Computer spring cleaning

The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > Serious Hardware/Software Crap > YOSPOS > Computer spring cleaning

Stick Insect: Oct 24, 2010; My enemies are many.

My equals are none.

Spring is almost upon us in the northern hemisphere, so it's time to give everything a good clean.

On a dry but pref. somewhat windy day, I unplug and take every computer outside, open them up and use the spray can with "air" to blast all the dust out. The "air" smells more like butane making this far more exciting than it has to be. Be sure to stand upwind from computer when doing this, or you'll be reminded of your mistake next time you blow your nose. Or just wear a dust mask and be a cyberpunk.

Like my own daily shower, it's a very disgusting but obviously necessary activity.

It looks like my home server was home to a spider at one point. A comfy 26� C, a few cm under the hard drive, it's a good place to spend the cold winter months.

No pictures of the process but I did find these relics when I scope creeped the spring cleaning to cleaning out the house.

Share your [computer] spring cleaning rituals ITT.

# ? Mar 11, 2018 14:52

Adbot: ADBOT LOVES YOU

# ? May 4, 2024 23:35

roboshit: Apr 4, 2009

bleach wipes to get the jizz stains off da micro ATX

# ? Mar 11, 2018 14:54

flakeloaf: Feb 26, 2003; Still better than android clock

accidentally dumpstering your mp3 collection while moving your stuff to a file server, and not being terribly bothered about putting it back

# ? Mar 11, 2018 14:56

Salt Fish: Sep 11, 2003; Cybernetic Crumb

I don't post much about it, but I actually run a computer detailing business and for the first time ever I'm offering discounts to yospos only THIS SPRING! Stop on by with your server, no desktops please:

code:

 * Express Exterior  - 1u $50 - 2u $55 - 3u $60 - 4u+ call us today!  

    - Hand apply one coat of high quality wax to your server and buff
    - Clean all ports with duster and compressed air - no bitterants guaranteed!

* Express Interior - 1u $30 - 2u $35 - 3u $40 - 4u+ call us today!  

     - Fan speed check, slow/non-functional fans replaced*
     - Full dust removal with our patented micro-vacuum 
     - All cable management zip ties tightened

* Full Exterior - 1u $90 - 2u $95 - 3u $99 - 4u+ call us today!

     - The Express Exterior plus more:
     - Chassis rail system fully deburred and lubricated
     - All screws and fasteners relubricated with high durability lithium grease
     - Front panel displays cleaned and polished for optimal visibility

* Full Interior- 1u $80 - 2u $85 - 3u $90 - 4u+ call us today!

     - The Express Interior plus more:
     - CMOS batteries replaced with fresh CR2032 
     - BIOS firmware check and update 
     - Reapply thermal paste to all processors

* additional fees appy for replacement. Not all fans in stock, call for availability

When you bring your server to the shop just use the discount code PIZZA PASTA for a 5% discount. Remember: a clean server is a happy server. Don't risk your business on a poorly maintained computer!

# ? Mar 11, 2018 16:59

SO DEMANDING: Dec 27, 2003

last year someone in the department next to ours cleaned out an office and found a box of magneto-optical disks still in shrinkwrap

# ? Mar 11, 2018 17:18

thebigcow: Jan 3, 2001; Bully!

Salt Fish posted:

I don't post much about it, but I actually run a computer detailing business and for the first time ever I'm offering discounts to yospos only THIS SPRING! Stop on by with your server, no desktops please:

When you bring your server to the shop just use the discount code PIZZA PASTA for a 5% discount. Remember: a clean server is a happy server. Don't risk your business on a poorly maintained computer!

Do you use the three color wax like a fancy car wash? This is important.

# ? Mar 11, 2018 17:35

HAIL eSATA-n: Apr 7, 2007

I just vacuum the spinning/sharp bits twice a year, OP

# ? Mar 11, 2018 17:45

CRIP EATIN BREAD: Jun 24, 2002; Hey stop worrying bout my acting bitch, and worry about your WACK ass music. In the mean time... Eat a hot bowl of Dicks! Ice T; Soiled Meat

i just buy a new macbook pro every year

# ? Mar 11, 2018 17:47

Silver Alicorn: Mar 30, 2008; 𝓪 𝓻𝓮𝓭 𝓹𝓪𝓷𝓭𝓪 𝓲𝓼 𝓪 𝓬𝓾𝓻𝓲𝓸𝓾𝓼 𝓼𝓸𝓻𝓽 𝓸𝓯 𝓬𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓽𝓾𝓻𝓮

My video card was making a noise a few days ago, but it went away. probably need to clean the thing but that doesn't bode well for the fan bearings

# ? Mar 11, 2018 17:56

Stick Insect: Oct 24, 2010; My enemies are many.

My equals are none.

Something in my PC makes a noise for about a minute right after I turn it on. It's quiet after that. I really should replace this entire system. Motherboard and CPU turned 10 last month :toot:

I also had my hard drive make a racket at some point, turns out it was a loose unused power cable leaning against the drive.

HAIL eSATA-n posted:

I just vacuum the spinning/sharp bits twice a year, OP

Doesn't this create a risk of damaging the hardware through static electric shock?

I vacuum the dust filters on my main system. But I remove them first.

Dust filters own. You can take much longer between cleans.

