Dust filled computer

[Rob]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt (More info?)

Opened up a friends computer and it is very badly covered in dust. Managed
to get most out, but the video and audio cards are very dirty - the printed
circuit board side is covered in dust - would it be safe to remove them and
then use a household vacuum cleaner to clean the dirt off.

Thanks

Rob

 

[jad]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt (More info?)

use a camel hair paint brush


"Rob" <X@Y.Z> wrote in message
news:zfedncyK1uBqEfDcRVn-vQ@rogers.com...
> Opened up a friends computer and it is very badly covered in dust.
Managed
> to get most out, but the video and audio cards are very dirty - the
printed
> circuit board side is covered in dust - would it be safe to remove
them and
> then use a household vacuum cleaner to clean the dirt off.
>
> Thanks
>
> Rob
>
>

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt (More info?)

"Rob" <X@Y.Z> wrote in message news:zfedncyK1uBqEfDcRVn-vQ@rogers.com...
> Opened up a friends computer and it is very badly covered in dust. Managed
> to get most out, but the video and audio cards are very dirty - the printed
> circuit board side is covered in dust - would it be safe to remove them and
> then use a household vacuum cleaner to clean the dirt off.
>

Absolutely not. Use of a vacuum cleaner can cause static discharges
that will damage the components of a computer. Get some "dust
remover spray" or "canned air" from, for example, RadioShack,
Best Buy, or Circuit City and a dust mask. Then take the computer
outside and spray out the dust. Keep the end of the spray straw at
least six inches from any components and keep it moving so as
to avoid excessive thermal shock to the components.

-- Bob Day
http://bobday.vze.com

 

[Rob]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt (More info?)

"Rob" <X@Y.Z> wrote in message news:zfedncyK1uBqEfDcRVn-vQ@rogers.com...
> Opened up a friends computer and it is very badly covered in dust. Managed
> to get most out, but the video and audio cards are very dirty - the
printed
> circuit board side is covered in dust - would it be safe to remove them
and
> then use a household vacuum cleaner to clean the dirt off.
>
> Thanks
>
> Rob
>
>

Thanks for the advice. I used the air can after brushing the worst off .
Worked well.

 

[BigJim]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt (More info?)

take it outside and blow the dust off
"Rob" <X@Y.Z> wrote in message news:zfedncyK1uBqEfDcRVn-vQ@rogers.com...
> Opened up a friends computer and it is very badly covered in dust. Managed
> to get most out, but the video and audio cards are very dirty - the
> printed
> circuit board side is covered in dust - would it be safe to remove them
> and
> then use a household vacuum cleaner to clean the dirt off.
>
> Thanks
>
> Rob
>
>

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt (More info?)

In article <VXibd.252160$3l3.114982@attbi_s03>,
BigJIm <Jim10277@hotmail.com> wrote:
>take it outside and blow the dust off
>"Rob" <X@Y.Z> wrote in message news:zfedncyK1uBqEfDcRVn-vQ@rogers.com...
>> Opened up a friends computer and it is very badly covered in dust. Managed
>> to get most out, but the video and audio cards are very dirty - the
>> printed
>> circuit board side is covered in dust - would it be safe to remove them
>> and
>> then use a household vacuum cleaner to clean the dirt off.
>>
>> Thanks
>>
>> Rob
>>
>>
>
>


A vacuum can generate lots of static. Use a can of compressed air,
instead.

--
Al Dykes
-----------
adykes at p a n i x . c o m

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt (More info?)

"Rob" <X@Y.Z> wrote in message news:zfedncyK1uBqEfDcRVn-vQ@rogers.com...
> Opened up a friends computer and it is very badly covered in dust. Managed
> to get most out, but the video and audio cards are very dirty - the
> printed
> circuit board side is covered in dust - would it be safe to remove them
> and
> then use a household vacuum cleaner to clean the dirt off.
>
> Thanks
>
> Rob
>


Maybe one of those nifty Swiffer Dusters?

 

[Phisherman]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt (More info?)

On Wed, 13 Oct 2004 16:12:36 -0400, "Rob" <X@Y.Z> wrote:

>Opened up a friends computer and it is very badly covered in dust. Managed
>to get most out, but the video and audio cards are very dirty - the printed
>circuit board side is covered in dust - would it be safe to remove them and
>then use a household vacuum cleaner to clean the dirt off.
>
>Thanks
>
>Rob
>


Get a can of computer compressed air. It is sold in a can. Big Lots
or WalMart. It is best not to touch the boards.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt (More info?)

