I turned on my computer this morning only to hear some horrible humming sound coming from the engine (tower CPU). Whenever my computer has a seemed problem, the first thing I do it physically clean it. Since the fans are constantly sucking in cooler air, the blades and interior tend to collect dust bunnies. You can see the vent on mine is quite plugged and the computer is literally suffocating.
To get started cleaning completely shut down your system and disconnect the CPU. If you are not familiar with all the connections, you might want to make some notes. Most computers are color code which makes for an easy disconnect and hook-up. After disconnecting move the CPU to a more comfortable workplace for cleaning.
Your trusty vacuum will help clean your computer fairly well. Also gather any precision attachments that you may have around because they may come in handy for cleaning all the little crevices. Most technicians would probably recommend a can of pressurized air but I have found my vacuum to be sufficient and less costly. A good starting point is to suction out the vents and any port openings on the exterior of the machine. Suction the face around the CD drives, SD drives, UBS ports and whatever else. Then move around do the back suctioning around all those little ports.
Then find the two screws that hold on the main cover plate. The screws should twist off easily with your finger. Remove and place them in a safe spot. Then gently slide the large plate cover off. Once removed, you will see the inner- arts like the motherboard and memory card. Very carefully vacuum around all the small parts and fans. After a careful and thorough removal of the dust and dirt, then slide the plate back on, tighten the screws and hook-up all the wires.
A technician gave me this know how when my computer was running so slow and seemed bogged down. Since it was about five years old, I was deciding if I should just buy another tower. He suggested cleaning it because generally it is a heat issue. Computers generate a lot of heat. If they can’t ventilate themselves, the processor will just slow down to prevent further damage. Now I do this about every two months and it is just amazing the amount of lint, pet hair and dust particles that accumulate over that short period of time. This simple task of regular cleaning keeps our 6+ year computer running adequately.
