Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Article I found on Cyber Clean!!!!

Clean Away PC Dust Bunnies
By: John Kratz

If your computer and other electronic devices have been humming along under your desk for more than a year or two, I've got news for you: chances are inside that case, half a dozen dust bunnies are dancing around your hard drive, leeching onto your CPU fan and fluttering about your motherboard having a grand old time.
This is not good.
I have the solution for you. I will explain how to clean out the guts of your computer, tighten, tune and oil things up to make your PC happier, healthier and more likely to stick around longer.
What you'll need:
1. A cup of Cyber Clean
2. A can of compressed air
3. A damp lint free cloth
Pick these up at any computer supplies or electronics store, like RadioShack.

First, prepare the computer for cleaning.
Before anything else, back up all your data. (Better safe than sorry.) Then disconnect the power cord, monitor, keyboard, mouse and any other peripherals. Open up the case, but first consult your computer's manual for how to get yours open.

Next, create a dust storm.
Use the can of compressed air with the thin narrow straw attached to the nozzle to blow the dust off all the components inside your PC's case. Keep the can upright as much as possible to avoid liquid coming out of the can, but if it does, it shouldn't harm the computer's innards. Don't do this near kids or pets, and know that as you use the can, it will get cold in your hand. Be sure to get into all the cracks and crevices, and do dust the grill on the back of the machine as well. PC Stats says that compressed air should not be used to clean fan blades because it will make them turn faster than they were meant to and this could cause harm. The fan is plastic anyway and can be cleaned with goo called Cyber Clean, which we'll do next.
Thirdly, clean the fan.
There are two fans in your computer: one inside the power supply and one over the processor. The power supply fan on my machine was sealed tight and inaccessible; so I cleaned it as much as possible from the outside grill. We care about the fan over the computer processor. Airborne dust, pet hair, smoke and particles can build up over time and slowly break this fan down and eventually overheat your computer.
Push the Cyber Clean on lightly onto the fan and pull up. The dust and dirt will encapsulate itself in the compound. Keep this out though, because we aren’t done with it yet.Before you close up your case, make sure all the connections inside your PC are tight and that no wires are hanging loose or pulled too tight. Firmly tighten any screws mounting PCI cards or drives and close up the case. Return the PC to its home location, reconnect all peripherals and boot up. If possible, place the machine on your desk instead of on the floor to reduce dust exposure.
Lastly, clean the outside:
The keyboard, mouse, and screen are just as important as the inside of the computer, in creating a perfectly functioning computer. Get out that Cyber Clean again. First lock the keyboard, then press it firmly down into the keys and pull up that dirt! Repeat this for the mouse. Anywhere else on the computer can be Cyber Cleaned as well. As for the monitor, a damp lint free cloth is the easiest and most affordable method.
After the cleaning, your clean PC should run quieter with a much reduced chance of a hostile dust bunny takeover - that is, until the cat starts rubbing up against it.

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