Rob:

> Opened up a friends computer and it is very badly covered in dust.
> Managed to get most out, but the video and audio cards are very dirty
> - the printed circuit board side is covered in dust

Use a brush or canned air. I will tell you something that will probably
start a riot, but motherboards, video and audio cards are waterproof and
you can wash the components in soapy water, rinse well in warm water and
allow them to dry thoroughly before reinstalling. I would use compressed
air on any recesses like ports, sockets, etc.

Hopefully I don't need to mention that the system should be disambled and
unplugged.
--
Mac Cool

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt (More info?)

In article <Xns9581D92506B4CMacCool@24.25.9.41>,
Mac Cool <Mac@2cool.com> wrote:
>Rob:
>
>> Opened up a friends computer and it is very badly covered in dust.
>> Managed to get most out, but the video and audio cards are very dirty
>> - the printed circuit board side is covered in dust
>
>Use a brush or canned air. I will tell you something that will probably
>start a riot, but motherboards, video and audio cards are waterproof and
>you can wash the components in soapy water, rinse well in warm water and
>allow them to dry thoroughly before reinstalling. I would use compressed
>air on any recesses like ports, sockets, etc.


Yup. Over the last 20 years circuit board manufacturers have switched
from nasty solvents to pure water to clean the residue of
manufacturing. It's followed by blasts of hot air.

FIrst hand experience; I did disaster recovery planning for the
computer facilities for a big bank. Once I got to supervise the
cleanup of an office that was on the floor above a serious fire. Our
floor was soot-saturated. I called in a crew from a company that
specializes in computer cleanup. They came with a van loaded with
cleanup supplies. Here's what they did;

- They assembled a walk-in wet room with 2x4s and big plastic tarps.
- They had 5 Gal jugs of pure, de-ionized water and a mediuum pressure
preasure washer
- Outside the wet room they had a commercial sized kitchen
convection oven. You could cook 2 turkeys in it.

They disassembled everything to the circuit board level, washed each
board off, and then popped it in the on low heat-high airflow for a
couple minutes.

We did this for several PC servers and lots of PCs. It took a week
of long days.



>
>Hopefully I don't need to mention that the system should be disambled and
>unplugged.
>--
>Mac Cool


--
Al Dykes
-----------
adykes at p a n i x . c o m

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt (More info?)

Al Dykes wrote:

> In article <Xns9581D92506B4CMacCool@24.25.9.41>,
> Mac Cool <Mac@2cool.com> wrote:
>
>>Rob:
>>
>>
>>>Opened up a friends computer and it is very badly covered in dust.
>>>Managed to get most out, but the video and audio cards are very dirty
>>>- the printed circuit board side is covered in dust
>>
>>Use a brush or canned air. I will tell you something that will probably
>>start a riot, but motherboards, video and audio cards are waterproof and
>>you can wash the components in soapy water, rinse well in warm water and
>>allow them to dry thoroughly before reinstalling. I would use compressed
>>air on any recesses like ports, sockets, etc.
>
>
>
> Yup. Over the last 20 years circuit board manufacturers have switched
> from nasty solvents to pure water to clean the residue of
> manufacturing. It's followed by blasts of hot air.
>
> FIrst hand experience; I did disaster recovery planning for the
> computer facilities for a big bank. Once I got to supervise the
> cleanup of an office that was on the floor above a serious fire. Our
> floor was soot-saturated. I called in a crew from a company that
> specializes in computer cleanup. They came with a van loaded with
> cleanup supplies. Here's what they did;
>
> - They assembled a walk-in wet room with 2x4s and big plastic tarps.
> - They had 5 Gal jugs of pure, de-ionized water and a mediuum pressure
> preasure washer
> - Outside the wet room they had a commercial sized kitchen
> convection oven. You could cook 2 turkeys in it.
>
> They disassembled everything to the circuit board level, washed each
> board off, and then popped it in the on low heat-high airflow for a
> couple minutes.
>
> We did this for several PC servers and lots of PCs. It took a week
> of long days.
>

Yes. However, controlled cleaning with de-ionized water and forced
convection bake ovens is a different matter than simply saying PCBs are
'waterproof' so break out the tap water and soap suds, rinse, and dry.

Water doesn't instantly destroy a typical PC circuit board but they are not
'waterproof'.

