Computer Cleaning

My friend Steve reminds me from time to time that it is time to clean the inside of my computer. You may or may not be aware that dust and other odds and ends are sucked inside the case by the case fans. Dust can cause your computer to run hot. Heat is the great computer killer. I actually have a small air compressor that I use to “clean” my computer. Along with other odds and ends like a toothbrush and q-tips. You can always buy compressed air and use that if you don’t have an air compressor. Some things that can cause a computer to accumulate excess dust are inside pets (hair), smoking, grease, and/or smoke (from cooking). Basically anything that occurs in your house that causes excess dust and smoke. Having a computer sit on the floor instead of a desk is also not a good thing. If your computer is on the floor, you should move it. I ran across a link that shows the inside of a computer that had never been cleaned. Have a look:http://picasaweb.google.com/ricapar9x/DisgustingComputer?authkey=vGvvyDFgceU

If you have had your computer a year or more and have never dusted the inside, you should. If your computer is still under warranty, you may not want to. Many vendors will consider their warranty void if that sticker is removed. Usually it says on the sticker “void if removed” or words to that effect. But most vendors only warrant their product for a year, unless you bought an extended warranty. When Steve and I clean my computer, we actually take it outside. No use blowing all the dust inside the computer back into the house. If you decide to give your computer a good cleaning, put your finger on any fan blades to prevent them from spinning while you are blowing air across them. Fans are built to spin at a certain rpm. If blowing air across them causes them to spin faster than that, it could damage them. Other than that, just blast away!

Major Causes of Overheating
Among the primary causes of computer overheating are the PC’s components themselves, poorly ventilated environment, direct sunlight and dust. Dust build-up can insulate components, compromise their ability to cool off, and cause them to burn up. Unfortunately, in addition to cooling your PC, your computer’s internal cooling fans also manage to suck a fair amount of the dusk that has settled into the immediate environment. A big pile of dust of can also attract moisture, causing a deadly combination of liquid and filth that can corrode the metal parts inside your computer. If you keep your PC in a climate-controlled environment, you don’t have much to worry about. All you need to do is conduct a thorough annual dusting and cleaning to protect your PC against dust buildup. If you’re in a heavily trafficked area such as an office, workshop or living room, it pays to dust and clean every few months. It’s best to keep the computer up off the floor so dust and dirt from the floor or carpet isn’t pulled in. This is especially critical if you have pets with hair, fur or feathers in the area. (I copied this from CNET)