Computer Housekeeping- The Computer Nanny

Caution

Before you work inside your computer, eliminate the hazards. The first hazard -- electrical shock -- is personal. Disconnect the power cord from the back of your computer before you open it.

The second hazard is Electrostatic Discharge (ESD). For example, the electrical energy you pick up walking on a carpet is enough to blow out almost any electronic part you touch inside your computer. Just moving around in your chair can generate enough to damage sensitive parts. To prevent damage from ESD, always touch the bare frame before you put your hand or any tool inside your computer's case. Better yet, keep one hand or your arm touching the frame, while you are working inside your computer.

Keep it clean

You'd be amazed how much dust and crud can accumulate inside your computer in a couple of years. Very few have intake air filters (most people wouldn't know to clean them, and the result would be even worse) so the dirt just collects inside. What does the dirt do? To paraphrase Professor Tognazini (Heald College -- San Francisco, circa 1955), "Well, it shorten de life of de computer!"

1. Check your owner's manual. If the manufacturer has provided specific instructions, follow them.

2. Get any supplies you might need: a can of compressed air, Endust for Electronics or any household plastic or metal cleaning fluid, a soft brush (such as a paintbrush) and an anti-static rag, plus a dust mask if you're allergic to dust.

3. Shut down the computer.

4. Leave the computer plugged into the surge suppressor.

5. Disconnect all peripherals from the computer.

6. Remove the computer cover (see your owner's manual for instructions).

7. Ground yourself to the computer with any professional grounding equipment you have. Otherwise, ground yourself by touching a metal part of the chassis.

8. Spray compressed air on the fan blades, power supply chassis, drive chassis and circuit boards.

9. Gently brush off dust that the forced air didn't dislodge.

10. Brush any remaining dust out from the bottom of the chassis.

11. Spray Endust for Electronics or another cleaning fluid onto an anti-static rag.

12. Wipe the inside and outside of the cover thoroughly.

13. Replace the cover and reconnect the peripherals.

Tips:

If possible, work in an uncarpeted area.

Warnings:

Be careful not to touch any chips. Touch as little as possible inside your machine. Static damage (and even oil damage) may cause a failure months after the incident.

Some sources recommend using a regular or specialty electronics vacuum cleaner. These appliances could cause magnetic damage or static electricity, or dislodge or inhale poorly secured chips or components.

Tips from eHow Users:

Another tip for cleaning

It would be best to use an anti-static wristband or mat to ground yourself (if one is not available be sure to touch a metal object such as the computer case every few minutes to ensure no static charge builds up), while physically unplugging the computer from any source of electricity. Whenever the computer is physically plugged in, power is running through the motherboard, which makes it a bad idea to do anything that could cause anything to come loose or out of place. With the computer disconnected, and yourself properly grounded, you may carefully (be sure not to touch any metal contacts on the chips, or use latex gloves, as the oils on your hands could cause them to get dirty) remove and clean individual pieces as needed. I also suggest keeping any screws you may remove all in one place, and to only remove one item at a time, so you always know which screws go with what part, and so you don't end up running out of (or worse, having extra) screws when you are finished. If you use any sort of cleaning fluid, make sure it is completely dry before plugging the computer back in. Compressed air is your best bet for removing dust from anything delicate (nearly everything), or hard to reach places.

CMOS battery

The CMOS battery maintains some of the basic settings for your computer, as well as the system clock. If the clock loses it's setting when you turn off your computer, it's time to replace the CMOS battery. It's usually a thick disk about the size of a quarter. They usually last from 3 to 5 years.