Hardware Reference
In-Depth Information
FIGURE 5.2
To clean a mechanical mouse, remove the ball, and clean inside the
mouse's chamber.
Cleaning the Inside of a PC
A desktop PC should be cleaned out regularly—at least once a year. Its cooling and
ventilation fans suck in a lot of air, and with that air come pollutants that can build up over
time. Even a thin layer of dust on a circuit board can make it run hotter, shortening its life;
and clumps of dirt and hair can prevent the free fl ow of air through the case.
Remove the cover from the case (following the directions that came with it on how
to do so). Inside a desktop PC there may be big clumps of hair and dirt; fi sh these out by
hand and throw them away. Then check the motherboard and expansion boards for dust
accumulation, and blow it out with compressed air. If it's been a long time since the PC
has been cleaned, you may want to take it outside or to an open area so you don't blow
dust all over someone's work area. The motherboard doesn't have to be sparkling clean; it
just needs to have the major clumps of visible debris removed. A handheld vacuum cleaner
designed for electronics can come in handy if available.
Hold your breath as you blast out the dust with compressed air, or you'll
be coughing from the dust flying around. It's best to do it outdoors if
weather permits. Keep in mind, too, that canned air generates a blast of
cold, so don't blow it on yourself or others. Some technicians use this side
effect as a tool for cooling off overheated chips on a circuit board when
troubleshooting.
To clean anything that involves circuit boards or chips, stay away from liquids,
especially water, because of the danger of short-circuiting if the board isn't completely dry