# ? Mar 11, 2018 22:58

Bored Online: May 25, 2009; We don't need Rome telling us what to do.

i just reinstalled my os but its a pos so ill prob install another

# ? Mar 11, 2018 23:00

Bored Online: May 25, 2009; We don't need Rome telling us what to do.

Dongslayer. posted:

i just reinstalled my os but its a pos so ill prob install another

vicious cycle

# ? Mar 11, 2018 23:01

Salt Fish: Sep 11, 2003; Cybernetic Crumb

thebigcow posted:

Do you use the three color wax like a fancy car wash? This is important.

It's ski wax for maximum performance when you're racking and unracking it.

# ? Mar 11, 2018 23:25

OldAlias: Nov 2, 2013

# ? Mar 11, 2018 23:32

skimothy milkerson: Nov 19, 2006

not keyboard goop. voted 1

# ? Mar 12, 2018 03:19

Tom Collins: Aug 25, 2000

Stick Insect posted:

On a dry but pref. somewhat windy day, I unplug and take every computer outside, open them up and use the spray can with "air" to blast all the dust out.

The virgin canned air vs. the chad compressor

Nice Ashton-Tate though. That'd make a good name for a portland-based alternative music act, like, you could be the next Sleater-Kinney or whatever

# ? Mar 12, 2018 04:23

Tatsujin: Apr 26, 2004; EVERYONE EXCEPT THE HOT WOMEN

cleaned out the ol desktop last weekend, man it was dusty as gently caress, redid the cable routing and wiped down the case with bleach wipes. clean compute

# ? Mar 12, 2018 18:02

hifi: Jul 25, 2012

bleach?

# ? Mar 12, 2018 18:09

Jonny 290: May 5, 2005; [ASK] me about OS/2 Warp

I have a 13.8v 30 amp power supply that runs the ham shack here, and every 3 months I have to disassemble it and blow the cat hair out of the (formidable) heatsinks.

# ? Mar 12, 2018 18:37

Tatsujin: Apr 26, 2004; EVERYONE EXCEPT THE HOT WOMEN

hifi posted:

bleach?

clorox wipes, its not really bleach

# ? Mar 12, 2018 18:38

jimmyjams: Jan 10, 2001; King Kong of Megadongs
Gobblin' them mega schlongs
Makin' sure they mega long
Stroke' 'em if they mega strong

scrub my keyboards nut guard

# ? Mar 12, 2018 18:40

HAIL eSATA-n: Apr 7, 2007

Stick Insect posted:

Doesn't this create a risk of damaging the hardware through static electric shock?

I vacuum the dust filters on my main system. But I remove them first.

Dust filters own. You can take much longer between cleans.

Hasn't happened in ten years of sucking computers :shrug:

dust filters do indeed own

# ? Mar 12, 2018 18:48

Stick Insect: Oct 24, 2010; My enemies are many.

My equals are none.

Tom Collins posted:

The virgin canned air vs. the chad compressor

Nice Ashton-Tate though. That'd make a good name for a portland-based alternative music act, like, you could be the next Sleater-Kinney or whatever

It reminds me of Tessier-Ashpool.

# ? Mar 13, 2018 22:20

Stick Insect: Oct 24, 2010; My enemies are many.

My equals are none.

https://i.imgur.com/g5Ekbjk.mp4

So many mistakes here. Wrong nozzle, reducing the force of the blast. Keyboard not upside-down so no help from gravity, candle nearby (which generates dust).

# ? Mar 14, 2018 10:12

eschaton: Mar 7, 2007; Don't you just hate when you wind up in a store with people who are in a socioeconomic class that is pretty obviously about two levels lower than your own?

SO DEMANDING posted:

last year someone in the department next to ours cleaned out an office and found a box of magneto-optical disks still in shrinkwrap

what kind of MO

if they were floptical they were worth their weight in gold

# ? Mar 14, 2018 10:52

eschaton: Mar 7, 2007; Don't you just hate when you wind up in a store with people who are in a socioeconomic class that is pretty obviously about two levels lower than your own?

reasonably pure vinegar and a soft toothbrush to clean up corrosion after desoldering the caps from hell

99.99% isopropyl and a soft toothbrush to clean up everything after soldering in new polymer caps of truth and justice

# ? Mar 14, 2018 10:59

Stick Insect: Oct 24, 2010; My enemies are many.

My equals are none.

Next step: clean keyboard

I have a cheapo Logitech K120 "for business". It says "for business" but gently caress you I won't do what you tell me. I'm using it at home.

It's super easy to remove the keys part from the electronicky parts. All the keys remain attached to the front panel part so it's little effort to put it all back together. I chuck it in with the dishes and give it a good clean. Same goes for the rubbery part that goes underneath the keys. Dishes and keyboard are mostly covered in food bits - same solution to same problem.

# ? Mar 14, 2018 21:43

SO DEMANDING: Dec 27, 2003

eschaton posted:

what kind of MO

if they were floptical they were worth their weight in gold

nah not floptical. which is a very fun word. floptical!

# ? Mar 14, 2018 21:46

I HAVE GOUT: Nov 23, 2017

After putting my desktop through the washing machine, I put it outside to air dry (cant put in dryer, it gets too hot), and now my computer is covered in pollen. Bad advice, OP. Do not listen to the OP!

# ? Apr 10, 2018 13:31