Crashing computer due to dust

[wacki]

Last 2 weeks my computer has been crashing. Windows said it was a driver problem. Turns out it was dust clogging my thermalright heatsink. Hopefully my CPU is ok.

Couple of questions

1) Best way to prevent? (Mozilla Sunbird maintenance every 4 months?)

2) How do you clean a power supply?


For those who think they are funny (I did a search):

Blowing does not work on this dust.

 

[Hanzou]

I just use compressed air in a can or turn my shop vac on reverse and blow the crap out of my case.

 

[SrGuapo]

What kind of dust is it that you cannot blow it out? Just clean out everything every few months. Take a cloth and run it through the CPU and VGA heatsink if blowing won't work.

 

[wacki]

The dust sticks to the metal. And it's not easy to wipe an enclosed power supply.

When I said blowing I meant with your mouth.

As for prevention I'm thinking about getting a case with those dust filters.

 

[imported_Kensai]

A can of compressed air has alot more pressure than you can blow. Get a can and try it out.

 

[bREwIn dOdgEr dUDe]

ditto on the compressed air... at least every other week... i also hold my vacuum hose (not touching anything) to suck out stuff when blowing (compressed air)... do not use your mouth, too much moisture and such...

 

[ericlala]

or prevent it with a filter on your intakes if your temperatures arn't high

 

[n7]

Compressed air cans :thumbsup: once a month.

 

[Blain]

Air cans... then use filters on your intake fans.

 

[Maximilian]

I clean my hestsink with a screwdriver 🙂 Yep good and primative, jus scrape out the dust. I only do this when my comp starts to reset itself or the temps go above 60, whichever i notice first. So i end up cleaning about once a year, maybe less.

As for the power supply..... didnt know they even needed cleaned thats new to me. Whatever you do dont open it!

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: Soviet
As for the power supply..... didnt know they even needed cleaned thats new to me. Whatever you do dont open it!

Dusting it with canned air is fine. It's no big deal as long as it's unplugged and out of warranty.

 

[bREwIn dOdgEr dUDe]

Originally posted by: Soviet
I clean my hestsink with a screwdriver 🙂 Yep good and primative, jus scrape out the dust. I only do this when my comp starts to reset itself or the temps go above 60, whichever i notice first. So i end up cleaning about once a year, maybe less.

As for the power supply..... didnt know they even needed cleaned thats new to me. Whatever you do dont open it!

a screwdriver...hmmm, well i usually prefer beer before & after cleanings... and yes pretty darn primitive...🙂

 

[Maximilian]

Originally posted by: Blain

Originally posted by: Soviet
As for the power supply..... didnt know they even needed cleaned thats new to me. Whatever you do dont open it!

Dusting it with canned air is fine. It's no big deal as long as it's unplugged and out of warranty.

Somone else said that even if it is unplugged and turned off then the capacators inside can still kill you. Dunno who said that but it stuck in my mind and made me fear that box even more :frown: since one i had already kinda exploded when i plugged it in 🙁

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: Soviet
Somone else said that even if it is unplugged and turned off then the capacators inside can still kill you. Dunno who said that but it stuck in my mind and made me fear that box even more :frown:

LoL... All that's required would be to remove the cover to blow off the heat sinks, not disassemble the circuit board. :laugh: