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Cleaning a computer...

Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2007 2:53 am
by CMcguire
How do you guys clean the inside of your computers.. for like dust and such?

Re: Cleaning a computer...

Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2007 3:29 am
by Major_A
21 gallon air compressor set to 40 PSI. If I'm somewhere else and the computer is a nightmare I use a wand attachment on a vacuum.

Re: Cleaning a computer...

Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2007 5:52 am
by KnightRid
soap and water

Mike

:mrgreen: :mrgreen:

I use a portable air tank ( not compressor ) and take the computer outside and have at it.

Make sure to get the heatsinks clean - they hold a LOT of dust inside those ribs.

Re: Cleaning a computer...

Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2007 8:41 am
by Bio-Hazard
Portable compressor, it makes life so much easier.

Re: Cleaning a computer...

Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2007 1:33 pm
by Dragon_Cooler
I have always just used canned air!

Re: Cleaning a computer...

Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2007 2:46 pm
by dgood
canned air and then a brush vaccum tip on lower setting to just pick the rest up that you spray off.

Re: Cleaning a computer...

Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2007 3:43 pm
by Apoptosis
CMcguire wrote:How do you guys clean the inside of your computers.. for like dust and such?
upgrade or change cases ;)

Re: Cleaning a computer...

Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2007 5:01 pm
by skier
KnightRid wrote:soap and water

Mike

:mrgreen: :mrgreen:

I use a portable air tank ( not compressor ) and take the computer outside and have at it.

Make sure to get the heatsinks clean - they hold a LOT of dust inside those ribs.

soap and water!! every time i use that i always get tons of streaks all over the place and makes it look ten times worse

personally i use an air compressor, its a 150 PSI twin cyclinder beast, i put the computer on like a chair outside and keep blowing air until NO more dust comes out

Re: Cleaning a computer...

Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2007 5:48 pm
by Major_A
skierkid450 wrote:personally i use an air compressor, its a 150 PSI twin cyclinder beast, i put the computer on like a chair outside and keep blowing air until NO more dust comes out
There's a reason I use 40 PSI. One, you can knock stuff off of the motherboard/other parts with too much air pressure. Two, if you clean a fan with too much air pressure and spin it the wrong rotation you can really mess it up. On top of that if you do keep it spinning the right direction you can still mess up the bearings and create a really noisy fan.

I'm sure you knew this but I don't know about the others who just read this and use an air compressor.

Re: Cleaning a computer...

Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2007 6:24 pm
by skier
well i just kinda float the nozzle here and there, i never keep it in any specific place too long, with that much air speed you just dont need to anyway.. but now i wonder.. if i have a loud fan already and used the air to get it crankin, will it fix it?(most likely not, but who knows)

Re: Cleaning a computer...

Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2007 7:08 am
by stev
outside of the case, mild soap-n-water.

inside of the case, vacuum hose with small attachment nozzel. (Just avoid getting near any MOBO jumpers!) I attach a ground strap to the vaccum hose attachment nozzel and to the metal case.

LCD monitor, since these are NOT glass, do not use amonia nor alcohol. This could induce crazing to the screen. Mild soap-n-water will do on a slightly moist towel.
Image

Mouse, well the optical ones are very easy to clean. A few wipes with mild soap-n-water towel and it's done. Those ball mouses are a pain and require a thumb-tack to pick off the roller meshed dust bunnies.
Image

Keyboard, much like the LCD monitor, but I do vacuum the key jams since everything falls in them. Also I use the vacuum nozzel attachment that has the annular brush. Image

Re: Cleaning a computer...

Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2007 9:09 am
by jtrain
Canned air and a small cheap (unused) paintbrush. Remember to ground yourself.

Re: Cleaning a computer...

Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2007 2:32 pm
by pittviper
i use a aircompressor

Re: Cleaning a computer...

Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2007 3:11 pm
by yurchie
Haven't really had a chance to clean mine, but I've used canned air on my keyboard, which usually works really well.

Re: Cleaning a computer...

Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2007 5:23 pm
by Major_A
Canned air is a waste. It works fine for short bursts. Once you use it too long the can starts to freeze and the air pressure drops.

Here is a cheap electric air compressor that is cheaper than a 6 pack of canned air.

Re: Cleaning a computer...

Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2007 7:53 pm
by learning curve
I just use a compressor. Take the comp outside and blow it out real good.

Re: Cleaning a computer...

Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2007 4:40 pm
by toolegit2quit
Water and paper towels. I think soap just attracts more dust if any residue is left. Canned Air along the edges / hard to reach nooks (with the case door off)

Re: Cleaning a computer...

Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2007 9:52 pm
by Pesto
i actually use one of my paintball tanks and hook up an adapter i have with a hose to blow out my comp.. heh.. i have both compressed air and CO2, although the CO2 can have alot of moisture i rarely use it for anything other than cleaning the keyboard...