When do I know when it is time for maintenance on the computer?

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  1. Posts : 13,896
    Win10 Version 22H2 Pro and Home, Win11 Pro and Home
       #11

    One clue as to needing cleaning is the noise produced by the fans as the heat builds up. I have one computer with a finned heatsink that starts a whine went it's getting plugged up, time to clean. I'm a bit sensitive to high-pitched sound, used to have Western Union/Teletype machines about 4 feet behind me at work and knew when the bearings in them needed servicing before the technicians did.
      My Computers


  2. Posts : 4,594
    Windows 10 Pro
       #12

    You should be maintaining your PC all the time
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  3. Posts : 1,750
    Windows 10 Pro
       #13

    udidwht said:
    I use Swiffer dry sheets and cover all my intake vents. Keeps the majority of dust out of the PC.
    What about temps inside your system?
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  4. Posts : 23,014
    Win 10 Home ♦♦♦19045.4239 (x64) [22H2]
       #14

    Renault R35 said:
    Thank you for pointing out, I will take a look at it. Don't know if I can open the case myself. This will also remind me to keep my room clean and often cleaning and dust off.

    - - - Updated - - -

    Now you are mentioning cables, I want to do some cable management. But don't know how. I'm wanting to work those cables away nice, tidy and clean. I don't know if the dust can get out ofthe case, I will see.

    - - - Updated - - -

    So, some components could need to be replaced every once in a while? Interesting...



    Working on and inside computers is like adult Legos. It's not that hard.
    Probably the safest way to learn is on an old but working computer.

    Then you can practice things like taking it apart, cleaning it, moving cables, etc., and if worse comes to worst... no great loss.
    In the long run, you'll save hundreds or thousands of dollars, doing things yourself.

    It's up to you ofc, but for most computers, all you need is a Philips head screwdriver, an LED flashlight, and some patience.
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  5. Posts : 68
    Windows 10 Pro 64bit 22H2 19045.3996
       #15

    x509 said:
    What about temps inside your system?
    At idle 34c -37c
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  6. Posts : 372
    Windows 10 Home: 21H1 (OS Build 19043.1586)
       #16

    Please do not use compressed air cans to clean your computer


    Hi Renault R35,

    In addition to the other good advice in this thread, excluding the use of environmentally harmful compressed air for cleaning machines, here are some good precautionary practices and considerations for you to consider during maintenance.

    1. Always disconnect from the mains before opening your machine as an important safety precaution. Be careful if you handle the power supply as it holds a potent electrical charge for some time after switching off.

    2. Earth yourself to release any static electricity that your body & clothing holds. You do this by simply touching the metal chassis of the casing. Some folk go to the trouble of clipping one end of a cable to the chassis and the other end to the metal frame of something like a table. But the latter is not essential. Just be sure to touch the chassis and that will work fine.

    The reason that earthing is important is to reduce the risk of damaging any internal components by static electricity discharging from your body that you may accidentally touch before before earthing yourself. Many components are highly sensitive and can easily be damaged. I am not saying that damage always occurs, but it certainly can, so reducing that risk is a good move and best practice.

    You can also use an Anti-static wristband, as many professionals do, like this lot here. They are extremely cheap to buy and a good 'insurance policy'. There are also Anti-Static Mats and even an Anti-Static Gun available, though more for professional use. You can also use Anti-Static wrist band wearables for permanent use - no more electro-static shocks from car doors, etc.

    3. When removing dust, it is also best practice to remove the computer, ideally, somewhere safe outside (not raining, for example). The reason is simple. Blowing dust just goes back into the atmosphere so, if the machine is indoors, you will find a lot of the dust you have carefully blown out back inside your machine again when you turn it on and the fan drags it in. It will also dissipate throughout your entire room and cover everything and every surface with dust.

    4. Hoovers can generate static electricity, as well as potentially damage components the hose may touch so it's best not to use them. Blowing is best. If you do use a hoover, earthing yourself is essential. You can also earth your machine.

    5. It is best to prevent the fan blades from spinning when you blow air into them to clean them. This prevents any damage. Use some harmless implement wrapped in a soft cloth and slip it carefully in between the blades to lock them. A small screwdriver with a cloth is ideal and doesn't get in the way as you clean.

    6. Though already mentioned, maintaining a dust free environment indoors where your machine is located is essential. Someone mentioned that carpets contribute to dust, and they most certainly do. The ideal environment for a computer is in a room with washable floors and surfaces. A quick mopping with a dryish mop is very fast and, done frequently, has an amazing effect on minimising dust, slowing down your machine's ingestion of dust by at least 80%. Scatter rugs are great as they can be shaken off outside and look awesome.

    7. Finally, compressed air is actually damaging to the environment. Cans of compressed air do not just contain air from the environment. The problem is that gases used in these cans of “compressed air”, like tetrafluoroethane, are powerful greenhouse gasses.

