Any owner of a personal computer sooner or later faces the need to clean the computer. Moreover, simply wiping off the dust with a cloth from the body in this case is indispensable. The first suspicion that the time has come to perform a general cleaning of the system unit appears at the moment when a rather loud monotonous noise is heard during the first few minutes when the computer is turned on. Every day (week) it becomes louder, and if you continue to operate in this mode and do not try to figure out how to clean your computer, then the noise accompanies all the time. As a result, you can expect subsequent malfunctions and freezes.
A novice user is usually scared and is looking for an opportunity to take the system unit to a service center, where they will require payment for the cleaning performed. They will demand in any case, regardless of whether the warranty period has expired or not. This point is clearly indicated on the warranty sheet. And since you can’t carry a stationary computer in a plastic bag, you have to take it by car, which means additional fuel costs and your time spent. It’s much easier and faster to independently learn how to clean your computer. In addition, you don’t have to worry about the safety of data on your hard drive: giving a computer that has access codes to your own bank account to strangers is quite risky. Exception: the computer is sealed with a warranty sticker, and the service life has not yet expired.
Suppose that all conditions are met, the owner read how to clean the computer, and decided to restore the work of his electronic assistant on his own. Turn off the power, pull out all the wires (it is advisable to remember where it was) and put the case on the illuminated table with the left side up. We unscrew the two bolts holding the cover and shift it back. Access to all components. It remains only to remember how to clean the computer, and perform this operation.
Internet pages are full of recommendations for cleaning. Even with incorrect wording, it is easy to get the required answer to the question of how to properly clean the computer.
In fact, there is nothing complicated about this: a little practice and cleaning can be done even with your eyes closed. The source of the notorious noise, because of which you have to disassemble the case, are active cooling fans. Their number is different for everyone, but there is certainly a radiator on the central processor and in the power supply. We take a brush (for drawing or a special one, it’s not so important) and carefully clean the dust layers from the blades of all available fans. We clean on both sides! In case of difficulties, you can use the classic way: a cotton wool wound around a match. It is extremely rare to additionally wet cotton wool with alcohol (until wet, without drops).
Then we remove all visible dirt from all elements with dry cotton wool.
Now there are two ways:
- connect a narrow nozzle to the vacuum cleaner and remove all dust that has fallen onto the board. It is advisable not to touch the components, as static discharge from a vacuum cleaner can damage the computer;
- take the case out into the street, and having connected the nozzle for blowing, remove all dust. A cloud of dust is provided, so do not do this indoors. Of course, no one bothers to blow dust in the old manner, without equipment.
Now unscrew the bolts holding the power supply. Remove the lid from it and clean the cooling fan blades. Residual charge can be held in the capacitors, so you should not touch the soldered elements with your hands.
Assembly is performed in reverse order. Such cleaning does not always eliminate the noise, so do not forget to add oil to the bearings, and if the sleeve has developed, then replace the entire fan. But this is the topic of a completely different article.