Solved: CPU Temperature?? Dust??

Hello All,
I was reading some threads here and I have a question. How do I clean the dust and dirt from my fan... or CPU thing? My computer is in my kitchen... jammed in a corner without much air circulation... and collecting dust and dirt (grease). I've wiped the outside but nothing else. I've also been having multiple problems lately... computer freezes, CD-RW going crazy, etc. Now I'm thinking that my "inners" might be dirty, but I don't know how to clean them!! Also, why don't the computer manufacturers (Gateway) tell consumers about these things? What other problems can this overheating or dirt cause? Does anything else need to be cleaned?
Thanks for any advice you may offer.
I LOVE THIS SITE!!
babs

 

Go to the local computer store or retail outlet and buy a can of compressed air. Take the computer out of it's confined space, unplug it from the wall, keyboard monitor, etc. and take it outside to blow out with the air. Open the case and blow out the case, all fans, including the power supply fan.

All the dust and grease you mentioned can decrease the life of your computer due to heat and if it gets bad enough grease can cause shorting of components and corrosion.

 

THANKS Rockn.
When you say to take my "computer" outside, do you mean my CPU only? Plus, I've heard that grease and/or cigarette smoke cannot be blown away with just air? I'm a heavy smoker and Ido a lot of "greasy" cooking/frying here in the kitchen while I'm working on my computer. Do you think that air alone will take care of all that mess?

AND, How do I "open" my CPU? I've never tried... is it obvious once I disconnect everything?
THANKS SO MUCH!
babs

 

Just a wild guess here, but they may not have seen too many computers in a greasy smoke filled kitchen

Hopefully you saw the warning not to drop it in a bathtub filled with hot water while plugged in, in an attempt to clean it



*some humor for the day, couldn't resist *

 

The compressed air will not remove grease or smoke stains. In fact, only a new paint coat will cover the smoke stains.

You shouldn't really have your computer in a space where there is little air circulation.

Heat can and will damage components. However, it is most likely that all you have inside the base unit (correct term) is a lot of dust.

So, if you remove your computer from the kitchen, and take it to a space where the case can be taken apart then, use the compressed air. Becareful when you use the compressed air, because there are little connectors and or jumpers inisde that could be disconnected by high pressure air, so just use common sense and spray only things like fans and area's that you can see have nothing that can easily be moved.

Once you have blown the dust away that you can see, then get the vaccume and clean out the remainder that you cannot see.

Turn the visisble fans to see if they move smoothly or are stiff. If they are the latter, then they will either need repairing, or replacing. Replacing is better. To do this you need to buy the correct size fans, especially for the processor itself (cpu).

Please note......ONLY attempt the above procedure, if you are confident in your own ability. Always make any modifications to your computer with the power OFF. Never take it apart with it powered up. I know you know this, but there are quite a lot of people that do damage their systems by not powering it down to dismantle.

As for taking it apart, the case, if it is fairly modern, (last 2 years) should have 2 sides..really, only one side needs to be removed for the above work.

If it is a tower, or midi, ie it stands up, then if you look at the back of the computer, where all the cables are, the cover to the right, is the one that you need to remove, in most cases.

Well, I hope this has been of help to you.

 

Pictures are worth a thousand words.

The last picture "video-dust.jpg" causes ALOT of grief because your aswesome 3D video card can't breathe and locks up the video when that much dust is around the video card fan....

The other pictures are CPU dust examples...Post your picture, we want to SEE.... ;-)

 

WOW! Thanks to EVERYONE for all the help! I printed everything out... even the pictures!
To AcaCandy... Thanks for letting me know about the hot water thing... I was upstairs filling the bathtub... Boy, that was too close!
In all seriousness, I've checked every manual that came with my computer. NO WHERE does it tell me to take it apart and clean it! As for keeping it in the kitchen, I have no choice about it. I live in a tiny townhouse and space is limited. Would a small fan above or behind my CPU help?
I just ran out and bought 3 cans of Memorex Air Duster, Kensington Media Guardian CD Cleaner, 50 new CD's and a Memorex CD/DVD Laser Lens Cleaner. I can't seem to get the lens cleaner to work in my CD-RW Drive (E).
My question is this... does my computer only have one laser lens for both the CD-R (D) and the CD-RW drives?
I ran the cleaner disk through the CD-R (D) Drive and it supposedly cleaned the lens. When I put the disk in my E drive... it just keeps blinking.
Any ideas?
I have one other problem that just started yesterday. When I boot-up, right before my Desk Top appears, I get a quick message box that says something about "Unable to restart Integrator... Try rebooting and if that doesn't work seek technical assitance." It flashes off so fast, I can't really read the whole thing.
I only see it on start-up.
I hope my questions aren't too silly... I'm "older"... computers weren't even invented when I was in school. So, a lot of this stuff is Greek to me!!
THANKS AGAIN for being so helpful and kind!
babs

 

As long as the cd cleaner has been placed in the cdrw drive, it should still clean the lense. Each CD/DVD/CDR/CDRW drive will have their own independant lenses and lasers.

I do not know what the error message you have means, but you could run scandisk to determine if there are any errors on the hard drive. You can access scandisk by going into start/programs/accessories/system tools and choosing scandisk. under windows 98.

It may require you to be in safe mode when you run scandisk.

To get to safe mode, as the computer starts, press the F8 key, and a list of options should appear. You need to choose safe mode, and then the computer will go to safe mode. After the system has booted, you should see the words SAFE MODE in each corner of the screen. This is windows diagnostic state.. Where you can run defrag and scandisk and other inbuilt diagnostics.

Most manufactorers won't tell you how to take your system apart, because it isn't an every day done thing really. And you should only attempt it, if you are absoloutely sure of your own ability. Because, you could make the problems you have worse if you are not careful However, if you use common sense things should be ok.

If after you have taken the case side off, and removed all the dirt/dust, there is still some on the fans, you can use a soft brush to clean the blades.

 

Why do people insist on advising the use of a vacuum of any form in a computer case? The vacuum cleaner in particular is probably the one appliance you own that generates the most static electricity. and what does a static discharge do for us, besides generting that amuzing little shock when we scuff our feet across the carpet? It fries delicate electronic connections and conductors that are too small for the naked eye to see. Rendering of course our sensative electronics door stops and anchors! use canned air alone and you will do an amazing job.

 

Maybe the vaccum is set to BLOW and not suck...My shop vac does that ;-)

 

Not even that. It is not the suck or blow that does it. it is the airflow within the plastic components of the vacuum that causes the static electricity. Is your processor and mother board not worth the cost of a $4 can of air?

 

My processor is, I dunno about anyone else ;-)

 

You are only partially correct. But I am not going to argue...Except to say, if a rubber hose is used, then static will not pass through it.

 

ok future you go ahead and use a vacuum if you want to. I spent a good portion of my life as a microminiature electronics repair tech and have seen the damage first hand many times.

 

I've tried and tried to tell people this, they just won't listen. I use to like watching the little kids slide down those plastic slides, their hair would be standing straight up when they got to the bottom. HElarios!