How to Clean a Computer

Computers are part of our daily lives. When a computer goes out of commission, productivity comes to a halt. Cleaning your computer is a good preventative measure that can help keep it running. Cleaning all of the elements of your computer can seem daunting, but if taken one piece at a time, you can clean your computer easily and quickly.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Shut down your computer and remove all peripherals such as monitor, mouse, keyboard and speakers.

2. Begin with the monitor. Use special computer monitor cleaning solution or wipes. You can find these at many large retail stores or electronic stores. Always apply solution to a smooth, clean, non-abrasive cloth and never directly to the monitor. You can use a cloth that is slightly damp with plain water for a quick cleaning.

3. Clean the keyboard. Flip the keyboard over and lightly tap it to dislodge dust and anything that may have fallen between the keys. Use a can of compressed air to clean between the keys. Use a damp cloth or cotton swabs to clean the keys. You can use cleaning solution, but apply to the cloth instead of spraying it onto the keyboard.

4. Continue on to the mouse. If you have an optical mouse, you just need to wipe it down and make sure that the bottom is unobstructed. If you have a mouse with a ball or a tracker ball mouse, you need to take the ball out, clean it, and then take a toothpick or pin and clean the grime off of the rollers. Reassemble the mouse when you're done. Use a toothpick or pin to clean the cracks around the edge and buttons of the mouse.

5. Open your computer’s casing and clean inside it. This is the most delicate part so be careful. Use compressed air to blow away the dust. Pay special attention to the areas around the fan, any vents on the side, and the motherboard. You can find a miniature vacuum cleaner that you can use to clean out the dust. Do not use anything liquid inside your computer.

Tips & Warnings

• Be extremely careful with LCD, plasma or other flat screen, non-CRT monitors. They are not made of glass and can be damaged easily by glass cleaners. Make sure whatever solution you are using is approved for your monitor.
• Do not unplug or tamper with anything inside your computer that you can't identify or don't know how to fix.
• Make sure your computer is unplugged to avoid damaging it or injuring yourself.

[dukethepcdr]

on 8/14/2008 You can tell the difference between ATA or IDE by the power plugs on the hard drive or disc drive. IDE devices have a wider socket for the power plug and have four large holes for the pins to go into. ATA devices have a thin port and you can barely see the little holes where the smaller pins go in. The wires for IDE devices that are on the power supply are also larger and more round than the ones for ATA. ATA wires are almost flat. They are often a different color too.

[dukethepcdr]

on 5/26/2008 WEAR AN ANTISTATIC WRIST STRAP. They are less than $15 at most computer stores and can prevent static charge shocks. There are wired ones that clamp a wire to the metal frame of your case and wireless ones. There are also antistatic pads to lay the computer on while it is open. I take these precautions and have no trouble using a mini vacuum. I also always use them when upgrading parts too.

[XxDarkDragonxX]

on 4/23/2008 I would not recommend using a vacuum at all. this can cause 2 things.

1: can suck up any jumpers that your motherboard uses.that configures your motherboard
2: can create static electricity thus causing an Electro-static discharge.

To Answer Maailiang's question: Now a days there is no difference between IDE and ATA. how you would tell these interfaces apart from the newer SATA interfaces. are the IDE/ATA cables are a wide flat ribbon cable.(Usually white or gray in color) While the SATA cables are smaller and alot narrower.(Usually Red in color)


HTH :)

[maailiang]

on 3/25/2008 How do I tell the difference between ATA or IDE?