Your Computer's Two Worst Enemies - Comments Page 1

what about the large desktop USB Drives. I see they all have air vents too.

While most of the readers can get a new keyboard for $10, some live in far-away countries, where getting a non-standard keyboard is a lot more expensive, time-consuming, or both; think "Getting an AZERTY keyboard in Paraguay" for instance.
Which is why I have several times used the dishwasher, with complete success:
- First a good rub with washing-up brush and liquid; rinse.
- Put in dishwasher, for a "Rinse" cycle, no soap.

- Leave on edge in the sun for several days.
Up to now, has worked every time.

I got this kit:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000BSJCLY/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It was mentioned in the article about monitoring temperature. There is a free utility called "Speccy" from Piriform the same people that created "Ccleaner". It will give the temperature of your drives plus a lot of information about other components in your computer. Best of all it's free.

I don't have any suggestions, but I do have a question. Years ago, when I opened up my computer and found some tiny spiders and a cobweb inside of it. How do you keep them out? It doesn't make any difference how clean it is around one's computer, they can still sneak in to take up residency.

My optical mouse still manages to collect cat hair inside the battery compartment. Family hazard. We have cats that send SMS messages, and my DIL walked in to find her cat looking at a 'questionable' website! And yes, I have run several keyboards through the dishwasher with no ill effects. Of course, I make sure it is completely dry before reinstalling.

The two worse spots for dust to collect on the desktop is under the CPU fan on top of the heat sink and inside the power supply. One would have to have a pretty powerful vacuum to clean out either place.

And that's why I always recommend a blower, not a sucker. Use short blasts from a air can or, my preference, an oilless air compressor. (The oilless is important, some compressor inject oil in the flow to lubricate tools. It's good for them, not so good for the inside of your computer!)

Sure you can use a q-tip for the fan, and this may be necessary if the user was a smoker. (I hate cleaning smoker's computers!) But you are not going to be able to get a q-tip inside the power supply with disassembling it. (not recommended.)

And a hint: do this outside! There is sometimes an amazing amount of dust inside some computers.

Bob, excellent tips!!! Too many computer users, NEVER clean out their computers, they simply buy another one. So, silly and really not smart.

I learned, right out the shoot ... Too clean out the dirt and dust bunnies, when I got my first computer. It had an AT Board and seemed to accumulate, a lot of dust, more than dirt. I learned, where to look for "hidden" places, inside my tower, to clean it all out. I even used my vacuum with the tool brush, for safety, to clean out the stuff, at the bottom of the inside tower.

As for my keyboards, quite a few years ago and only with a corded keyboard ... I used my dishwasher, to clean them. It was always on the top rack, with the keyboard facing downward and I only used hot water. I allowed them to dry by air, for several days, before using. At that time and even now, I always have a couple of keyboards handy, when I need them. In fact, right now, I have 2 corded keyboards and 2 wireless keyboards, as extra. Nothing worse, than NOT having a back-up, when you need one. Been there, done that.

I also, kept about 4 mice extra. I always, want a corded mouse, because it can be much easier to do a "clean install" of an OS, with a corded mouse, as long as there is a PS slot, you can use. No PS slot ... Then you are good to go, with a wireless mouse, that has a USB connection.

About once a year, I also, take out my component cards and dust them off, with a microfiber cloth, where it will not disturb the gold contacts. While, these component cards are out of their slots, I then, use compressed air, to clean out the empty slots. You would be surprised, just how much those slots can get some grunge, inside of them, making the component(s) not work as well or a lot harder.

Must WARN ... If, you have a laser mouse ... Do NOT use compressed air to clean it. Should the compressed air, release any gas, it could easily ruin your mouse. The same warning goes to "dusting" out your CD-ROM or DVD-ROM ... It is so easy to get gas to release, instead of compressed air ... It will definitely, ruin your ROMs. I learned the hard way. I did use the compressed air and gas got on the laser portion of my CD-ROM, it would not read or write. I damaged the laser portion.

Must admit, I have had pet hair on my computer desk, as well as having smoked, in the past. Both of those issues, can really play havoc, on the inside of your computer. So, I have learned to open the tower and dust more frequently, to keep it as clean as possible. My Kitty Kitty goes wherever she wants to and she likes to get up on my desk, when I am at my computer. She wants me to scratch her. Listen ... Dogs have owners ... Cats have staff ... Okay?!!!

Must admit, today computer cases are so much easier to open, than in past years. Usually, all you have to do, is pull or push in a handle and it opens, for you. I really like that feature. I remember, the days when you had at least 4 screws to unscrew and that was only the outside, there were more inside. I also, tried to teach all of my family and friends, that I repaired their computers, for them ... The importance, of cleaning the inside of the computer case. Plus, I would show them how to do it, safely.

I've always kept my PC tower off the floor and have often advised friends and family to do so. But whilst I'm sure keeping pets out of the room, not smoking in the room and buying passive air filters for the room would all be beneficial, they are all easier said than done! Because most smokers I know smoke even more when they are on their computers! And if you've ever tried keeping a dog or a cat out of the room, didn't you mind the constant scratching at the door and whining?

