scope

Departmental management, technology staff, and users.

Computer Maintenance Checklist

Below is an itemized list of tasks that, at a minimum, should be performed regularly on each computer system:

  1. Back up data (See "Backing Up and Recovering Data").
    • Refer to your department's risk assessment to determine back-up schedule.
    • Recommended: daily or weekly, with two back-up sets
  2. Run operating system updates (See "Updating Software").
    • Recommended: daily, at a time when the computer is turned on
  3. Run systems performance utilities (i.e. Disk Defragmenter).
    • Recommended: each semester
  4. Check Microsoft's web site for software updates and patches (See "Updating Software").
    1. Go to www.microsoft.com/office and click on "Check Updates."
    2. Go to the UH IT home page for "newsflashes."

      NOTE: You may need the software CD or other media to install the update. You may also need Administrator Permissions to update the software. If you need help, contact your IT Support person, or call the Help Desk.
    • Recommended: monthly
  5. For other software being used, check software vendor's web site to see if there are any updates and patches available (See "Updating Software").
    • Recommended: monthly

      NOTE: You may need the software CD or other media to install the update. You may also need Administrator Permissions to update the software. If you need help, contact your IT Support person, or call the Help Desk.
  6. Ensure physical security of equipment (i.e. emergency repair disk, location, physical security, data backup sets, environmental condition, etc.) (See "Securing Equipment").
    • Recommended: monthly

Guidelines