Maintenance

One common problem with computers is dust buildup. It can stop you dead in your tracks. Causing the computer to freeze up often, or possibly never turn on again. Dust inside a case, be it a laptop or desktop, causes air to not flow as it was designed to. As the amount of dust increases, it can stop fans from spinning or slow them to the point where the RPM isn't quite high enough to dissipate heat fast enough. When this happens we begin to notice signs of a computer over heating. Generally it is not an issue to simply blow the dust out of the computer at this point and give the computer it's life back. However, sometimes when a computer has been under cooled for a period of time it can lead to damaged components. If you feel comfortable enough to open your case up and see a large amount of dust inside, DON'T USE A VACUUM. I can't stress that enough. a household vacuum is not your friend in the computer repair world. It generates a large amount of static electricity and can damage your components in the long run. If you decide you want to clean the inside of your case and fans yourself instead of bringing it to me, get a can of compressed air and keep it upright. With a desktop, make sure it is unplugged from the wall before beginning. With a laptop, make sure it is unplugged from the wall and remove the battery before beginning. You will want to focus attentions on PCI cards, CPU fan, PSU fan (both ends), and any other fans that may be clogged. Keep the can upright and spray until the computer is free of dust.

Clean your computer regularly, don't let the dust build up inside. A blue screen or constant freezing can all be signs of a computer that is overheating. Bring it into my shop and let me clean it out for you, then let me run a free diagnostic to make sure all your computer components are still running top notch!

Thanks for reading!

Justin Vail - Dog On Fire