Sorry your browser is not supported!

You are using an outdated browser that does not support modern web technologies, in order to use this site please update to a new browser.

Browsers supported include Chrome, FireFox, Safari, Opera, Internet Explorer 10+ or Microsoft Edge.

Geek Culture / Clean your computer!

Author
Message
Uncle Sam
19
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 23rd Jul 2005
Location: West Coast, USA
Posted: 15th May 2008 09:12 Edited at: 15th May 2008 09:13
I was so frustrated with my computer because after 5 minutes of playing COD2 it would starting getting fps drops at regular intervals that appeared and disappeared. I tried everything, a virus scan, disk cleanup and defragment. Finally I decided to format my HD.

I couldn't believe it when it still happened after that. So, using someone's advice, I decided to give it a cleaning. I clean it regularly and had just cleaned it recently, and when I sprayed it with the pressurized dust spray, barely anything came off. Then I thought, "I wonder what would hapen if I used a full bottle..." The one I was using was almost empty, so there wasn't much pressure. When I got a full bottle of the stuff and opened fire...BOOM, dust everywhere.

Just thought I'd warn you, make sure you clean your comp well...oh yeah, and be careful!

EDIT: at least I have a freshly formatted computer now.

Darth Vader
19
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 10th May 2005
Location: Adelaide SA, I am the only DB user here!
Posted: 15th May 2008 10:06
So does it all work then?
Also aren't those compressed air cans dangerous to breath in?


Dazzag
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 26th Aug 2002
Location: Cyprus
Posted: 15th May 2008 10:57
Try turning your keyboard upside down and tapping it a bit. If like me (especially work one) then about 5 years of crumbs come piling out. My shiny new glow in the dark keyboard (Eclipse II) is still pretty nice. Thanks to Cyprus dust though it is fast becoming a dust mite. Doh...

Cheers

I am 99% probably lying in bed right now... so don't blame me for crappy typing
Current fave quote : "She was like a candle in the wind.... unreliable...."
The Nerd
20
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 5th Jun 2004
Location: Denmark
Posted: 15th May 2008 12:12
Tell me about it Resently my computer started to get so unstable that all you could do was login to Windows and then it would just totally freeze... I thought it had something to do with the graphic card because I would also get some wierd visuals... turned out when I finally decided to open the case that the whole CPU ventilation was blocked with a square of dust that was about 1,5CM thick... Removed it and haven't had any problem since

flashing snall
19
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 8th Oct 2005
Location: Boston
Posted: 15th May 2008 13:47
hah. my sisters PC had to get opened up awhile go because it wasnt working right. Upon opening it up, we found a bunch of spiders hangin out, not to mention TUNS of dust.


This is my WIP, not even ready for a WIP thread yet though.http://smallgroupproductions.com/
Seppuku Arts
Moderator
20
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 18th Aug 2004
Location: Cambridgeshire, England
Posted: 15th May 2008 14:12
Quote: "Thanks to Cyprus dust though it is fast becoming a dust mite. Doh..."


That's because you do all of your computing on the beach, you traitor of a Welshman wannabe Cypriate you.


Also, good advice...mine hasn't been dusted for years.

"Experience never provides its judgments with true or strict universality; but only (through induction) with assumed and comparative universality." - Immanuel Kant
Dazzag
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 26th Aug 2002
Location: Cyprus
Posted: 15th May 2008 15:07
Quote: "That's because you do all of your computing on the beach"
First thing I did was make sure I had a powerful enough wireless signal to be able to work on a laptop on the veranda Next was making sure my Keo was properly chilled in the fridge and could be reached with the minimum hassle. Thinking of investing in a mini fridge so I don't have to get up. Priorities priorities...

Quote: "you traitor of a Welshman wannabe Cypriate you"
Ah, but if you kept up you will know I am coming back. No more chucking kebabs at my window. Only bricks (as is the common practice in England).

