Although there's not a great deal of effort that needs to be performed on a computer system in the way of maintenance, there are a few things that can be very helpful in preventing a premature or avoidable hardware failure.

Obviously, today's computer components are very reliable. Often times, by the time a motherboard, hard drive, memory module or any other component fails, it's either time for an upgrade, or it's not cost effective to try and repair the faulty item. To stay up to date with the current performance levels of the state of the art systems, one would need to literally upgrade ever few months. Most people of course can't afford this, and don't need to have the fastest system possible. Therefore it's necessary to keep what you do have running well for it's life expectancy.

Causes of Failures:

* Excessive Heat - One of the worst things to subject any electronic component to is excessive heat. Most electronics can perform well at fairly high temperatures, but if they're rated limitations are surpassed, failures are very likely. Make sure when you install you're system, you put it in a well ventilated area. Also, any fans, including the CPU fan, should be checked regularly to ensure they are performing as they should be. Fans not cleaned occassionally can fail due to massive amounts of dust buildup. A high performance system can usually benefit from adding additional cooling fans to the case. Also, the case should be opened several times a year, and all the dust blown out with compressed air. Cans of compressed air are available at most computer supply stores, as well as many other outlets, including hardware and some department stores. Always check all wiring for secure connections while the case is open. The air can also be blown through the fans to free dust. If you open your case, be sure to ground yourself by touching the chassis of the case, while it is plugged in to the wall to discharge any static electricity buildup. Be very careful not to touch any areas of voltage. If you feel uncomfortable doing this, please consult a professional.

* Vibration - Many people might not think of vibration being a major concern with computers, but it can be an extremely important concern. The slightest vibration over extended periods, can and will cause failures, but probably even more often, will cause cables to become lose, chips to become unseated in their sockets, and cards to slowly dislodge from a motherboard slot. When the case is open for cleaning, that is the time to check all connections. To avoid vibrations, make sure you computer is installed on a solid surface. Sometimes even an area that would appear to be adequate, can allow the case to transmit a very slight vibration throughout the system, eventually causing problems. Some people like to place their case on a mat manufactured just for this problem.

* Moisture - This should be assumed, but it doesn't mean just water directly on the electronics, an area with extremely high humidity, can cause electronic components to fail. This is why very expensive and powerful mainframe computers, data centers, and large scale servers are usually installed in a climate controlled environment. Most homes should be adequate, but if you know you have excessive humidity, you may want to move your system, or run a dehumidifier.

* Power Supply - In the United States, home computers run on 120 volts of ac (alternating current) voltage. Usually just plugging the power supply line cord in to the wall outlet is all that is needed to get your system up and running perfectly. However, there are things that sometimes people don't take into consideration. If you put the computer on a circuit that is heavily loaded with other household electric devices, there can be times when the power fluctuates greatly. Usually the switching power supply in the computer itself, can compensate for these fluctuations. Other times, a UPS (Interruptible Power Supply) is required. The basic UPS is reasonable priced, and if needed, is money very well spent. There are times when very irregular, undiagnosable  problems can be attributed to faulty power. If there's any question, the computer owner should invest in a UPS. These also serve

as surge protectors to stop any high voltage spikes that could cause substantial damage to the computer. A good UPS can usually prevent lightning strikes from damaging the system by failing internally, causing there to be an incomplete path of current flow.

These are some of the primary areas of concern to keep your computer operating efficiently, and without failing prematurely. The adage, 'an ounce of prevention', can be applied here. Many times a power supply, motherboard, memory or other hardware component failure can be completely avoided by something as simple as blowing dust out of the fans, installing a UPS, or just sitting the computer on a mat. This can often spare the user hundreds of dollars of expense, lost data, lost time, and many headaches. Due it for your computer, but more importantly, due it for yourself.