>
>
>>Hopefully I don't need to mention that the system should be disambled and
>>unplugged.
>>--
>>Mac Cool
>

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt (More info?)

On 13 Oct 2004 23:14:58 -0400, adykes@panix.com (Al Dykes) wrote:


>
>Yup. Over the last 20 years circuit board manufacturers have switched
>from nasty solvents to pure water to clean the residue of
>manufacturing. It's followed by blasts of hot air.
>

Funny that more people here didn't know that. I guess the outsourcing
of PCBA's by most companies makes it an out of sight, out of mind
thing.

I seem to recall some bargain outfits actually used cheap dishwashers.

Not that the old vapor degreasers at cheap shops were so wonderful

I saw a vapor degreaser in TJ that was so contaminated by use without
replenishment, that a certain brand of resistor was losing physical
integrity (melting) on the boards. Left a little green blob of mush
with two leads sticking out.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt (More info?)

>>Use a brush or canned air. I will tell you something that will probably
>>start a riot, but motherboards, video and audio cards are waterproof and
>>you can wash the components in soapy water, rinse well in warm water and
>>allow them to dry thoroughly before reinstalling. I would use compressed
>>air on any recesses like ports, sockets, etc.
>
> Yup. Over the last 20 years circuit board manufacturers have switched
> from nasty solvents to pure water to clean the residue of
> manufacturing. It's followed by blasts of hot air.

I can confirm this.

In college I had a part time job putting motherboards together for a
small company that did assembly work for some of the bigger
manufacturers. My job was basically to take racks of assembled boards
and run them through a machine thatsoldered the whole underside of the
board at once. However, there was some solvent used that needed to be
washed off soon after soldering. We put them into a coveyor belt
washing system that included jet sprays of very hot water and then
blow-drying. After that they were shipped out.

One thing I will recommend if you do this: shake it dry then dab it with
a cloth, then use a can of air to get the little bits of water out, and
THEN let it sit at least overnight. Maybe come back and do another
air-spraying just to be sure, and check every inch before you start
putting things back together.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt (More info?)

> > A vacuum has an electric-powered motor in it.
>
> So, does your hard drive, CD drive, printer, scanner, etc. Your electric
> motors had better be insulated and grounded or you are in real trouble.
> Nope, that's not the answer.

The vacuum is channeling MUCH more power. The motor itself is (or shoule
be) properly grounded, but it generates a magnetic field that in turn helps
accumulate charge on parts of the vacuum that aren't as well grounded,
facilitated by fast moving air. Often, YOU are the ground when you handle
the device, but the charge is so minimal you don't get a shock unless you
let go of the vacuum and come back and pick it up. However, those minimal
charges might damage computer components. If you are grounded while you do
it however (wrist strap or keep your computer plugged in and touch the case)
you're probably fine.

IMHO, YMMV, etc.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt (More info?)

Al Dykes:

> FIrst hand experience; I did disaster recovery planning for the
> computer facilities for a big bank.

I first learned about it a few years ago, our state, NC, has experienced
severe flooding from all the hurricanes. It isn't worthwhile for
individuals or small businesses to hire professionals, but many PCs that
were completely submerged in flood waters and in some cases filled with
mud, were recovered, except for the PS and drives, just by disassembling
and washing them in soapy water, followed by a good rinse and dry.
--
Mac Cool

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt (More info?)

JAD wrote:
> use a camel hair paint brush

Yep. Unless there are nooks and crannies that are really full of dust
and can't be reached, then put canned air carefully to the task. I've
also used a non-static photographic type brush for this sort of thing.

>
>
> "Rob" <X@Y.Z> wrote in message
> news:zfedncyK1uBqEfDcRVn-vQ@rogers.com...
>
>>Opened up a friends computer and it is very badly covered in dust.
>
> Managed
>
>>to get most out, but the video and audio cards are very dirty - the
>
> printed
>
>>circuit board side is covered in dust - would it be safe to remove
>
> them and
>
>>then use a household vacuum cleaner to clean the dirt off.
>>
>>Thanks
>>
>>Rob
>>
>>
>
>
>


--
spammage trappage: replace fishies_ with yahoo

I'm going to die rather sooner than I'd like. I tried to protect my
neighbours from crime, and became the victim of it. To jump to the end
of the story, as a result of this I need a bone marrow transplant. Many
people around the world are waiting for a marrow transplant, too. Please
volunteer to be a marrow donor:
http://www.abmdr.org.au/
http://www.marrow.org/

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt (More info?)