Cheers

I am 99% probably lying in bed right now... so don't blame me for crappy typing
Current fave quote : "She was like a candle in the wind.... unreliable...."
Mr Makealotofsmoke
17
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 10th Dec 2006
Location: BillTown (Well Aust)
Posted: 15th May 2008 15:39
Quote: "Upon opening it up, we found a bunch of spiders hangin out, not to mention TUNS of dust."


thats why you get a see-though side panel for your case

my pc is unstable cause my psu isnt big enough, but theres a bit of dust in the front fan :S


Free Webhosting = http://unlhosting.info --Send support ticket to get ad free
CattleRustler
Retired Moderator
21
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 8th Aug 2003
Location: case modding at overclock.net
Posted: 15th May 2008 17:59
I was going to get canned air to keep in my workshop but then I realized I have a blower motor thing from one of those inflatable air-matress things - ho my goodness, that thing rocks! I recently took apart some old computers to rig some stuff up for my daughter, that blower motor did the trick big-time

[href]mod2software[/href]
MSon
20
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 13th Jul 2004
Location: Earth, (I Think).
Posted: 15th May 2008 18:13
Usually i just give everythink a quick wipe, that works fine.

Quote: "Blower Motor"

For a second I thought you ment a Leaf Blower, (Them massive Anti Hover things)

Everyone Be Cool, You, Be Cool.
The Kurgan
16
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 8th May 2008
Location: At the Beginning
Posted: 15th May 2008 18:23
I clean my stuff off usually just by blowing on it/with a duster thing. I do it about every two months because that's about how often my computer's internals need adjustment...

"It's better to burn out, than to fade away!" -- The Kurgan
NeX the Fairly Fast Ferret
19
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 10th Apr 2005
Location: The Fifth Plane of Oblivion
Posted: 15th May 2008 18:39
I've only cleaned my PC out once in four years. I used a vacuum cleaner despite advice to show how static resilient circuit boards really are. It isn't dusty now, despite living with the wind coming through a building site.


I fail at life. No, really.
IanG
20
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 25th Sep 2004
Location: Cyberspace
Posted: 15th May 2008 19:13
I had a mate who came to me asking what was wrong with his computer, it kept randomly rebooting and just generally crashing, i had a look at it and you should have seen the amount of dust on the heat sink, and the cpu fan, the fan barely moved round and made an incredibly high pitched squeal

cleaned the fan and the heatsink and it worked perfectly, it just goes to show that hardware problems aren't as rare as some people think

amd athlon xp 2600+,1280mb,FX 5200 128mb,200gb & 120gb,xp pro sp2
The Nerd
20
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 5th Jun 2004
Location: Denmark
Posted: 15th May 2008 19:15
Quote: "the fan barely moved round and made an incredibly high pitched squeal"


ah yes, that was also a problem with some of my fans before I cleaned it... really annoying sound

Keo C
17
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 3rd Aug 2007
Location: Somewhere between here and there.
Posted: 15th May 2008 19:31
I clean mine every few months.


Image made by the overworked Biggadd.
Agent Dink
20
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 30th Mar 2004
Location:
Posted: 15th May 2008 19:33
It's getting to be about time for me to blow out my computer again. The fans have occasionally made silly noises so that's always an indicator. I usually use the air compressor in the garage. Very very very effective

Matt Rock
19
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 5th Mar 2005
Location: Binghamton NY USA
Posted: 15th May 2008 21:08
Google an app called CCleaner, it's a freeware registry cleaner, and it works miracles

Uncle Sam
19
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 23rd Jul 2005
Location: West Coast, USA
Posted: 15th May 2008 21:58 Edited at: 15th May 2008 22:00
Quote: "So does it all work then?"


Yes, cleaning it fixed the problem.

Quote: "Usually i just give everythink a quick wipe, that works fine."


Should you really be touching the parts? You might zap it with static electricity and fry the memory or something.

Quote: "Also aren't those compressed air cans dangerous to breath in?"


Probably. It can also give you frostbite if you tilt it far enough and pull the trigger with the bottle over your arm because it will turn to freezing liquid.

Quote: "Try turning your keyboard upside down and tapping it a bit. If like me (especially work one) then about 5 years of crumbs come piling out."


My keyboard's actually more like 6 - 8 years old probably, and it's getting a little sick-loocking. I also can only press like 3-4 keys at a time.

Quote: "It's getting to be about time for me to blow out my computer again. The fans have occasionally made silly noises so that's always an indicator."


My graphics card starts to road at me with its fan, which is wierd because I don't think I heard it this time. It just slowed down, and it usually doesn't do that.

Anyways, all is good now. I was afraid for a moment though that I had lost my $240.00 Geforce 7950GT.

