An organized computer system leads to fewer head bumps

If you want to know how often I work on my own computer system, then just look at my bald head. Each bump marks one of my fixing expeditions.

My bald head doesn’t hide the bumps and scratches I acquire while crawling under one of the two desks in my home office. I do that to reach the wires that run to three separate computers; or to mess with a UPS on the floor, or to tinker with one of the many power cords. Most times I’m down there I end up banging my head - all those bumps may explain why occasionally I seem to have an IQ somewhere between a steam locomotive and a daisy.

To keep from losing still another IQ point, I’ve worked hard to organize the maze of wiring created by the AC lines, Ethernet cables for the network, telephone lines, and various other wires that have been there so long I’ve sort of forgotten what they do.

My solution may be of use to you, even if you have a full head of hair and lack my genetic disposition toward the clumsy. So let’s talk about getting everything organized. It will make the room look neater and it will also make working on your home computers less confusing.

I’ve added a taped-on label to each wire. So I don’t have to guess anymore. There are also labels that go on connectors for the router and DSL box. So when my wife’s network connection stops working, I can quickly find the Ethernet cable labeled Mary and make sure it is snugly inserted in the router connection “Mary.”

It sounds like a small deal, but it’s turned out to be really helpful. So I suggest that you try it yourself. But there’s still more you can do to make things easier in your home. Some of this will make repairs easier. All of it will create a kinder climate with your spouse and family.

Take a tip from wiring professionals and use plastic ties to make neat bundles of wires. Wires are born with the desire to commingle with other wires and end up in an amazing tangle if left alone. By bundling the wires, you create less of a mess and also make things easier when you need to replace a wire. No tangle means no time lost in unraveling a mess that would do a fishing reel backlash proud. Plastic wire ties are easy to find at any hardware store, or order them online.

In my home, there are wires that must run across the room. That’s because, even though I have a wireless network, I’ve chosen to use cable to connect some devices directly to the router. Then, there are also the wires for the rear speakers for my home theater.

One of the great inventions of modern man is hollow plastic molding - available in an assortment of colors. It does a great job hiding wires. The molding tacks to the baseboard or wooden molding, the wires fit inside. The molding itself comes in a variety of colors and does a nice job of hiding all the wiring. You’d have to look twice to see it’s there.

That takes care of the wiring but does nothing for the mess on a computer desk. When I visit friends, I often see monitors stacked on computers, and routers and modems stacked on top of that. Add in an assortment of books, printouts, staplers and such, and you are doomed to desktop avalanches.

I use a riser that supports my monitor at just the right height and avoids putting that weight on top of the computer. It looks a lot better but also has some advantages that are more practical. Having the monitor at eye level reduces eye strain and makes working more efficient.

Next, give your gadgets breathing room. Monitors and computers create heat when operating. They need some breathing room for air to circulate so it can dissipate the heat produced by the computer. When you cram everything together, you cut into that breathing room. You’re suffocating the cooling system.

Allowing room for air to circulate will result in a cooler-running computer. That could pay off in a longer life. Heat is a true killer for computers.

While we are talking about desktop organization, let me warn you of a pitfall. Many people, in an effort to reclaim more desk surface, sit the computer on the floor.

That’s a bad idea based on a simple fact of physics. Dust is heavier than air. So it settles toward the floor. The computer’s cooling system will eventually draw in enough dust, even in the cleanest of homes, to clog the fan’s outlet and cover the computer’s motherboard.

Give all this a try in your home. With these precautions, things should look a lot better and last longer.