housekeeping question

[BeanMak]

Do any of you folks take apart your pc and clean the inside? I am imagining that with 3 cats and a dog, not to mention a son who smokes by the puter, that the inside is so gunked up with dust and dirt that it is laboring and wheezing

Am I just being a nut case?

 

[sandyb]

Yes, it's a good idea to get in there once in a while and tidy things up. I have been known to vacuum it before, on a low power. Certainly blowing dust out is worthwhile.

If things get very dusty in there, heat can build up, and that is not good for the sensitive electronics. Plus the mechanical bits like fans don't function as well if they're clogged up.

 

[Michael0701]

sandyb is right, a good cleaning every now and then is quite necessary. But I wouldn't vacuum with just any old vac (there are static issues when comming into contact with components), rather I would reccomend using a "dustbuster" compressed air can available anywhere you can buy computer supplies. Just blow the dust away, paying close attention to the cpu heatsink and motherboard.

 

[BeanMak]

Thanks, that will Saturday's spring cleaning job!

 

[Christmasguy]

Is it better to vaccum the dust out or just blow the dust out with a can of air?

 

[paulewog]

or get a big fan or even just blow on it.

I'veh ad some problems with my video card's cpu fan thingy, it gets so much dust in there that it stops spinning very well and then the card overheats and my computer doesn't turn on very well, hehe

 

[S Walch]

Yes. Cleaning out PC is good idea.

I prefer to use a dust-cloth myself - instead of blowing the dust off - because all that does is put it somewhere else other than outside the PC

 

[paulewog]

Well as long as it's not in my computer, I don't really care much

(hehe)

 

[Michael0701]

I stole this from another website, I hope it helps.

"Motherboard and Interior Components
Within USD253 cleaning of interior components must be done by trained personnel.
Dust and especially cigarette smoke can build up and corrode electronic components. Excessive dust build up can cause overheating of sensitive components.

Procedure: The interior, unshielded electronic internal components are VERY SENSITIVE to static electricity. A small charge that can't even be felt is strong enough to wreck a system board. Proper use of an anti-static wrist strap is essential. . Be sure to turn off and unplug the computer before working inside the case.

An easy method of cleaning the interior boards of dust, dirt, or hair is use of the compressed air cans easily available at Wal-Mart, computer stores and office supply stores. When using compressed air remember to always hold it in the upright position otherwise chemical propellants may blow out of the container on to the circuits. Also blow the dust or dirt away from the motherboard, or out of the case. Even though it gets really dirty, do not open the power supply housing - the high voltage capacitors hold a deadly charge.

A superior alternative to compressed air is use of a special vacuum designed for electronic components. This can effectively remove the dust dirt and hair from the motherboard completely and prevent it from getting trapped within the case. When using the vacuum it is vital that you stay a couple inches away from the motherboard and all other components to help prevent contact as well as to help prevent anything from being sucked into the vacuum. Insure that you do not remove any small components with the vacuum such as jumpers.

When cleaning cooling fans with compressed air prevent them from spinning. This helps prevent dust from being forced into the bearings, shortening their life."

 

[paulewog]

out of curiosity, has ANYONE ever killed their computer through static electricity? I never have, and I don't use a wrist strap or anything - I generally try to not be in socks on carpet, and touch the side of the case (metal), but I've never discharged anything....

 

[Susan]

Blah. I ruined 2 486s that way (or at least that's the best way I can figure how it happened: I did everything else right and the repairs on both should have worked)

One tip on static: if you live in a dry climate like Southern California or Arizona, forget about doing any computer repairs during the summer or the Santa Ana winds. Wait until it is cool and humid.

 

[paulewog]

/me wonders why humidity helps, because water (which is what humidity is) conducts electricity.....

/me is just careful, he guesses.

Oh yeah, I generally try not to touch much that isn't green on a circuit board. Who knows why.

Hey, who here NEVER touches the data part of a cd

 

[pinPoint]

yep yep! I usually do that to my pc. once in a while it makes me feel that my pc is doing well just like a child after a wash. well sort of!

 

[paulewog]

don't use soap though

 

[Michael0701]

paulewog,

the humidity issue is a static thing. For some scientific reason, dry air (notice I said air, you are right in thinking that water spilled onto a pc would fry it) is a catalyst for static. At work our sensors go whacko this time of the year from the dry winter air to the point where the building engineers pump steam through the ventilation system to bring the humidity up.

 

[paulewog]

But the water/moisture in teh air that makes humidity actualyl helps? That's kinda strange, hehe. Oh well. I haven't taken ALL of physics yet

And it's not humid very much in CA unless it rains, then it's really humid

 

[sandyb]

Static shocks are caused by a buildup of charge (electrons staying in the same place, hence why it's called static) getting suddenly released. From what I understand, dampness helps this buildup to flow safely to earth before it builds up to be strong enough to do damage.

Oh, thanks for the comment about holding fans still, I don't normally do that... Though I do take precausions when doing the vacuum bit- the airflow is strong enough that a large gap can get left between the compenents and the vacuum hose/hands.