CattleRustler
Retired Moderator
21
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 8th Aug 2003
Location: case modding at overclock.net
Posted: 15th May 2008 22:08 Edited at: 15th May 2008 22:10
Agent Dink, I have a compressor also but (in case you dont know) they can build up moisture in the tank. Even if you drain and cycle it, it can still have moisture in the flow. they sell moisture traps for the compressors, which are used commonly with painting via compressor.

edit: and yes you can suffocate by huffing compressed air, since its not "air" but a cocktail of gases that are heavier than air. If you fill your lungs with that stuff, regular air cant push it out and you can suffocate

[href]mod2software[/href]
Seppuku Arts
Moderator
20
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 18th Aug 2004
Location: Cambridgeshire, England
Posted: 15th May 2008 22:27
Quote: "Quote: "you traitor of a Welshman wannabe Cypriate you"
Ah, but if you kept up you will know I am coming back. No more chucking kebabs at my window. Only bricks (as is the common practice in England)."


Sounds like a plan, just hope you move back in England on time, before the builders across the road from me finish, so that I don't have to buy my brick.

"Experience never provides its judgments with true or strict universality; but only (through induction) with assumed and comparative universality." - Immanuel Kant
Darth Vader
19
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 10th May 2005
Location: Adelaide SA, I am the only DB user here!
Posted: 16th May 2008 05:06
Quote: "Google an app called CCleaner"

You do know what the C stands for? A crude word for Rubbish.

Quote: "Probably. It can also give you frostbite if you tilt it far enough and pull the trigger with the bottle over your arm because it will turn to freezing liquid. "

Should that be used on computer parts then?


TeamASP
16
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 18th Mar 2008
Location: Davao City
Posted: 16th May 2008 05:29
CCleaner's also available for free in File Hippo (filehippo.com) and has a list of version you might want to download if the latest version isn't stable.



Choose - your undying love or your own survival. Necrophobia 2 WIP.
Uncle Sam
19
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 23rd Jul 2005
Location: West Coast, USA
Posted: 16th May 2008 06:47
Quote: "Should that be used on computer parts then?"


Well, so long as you don't tilt it (just tilt the computer or rotate it instead, carefully), you should be fine.

Digital Awakening
AGK Developer
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 27th Aug 2002
Location: Sweden
Posted: 16th May 2008 13:42
My computer have a gray inner coating I'm about to upgrade it one of these days so it seems quite useless to bother with cleaning it now. I have to remember to get some canned air later though

[center]
Matt Rock
19
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 5th Mar 2005
Location: Binghamton NY USA
Posted: 16th May 2008 23:51
Quote: "You do know what the C stands for? A crude word for Rubbish."

hehe it has a slightly different meaning here . I don't think it really constitutes a curse word though... well, I wasn't yelled at in school when I said it as a kid anyway. But who knows these days lol.

Quote: "CCleaner's also available for free in File Hippo (filehippo.com) and has a list of version you might want to download if the latest version isn't stable."

Thanks for that! If I ever need a newer version I'll check that out . It'll be handy when I'm helping my girlfriend install it tomorrow.

Venge
18
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 13th Sep 2006
Location: Iowa
Posted: 17th May 2008 15:43
Quote: "edit: and yes you can suffocate by huffing compressed air, since its not "air" but a cocktail of gases that are heavier than air. If you fill your lungs with that stuff, regular air cant push it out and you can suffocate"


Couldn't you just ...stand on your head?

MISoft 3D Artist.
CattleRustler
Retired Moderator
21
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 8th Aug 2003
Location: case modding at overclock.net
Posted: 17th May 2008 15:44
i think youre passed out by this point

[href]mod2software[/href]
tha_rami
18
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 25th Mar 2006
Location: Netherlands
Posted: 17th May 2008 15:52
So, basically, if you're about to suffocate from that stuff, jump out of a window head-first with your mouth wide open while trying to exhale.


A mod has been erased by your signature because it was larger than 600x120
Jeku
Moderator
21
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 4th Jul 2003
Location: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Posted: 17th May 2008 20:23 Edited at: 17th May 2008 20:23
... or, just, don't huff the compressed air. Whatever's easier


Login to post a reply

Server time is: 2024-11-20 06:17:58
Your offset time is: 2024-11-20 06:17:58