I have a door to the computer room and my two cats know they can not come in, also I Have cleaned way to many smoke filled computers, I use a shop vac to blow the dust out also a small soft paint brush to clean the fins and fan blades. The brush works on the keyboard also. Very good article and advice. Thank you again for all your help.

There is a patented, non-toxic and biodegradable product in the market called "Cyber Clean" compound that is putty-like soft gel. Product is readily available for purchase in most e-retailers, such as amazon.com. This Cyber Clean gooey/sticky substance can be re-used multiple times. Their website (http://www.cyberclean.net/) states "Visibly removes dust and crumbs, penetrates in cavities and cleans where conventional cleaners fail" and "Simple, quick and easy to use!" It is especially effective for use on keyboards, fan screens and printed circuit boards (PCBs); after carefully using a vacuum cleaner to remove the top layer of dust and particles.
[IMHO: 1)It is not recommended to use pressurized aerosol cans, which can cause dust particles to lodge themselves further into the nooks/crannies and connector interfaces of keyboards and PCBs. 2)Vacuum cleaners can develop static electricity that electrostatic-sensitive PCB' active devices such as Integrated circuits (processors, RAM, etc.) that can incur permanent damage from.]

Thanks for that excellent article on cleanig your computer, Bob. I was slightly over due on cleaning
mine, and was glad for the timely reminder.

Have Speccy free utility previously mentioned. Tells me my CPU temp is 32 deg, but how do I tell whether this is OK or not?

I've worked on many desktop systems, and got tired of buying compressed air cans. Some systems were so filthy that I regretted even bringing them into the building.
Now, I just open the case outside and use a small electric leaf blower to blow out the dust (from several feet away, of course). Bingo - no cleanup required, no compressed air cans, no nasty stuff brought into the building. I've never had a problem using this method.

I have cleaned countless keyboards in the past and have found they are being manufactured to be easier to clean.

Many keyboards have a plastic tray that the buttons are attached to. This tray usually has an elevated section that prevents most debris from entering the inside of the keyboard where the electronics are.

The keys can be popped off with a screwdriver and once the keyboard is disassembled, the plastic tray can be hand washed in the sink. No real need to put it in the dishwasher. There may also be some metal springs that return the buttons to their upright position that can be removed and cleaned as well. Just be aware of their positions for reassembly.

The electronics of a keyboard usually consist of two or three plastic sheets with printed circuits on them and a rubber sheet with buttons that pop up and down making contact with the circuits. These can be wiped off, but be careful not to separate them. their alignment with each other is critical. And dirt rarely gets in these areas.

All of these components can be removed and the plastic housing can be hand washed. Make sure everything is completely dry before reassembling.

I would NOT recommend putting an unassembled keyboard in the dishwasher as this can trap a lot of water, especially between the circuit board sheets. You would have to wait days for it to completely dry out, if it ever did.

Disassembling a keyboard and cleaning it like this usually only requires a small phillips screwdriver and is well worth the time. Your keyboard will run like new again.

Another option your readers might be interested in if they want a really cool system that they NEVER have to clean is a mineral oil computer.

This consists of a sealed tank ~ aquarium ~ with all but the hard drive and CD drives inside and filled with mineral oil. The advantage of these are multiple.

This eliminates the need for traditional cleaning of the internal components, as dust and debris are not introduce into the system. They also run much cooler because the heat dissipates much more efficiently through the oil. As a result, the system can be greatly overclocked without fear of overheating. Lights and decorative items can also be added much like a regular aquarium and are strictly for looks.

Here is a great video that shows the build process.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtufuXLvOok

Stick some plastic stick on feet under the laptop to raise it by about 1/4 of an inch improves the airflow. As I was already using Speccy" it dropeed the temperature by approx. 5C for you US readers about 8F.

I'm finally glad to hear someone make a statement about vacuuming vs. blowing dirt out of a computer. In conjunction with the one comment from a user, yes the vacuum might not be able to get deep into some cracks but at least the vacuum will remove the bulk of the dirt so that if you absolutely have to blow some crevices in the back corner out, there won't be a cloud of smog emerging from the case. This will also reduce the amount of canned air one needs. I work for a company and it gets very expensive to constantly use cans and the shop compressed air is too forcefuly (yes it is filtered air). I finally went to a unit called Metro DataVac Electric Duster. I got one for about $55 which is quickly paid for by not buying the cans.

@Dean ... Thank you, so much for the link to seeing a Sealed Fish Tank Aquarium Computer, filled with Mineral Oil!!!

I was totally fascinated with the whole idea. I do know, that oil or coolant, does cool down heated components. I worked in surgery and knew to slowly, squirt water, in a syringe, on the high speed dental drills or the drills that needed to go through heavy, thick bones.

Also, my Hubby was a machinist, for over 40 years, and I learned real quick like, when we were first married, to keep his work clothes ... AWAY from the regular clothes!!! The stick and oil was unbelievable. Of course, that was over 50 years ago and today's machine shop coolant, in the machinist world, is so much different. It is a "lighter" oil and hardly, has any smell.

I am STILL trying to "wrap" this concept, in the videos. I do NOT doubt doing this, it just seems strange ... Really strange. :O)

I have to disagree with you Bob. The number one worst enemy of your computer is the users of it.

They do far more damage than heat or dust.