How to clean your PC?
The first hot days are already here and summer is knocking on the door. As the thermometer’s level is rising, the moment is approaching to clean the piled dust during the long winter and improve the cooling system’s performance. To do this you will need a screwdriver, tweezers and a can of compressed air. If you can’t aquire the latter, you can replace it with an air pump. Of course it won’t be as pleasant and comfortable, but the results are identical. Before using the can, carefully read the instruction manual, don’t tilt it more than the prescribed angle and work with quick and short sprays. It is advisable to clean outdoors or in a well-ventilated environment to ensure maximum results.
Shut down the computer, remove the power supply and then all other interface connections.
Turn the case around and check in which side the motherboard is located. Find it by looking for the ports.
Some cases have screws which can be unscrewed by hand. If yours isn’t one of them, use the screwdriver and remove the cover, located at the other side of the motherboard.
After you finish the previous operation, blow the piled dust off with the help of the can or air pump. Work carefully and don’t skip narrow and difficult to access spots, because that is precisely where it is piled most. Bigger clusters can be cleaned using tweezers.
If necessary, remove the processor’s cooling fan and clean it along with the plate beneath it. Place a drop or two of sewing machine oil in the lubricant opening if it has one and close it. Turn it by hand.
For the current article I have chosen a computer system with a slightly aged type of power supply, which still enjoys wide usage in our county. If yours is newer, skip the following steps and head to the last one.
Technicians usually don’t recommend removing the power supply if you haven’t removed the motherboard as well, because there is a risk of harming important components. However I will advise you not to take things so seriously. Firstly, because for removing the motherboard it is necessary, to remove all cable connections, which aren’t little and secondly, because I believe in your dexterity and technical skills.
Unplug all power cords coming out of the power supply and connected to the motherboard. Remember where you remove each of them from, because you will have to put them back later.
Remove all screws that secure the power supply to the case (located on the outside, right against the fan). Some power supplies have a small additional plastic plate that supports the internal part.
Remove the power supply and unscrew the four screws for the top. Then carefully lift the cover (the top and both side walls).
Use the can to clean the power supply’s interior from dust. Remove the bigger clusters with tweezers. Now is the time to look for a swollen capacitor, which in 95% of cases is responsible for defects in the power supply.
If you have any sewing machine oil within your arm reach, you can lubricate the fan as well. Unmount the four screws and detach the circular sticker. Underneath it you will find a small rubber cap which closes the lubrication cylinder. Remove it, place one or two drops and put it back in place. Turn the propeller a couple of times to spread the oil. The rest will fix itself while working. Put the sticker back and mount the fan.
Put the hood back in place, screw everything together and return the power supply to its place. Connect all cables again.
Close the box, put the computer in its place, insert the cables and enjoy the result.
Link to the original article
With special thanks to Kalina Chtereva