    In reality, the “compressed air” inside the can is liquefied gases like 1,1-difluoroethane, 1,1,1-trifluoroethane, or 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane.

    The silver speck of the “compressed air” industry (I can’t call it a silver lining – there are still so many problems with the product) is that the gases, like tetrafluoroethane, used nowadays no longer deplete the ozone layer (i.e., they are considered to have zero ODP – ozone depletion level).

    Some “compressed air” companies even dare to go as far in their marketing to say they are “eco-friendly” because they are ozone-safe.
    Tetrafluoroethane, for example, will remain in the atmosphere, trapping heat, for 50,000 years.

    People only continue to use cans of compressed air because they are unaware of this serious downside.

    Fortunately, there are much better alternatives to compressed air though, just as efficient, and cheaper in the long run:

    A. Electric Blower Dusters such as these. These are simply amazing devices though not cheap. If money is no object, brilliant. Actually a very good long-term investment for cleaning anything valuable, keyboards, etc., even car engine components. Years of great value, and well worth the initial outlay.

    B. Manual Hand Pumps such as these. These are awesome and do the job really well and they cost peanuts. Plus, no ongoing replacement cost such as with compressed air. Highly recommended. No damage to the environment.

    C. Foot Pumps such as these. A great choice and, again, no damage to the environment.

    Nobody needs to use harmful canned compressed air to maintain their computers.

    Ideas like these will help to give you confidence in maintaining your machine as well as give you some great tips to pass on to others, especially with regard to keeping the environment as safe as your computer. I hope that you will find them of some interest and assistance.

    And thank you very much for showing that you care about the environment if you use one of the three safe options listed above. Good on you!

    Christophe
    Last edited by CMArbres; 05 Feb 2022 at 09:13.
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  7. Posts : 21,421
    19044.1586 - 21H2 Pro x64
       #17

    I like to keep my chassis grounded, so I keep the AC plugged into a power strip and turn the power strip off when cleaning, so there is no live AC in the PC, just live earth ground. This way my vacuum cleaner static has a path to earth ground.
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  8. Posts : 372
    Windows 10 Home: 21H1 (OS Build 19043.1586)
       #18

    steve108 said:
    I like to keep my chassis grounded, so I keep the AC plugged into a power strip and turn the power strip off when cleaning, so there is no live AC in the PC, just live earth ground. This way my vacuum cleaner static has a path to earth ground.
    Unfortunately, this does not resolve the problem of any internal components being damaged by static electricity discharges from your body and clothing because those components that are sensitive to such discharges are insulated from the chassis by design to protect them. EG: expensive graphics cards, memory sticks, CPU, etc. So, whereas the chassis itself might be earthed, and any components in direct contact with it, such as drives, power supply, etc., the vulnerable components mentioned that are insulated from the chassis are not. They will still be potentially damaged if hit by static charges.

    Earthing the chassis must be accompanied by earthing your body. It is the body that discharges potentially damaging electro-static current, not the chassis. The latter is its own earth. That is why touching the chassis is effective. The chassis, earthed already, negates the static current discharged by the body when touched.

    It is not the body that earths the chassis when touched but the other way around.

    Christophe
      My Computers


  9. Posts : 6,247
    Windows 11 Pro - Windows 7 HP - Lubuntu
       #19

    AddRAM said:
    You should be maintaining your PC all the time
    Agree.
    There are two kinds of maintenance: Hardware and Software
    Many has suggested to do dust cleaner once a year. I have dust filters on all air intakes. I do a dust cleaning when the heat sink begins to get clogged. I use a vacuum cleaner with some precautions to avoid electrical discharges.
    I do a software cleaning and backup every Friday.
    Every Friday I connect my backup drive and boot from it. Then I delete all temp files on the main drive and then synchronize my user folder with one on the backup drive.
    I have to mention that I have drive images (Win 7 and Win 10).
    Any drive, HDD or SSD, may fail without a warning so backups are a MUST HAVE and they must be up to date as possible.
    Last edited by Megahertz; 05 Feb 2022 at 09:49.
      My Computers


  10. Posts : 372
    Windows 10 Home: 21H1 (OS Build 19043.1586)
       #20

    Megahertz said:
    Agree.
    There is two kinds of maintenance: Hardware and Software
    Many has suggested to do dust cleaner once a year. I have dust filters on all air intakes. I do a dust cleaning when the heat sink begins to get clogged. I use a vacuum cleaner with some precautions to avoid electrical discharges.
    I do a software cleaning and backup every Friday.
    Every Friday I connect my backup drive and boot from it. Then I delete all temp files on the main drive and then synchronize my user folder with one on the backup drive.
    I have to mention that I have drive images (Win 7 and Win 10).
    Any drive, HDD or SSD, may fail without a warning so backups are a MUST HAVE and they must be up to date as possible.
    Sage counsel right there!


    Christophe
      My Computers


 

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