Computer Cleaning Essentials...

[TubaTodd]

**Public Service Announcement by Your Friendly IT Professional***

Most people seem to forget that computers are a magnet for dust. The fans that whirl will suck in dust particles constantly and those dust particles will accumulate. Dust can cake onto vital parts and cause damage. The damage can be as simple as a burned out fan or as life threatening as starting a fire. So take some time this weekend or the next to do some simple computer cleaning. It could save your life.....or at least extend the life of your machine. The instructions below are for "standard" towers/desktops. The modern all-on-one units like the laptops, iMacs and the like are a can of worms that is best left to the pros.

Supplies:

Phillips-head Screw driver
Can(s) of Compressed air (or air compressor*)
Spray bottle filled 1/2 91% isopropyl alcohol and 1/2 distilled water
Clean lint free cloth (old t-shirt [in decent shape] will do)
Common Sense!!

1. Ground yourself. Static and electronics are fierce enemies. Make sure you have discharged any extra static ELSEWHERE.....not into the computer.
2. Disconnect all of your peripherals from your computer (ie mouse, keyboard, monitor, etc) and remove the power plug from the back of the computer as well.
3. Place the computer on a table top
4. Remove one of the side panels to get to the inside. For most manufacturers, the access panel is the left panel, as viewed from the front. Depending on your model of computer, you may have to remove 2 screws on the back or press some release buttons. Your side panel will slide off or swing out. You should now have a view something like this....

dusty-pc-01.jpg

5. Ideally, we'd like to remove the front bezel of the machine, but depending on your particular model that may be a pain. Some models you can simply tug off and others you have to either remove screws or press release buttons. Use your best judgement.
5. Upon inspection of the inside you may see some dust bunnies the size of actual bunnies. These pieces should be removed gently with your fingers or with a small piece of that old t-shirt.
6. Depending on the volume of dust you have, you may want to bring the machine outside for this step. Using your can(s) of compressed air (or air compressor*), blow out the inside of the case. You will likely get a cloud of dust so you may want to use a mask or just tuck you nose and mouth into your shirt. Keep using short bursts to loosen the dust. Blow the air into the fans, inside the power supply and all around the case.
7. On the outside of the case you will want to use the compressed air to clear out all of your ports on the back and flush out any dust on the front. This may blow some dust back into the case. Just go back and blow out the inside some more.
8. Eventually you won't see much dust inside the case and very little movement of dust particles. Everything should look relatively (99%) dust free.
9. At this point, check for any wires in the case that appear to be loose. Push the cables firmly into the back of the drives and into their slots in the motherboard. It's normal to see some extra dangling power supply wires.
10. Put the side and front panels back on and fasten any screws you may have removed.
11. Take another piece of that old t-shirt and lightly mist it with the water/alcohol spray bottle.
12. Wipe down the outside surfaces with the lightly dampened cloth.

**TIP**

I highly recommend using this water/alcohol combination to clean the surfaces of your keyboard and mouse regularly. Yick!

13. Put your machine back together
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* So why the asterisk? Well, some folks will argue that the air coming out of an air compressor has small quantities of oil in the air stream. I have no idea. While that may be true, there are plenty of folks who use an air compressor to clean out PC's. It's your call.
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