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SPRING CLEANING…Do it yourself!

The inside of your computer(s) should be cleaned at least once each year. Depending upon your environment, your computer(s) may require cleaning twice annually or even more often if you're located in a particularly dirty environment Every minute a computer is up and running, the components inside are collecting dirt and dust as the cooling fans are constantly pulling air through the case to keep things cool.. Too much dirt and you may begin to have problems as dust collects on top of electronic components and acts like a blanket to keep heat from dissipating them. Also, dust and dirt inside of your CD-ROM, floppy and tape drives may case these devices to function improperly or not function at all!

You can always call your technician to do the cleaning for you, but you can just as easily do it yourself and you'll be learning something about your computer at the same time. It's easy, BUT you must be careful. Here's the step-by-step procedure. Read through it completely BEFORE you attempt the procedure!!

Tools required:
  • A Phillips-head screwdriver or the appropriate tool which will allow you to remove the screws holding the cover to the frame of the case.
  • A vacuum cleaner with hose and plastic (not metal) crevice tool that has the ability to blow air out of the hose, as well as suck it in. If you don't have such an animal, cans of compressed air which are available from us will do just fine.
Cleaning procedure:
  1. Before you unplug the power cord from the case, press the 'on/off' button as if you were going to boot the computer. Immediately press the EJECT button once on your CD-ROM drive so that the tray slides out and stays out. Immediately press the 'on/off' button again to turn the machine off. Now, remove the power cord and all of the cables plugged into the back of the computer. Don't freak out that you may not remember where to plug them back in when you're ready to power up again. Most cables have unique connectors that will only go into one place, but if you find it reassuring, take pieces of masking tape, and mark them with numbers. Affix one piece of tape to each cable, then use a pencil or a Sharpie pen (also available from us) to mark the corresponding number next to the port on the computer frame from which you removed the cable.

  2. Remove the cover from the frame. Believe it or not, this can be the trickiest part of the whole routine. Most computers have three to six screws located on the back of the case that hold the cover in place. They're easy to identify…just look along the flange of the cover on the back of the case. Remove these, then remove the cover or if your case has individual cover pieces (two sides and a top), remove the two sides by sliding them toward the back. You may have to exert a bit of force to get them to move, so don't be timid.

    What, no flange? No screws? Some cases have the screws on the front of the case, hidden from view by the removable plastic faceplate. Usually these are tower cases that have an opening at the bottom where you can grip to pull the faceplate away from the frame. Once removed, you'll either find the necessary screws to remove or, in some instances, no screws at all, just the flange. Remove the sides of the cover by pulling them toward you.

    Still other cases have different methods of removing the cover. Some of the IBM desktop cases require only that you lift a couple of tabs along the back top edge of the cover and then slide it toward the front. Others may have large, knurled knobs (Compaq) along the back flanges that probably won't require a screwdriver to remove.

  3. CAUTION! Static discharge will damage sensitive electronic components. You don't have to be concerned about getting shocked by touching something inside of your computer…it's very low, DC voltage (except inside of the power supply which is protected by its own cover and is not accessible without removing it from the case and then removing its cover). What you MUST AVOID IS YOU BEING THE "SHOCKER"! That is, be sure you have grounded yourself first so that you don't cause a static discharge from your body to one of the electronic components inside. Ground yourself by touching any metal part of the frame first.

  4. If you're not already outside, or in a room in which it won't matter if dust and dirt get blown all over the place, then get there. Take the computer with you, along with your vacuum and/or compressed air. If you'll be using a vacuum, put the hose in the port that blows the air out and attach the crevice tool firmly to the hose.

  5. Next, turn that puppy on or grab the can of compressed air. Start by directing the airflow into the power supply fan port on the backside of the case. Whew! Your computer is filthy. Look at all of the dust hidden inside the power supply case. Now, find the louvers on the power supply case (usually on the opposite side of the fan port) and blow air into these. More dust, this time coming out through the fan port on the back of the case. Repeat this procedure several times to get all of the dust out of the power supply.

  6. Now, working from the front of the case, direct airflow into the open CD-ROM drive and through your floppy drive and any other drive openings (i.e. tape drive). More dust! Next, blow out the entire inside of the case. Pay particular attention to the fan and heatsink atop the CPU (the processor…most have a small fan and a heat dissipating device called a heatsink mounted on top of them to pull the heat away from it) as a lot of dust collects on these surfaces. Keep blowing until all of the dust is gone!

  7. That's all there is to it. You're done. BUT, before you put everything back together, now is a good time to check to make sure all of the peripheral boards (video card, sound card, network card, modem card) are firmly seated. Same goes for your data cables that connect your CD-ROM, hard and floppy drives to the mainboard. REMEMBER, YOU MUST GROUND YOURSELF FIRST BY TOUCHING ANY METAL PART OF THE CASE BEFORE YOU TOUCH ANYTHING ELSE. I usually put one hand on the metal frame and then exert firm, downward pressure against each card and data cable with my other hand. This way I know that I am always grounded.

    Once your are sure that everything is firmly seated (heating and cooling cause expansion and contraction that will cause cards and cables to unseat themselves), there is one final check I recommend that you make. Plug the power cord into the power supply on the back of the case. Push the 'on/off' switch once and check to make sure that any of the fans inside of the case are working properly. Some computers have both a CPU fan and an additional internal fan. This will only take a few seconds. Immediately push the 'on/off' switch again to shut the machine down.

    If you notice that any of the fans are not working or are very sluggish, you must replace them. Unless you are an experienced technician or feel very confident in your ability to work safely inside of your computer, I recommend that you contact a qualified technician for assistance. Office Helper can assist you with this if you need help. A CPU fan failure will cause your processor to overheat and you'll begin to experience system lockups and generally what we affectionately call in the business, the "blue screen of death". Don't ignore this. It will only make matters worse.

  8. With everything working properly and all of that nasty dirt and dust gone, put everything back together and plug all of the cords and cables back into their respective ports. Now you're set to go!
Thanks for being one of our EVERYTHING OFFICE subscribers and hopefully one of our clients as well. We appreciate your business very much. We know you have choices when it comes to where you purchase your home and office business products and supplies, which is why we not only offer very competitive prices, but fast, individual, personalized service that you won't find at the superstores!

- Rich Poremba


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