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bearhug07 Oct 18, 2006

If you are having a computer problem you may want to take the side of your case off and carefully vaccum around the components. FOr 2 weeks I have had a problem with my computer just shutting down. Wiped the computer and reloaded all my programs as I was told it was a corrupted program....that took one whole day. Still the computer shutdown with out warning.  Rang around and was told it was probably my motherboard breaking down.  In preparation for the new motherboard Garth took the side of the case off and couldn't believe the dust build up the 4 fans in the pentium 4 case has sucked in. In cleaning it all out I realised it had some of the circuits touching each other. Remebering something an inhouse technician had told me about build of dust short circuiting things we cleaned it up and put the case back together. Computer has worked like a dream since.

So before going nuts about problems double check how dirty the inside of the case is!! It could be the age old dust problem...boy and I thought it was just the cupboard tops I had to worry about!!!!!!!

bearlyart Oct 18, 2006

Excellent point!  Yes, dust inside the case can be a problem, absolutely.  One common problem is dust clogging fans that cool off important computer components... if the fan can't keep them cool, they fry.  Only thing to keep in mind any time you take the cover off your computer is to ground yourself before reaching in and touching anything inside.  Do this by touching a metal part of the cover (computer will still be plugged in but turned off), this disperses static charge in your body and keeps you from zapping something important inside the machine.

Clean cloths are the best thing to use to clean inside your computer, compressed air is also handy to blow dust outwards from the fans.  I would not recommend using a vacuum as they, too, create a static charge.

Happy computin'
Kelly