Spring Cleaning
Well here is a suggestion that will help your
computer. Clean it. No really I mean open it up and get the dirt and
dust bunnies out of the inside of your computer. What? You have
never opened your computer? It isn't hard you just need to be
careful when you have it open. This technique is only for desktop
and server computers, normally a laptop is sealed fairly well and
will not collect that much dust and dirt. I opened a laptop that is
about six years old that was used on a daily basis and it had very
little dust inside. The reason that laptops don't collect dirt is
they only have one small fan on the cpu and the air volume is
directed to the cpu heat sink only.
What you will need when you do your 'spring
cleaning':
- You will need an open space about 3 feet square.
- A small and a medium size paint brush, new
would be best but well cleaned and dry will work.
- A vacuumed cleaner with the long thin nozzle
- I would recommend you have an anti-static strap
(they only cost a buck or so at your local electronics store).
- Canned Air
Now you are ready to clean that computer up.
Before I tell you the secret of cleaning a computer I
will tell you why it should be done twice a year regardless of where
you live. Dirt and dust will collect inside your computer over time,
the small dust particles are attracted to heated surfaces. As the
dust settles on the surface of a component it builds up and when the
layer of dust is sufficient it creates an insulating blanket on the
component. This dust blanket will keep the heat from dissipating,
heat will eventually destroy the part. So
dust down your computer.
Ok, have all the tools? Have your computer ready?
Anti-static strap on? Open it up.
- Depending on the computer you will either have
screws or a latches to remove the cover, open the latch or remove
the screws, remove
the cover, set it aside, don't for get to clean the dust off of the
cover before replacing it.
- Before you get carried away I would advise you
to not put the nozzle of the vacuum cleaner on the top of
any components. If it is loose or can be sucked up it will go down
the hose. Keep the nozzle about 3 - 4 inches away from
parts.
- Use the paint brush to loosen the dust. On areas
where there is exposed metal of the case then you can get closer but
on the Motherboard or the other components don't get to close. Use
the small paint brush to get in to tight areas, use the bigger
brush for large areas. When you have place where the nozzle can't
pull the dust out use the canned air.
- When I clean out a power supply I use the canned
air, on one side I hold the vacuum hose and then use the canned air
on the other side to push the dust out and the vacuum will suck up
the majority of the dust.
-
Put the cover
back on, put the computer back where you normally have it, connect
up all your cables, Test, if it doesn't come back up like it
is supposed to you need to open it back up and look for loose
connections or an add-on card that came out of the slot. When you
power it up you will get a puff of dust from the power supply, this
is normal.
Now you have a clean computer that will run cooler,
and will last longer.
Other news:
Microsoft releases service pack 3 for XP, if your Automatic Updates is turned
off or failed you can download it
here. There have been sporadic reports of problems with this service pack,
but I attribute that to other factors. I have had SP3 running on computers with
out any problems for over three months.There is how ever a warning from
Symantec:
Symantec tells users: Disable protection before XP SP3 upgrade
Now says its SymProtect feature partly to blame for Windows registry corruption
Microsoft release service pack 1 for Vista, if your Automatic Updates is
turned off you can download it
here.
So far no reports of adverse effects to the service pack. Some reports indicate
that the service pack will speed up Vista. I have not installed the service pack
on any systems at this time.
Comments? Ideas? Feedback?
I'd love to hear from you. Just reply to this newsletter and tell me what you think!
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Here are some web sites that may be of interest to you:
Need help with basic system functions: Computer help - Learn how to use your computer
Ebook Guides to
Quickly Overcome Your Internet Beginner's Blues.
http://www.my-ebook-guides.com
All the best, Monte Russell Webmaster
www.diy-computer-repair.com
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