>
> This is sort of an interesting thread (to me, anyway). I still haven't
> read any reason why moving air should generate static. Come to think of
> it, we don't get static shocks when the wind blows, do we? Maybe the heat
> from the motor of the vacuum cleaner lowers the humidity inside the
> vacuum, and that enables the build up of static?

Research van der graaf generators. The typical vacuum cleaner acts like a
van der graaf generator. The worst ones are the ones with a rubber belt
spinning the brushes. But air moving through a plastic wand or extension
can have the same effect. MASSIVE static buildup. And keep in mind that
voltages can be high enough to damage computer circuits long before there is
enough voltage to create a visible spark. -Dave

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt (More info?)

Al Smith:

> I still haven't read any reason why moving air should generate
> static. Come to think of it, we don't get static shocks when the wind
> blows, do we?

http://home.att.net/~waterfront-woods/Articles/Electricity/static.htm

some more reading
http://www.ce-mag.com/archive/2000/janfeb/mrstatic.html

--
Mac Cool

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt (More info?)

T Shadow:

> One day I wanted to erase the
> information on 10 disks without taking the time to do it in a drive.
> Anyway I tried demagnitizing them with industrial demagnitizers at
> work. Didn't erase anything. I never worried about getting the disks
> close to the crt after that and never had a prolbem.

You should have given them to me, it often seems that all I have to do is
touch a floppy and the data is corrupted.
--
Mac Cool

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt (More info?)

"Mac Cool" <Mac@2cool.com> wrote in message
news:Xns9583176B848BMacCool@24.25.9.43...
> T Shadow:
>
> > One day I wanted to erase the
> > information on 10 disks without taking the time to do it in a drive.
> > Anyway I tried demagnitizing them with industrial demagnitizers at
> > work. Didn't erase anything. I never worried about getting the disks
> > close to the crt after that and never had a prolbem.
>
> You should have given them to me, it often seems that all I have to do is
> touch a floppy and the data is corrupted.
> --
> Mac Cool

Where were you in 1990? :^) Actually I wanted to totally erase financial
information not just corrupt the FAT/directory.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt (More info?)

If I understand this correctly, the air passing over the end of the
palstic(dielectric) nozzle is causing a charge to build up at there.
Wouldn't using a metal nozzle, preferably grounded or attched to the
chassis, elimenate the problem?

Using compressed air the nozzle is metal and/or if plastic it stays farther
from the computer, right? I have a compressor so its my weapon of choice.

 

[Clyde]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt (More info?)

Dave C. wrote:
>>This is sort of an interesting thread (to me, anyway). I still haven't
>>read any reason why moving air should generate static. Come to think of
>>it, we don't get static shocks when the wind blows, do we? Maybe the heat
>>from the motor of the vacuum cleaner lowers the humidity inside the
>>vacuum, and that enables the build up of static?
>
>
> Research van der graaf generators. The typical vacuum cleaner acts like a
> van der graaf generator. The worst ones are the ones with a rubber belt
> spinning the brushes. But air moving through a plastic wand or extension
> can have the same effect. MASSIVE static buildup. And keep in mind that
> voltages can be high enough to damage computer circuits long before there is
> enough voltage to create a visible spark. -Dave
>
>

In theory, you are right. In practice, is that really so? Sure, I
remember those generators from HS Physics class. I suppose a vacuum
cleaner COULD be working that way; it kind of LOOKS like it. However, I
don't get any static shocks from my vacuum cleaner. Why?

Your last sentence it why I've never done it, but...

Clyde

 

[Clyde]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt (More info?)

Mac Cool wrote:
> Al Smith:
>
>
>>I still haven't read any reason why moving air should generate
>>static. Come to think of it, we don't get static shocks when the wind
>>blows, do we?
>
>
> http://home.att.net/~waterfront-woods/Articles/Electricity/static.htm
>
> some more reading
> http://www.ce-mag.com/archive/2000/janfeb/mrstatic.html
>

Ah, very good. The best answers yet; particularly the first one. Thanks.

I'm not sure that would transfer directly to my vacuum cleaner, but the
science is close enough to not start using it to vacuum the inside of my
computer.

Thanks,
Clyde

 

[Clyde]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt (More info?)

Al Dykes wrote:
> A google of "helicopter static electricity" comes up with lots of
> discussion of what happens if you grab a cable lowered from a copter
> before it hits the ground.
>
> Google for "physics static electricity air flow" will propably come up
> with an axplanation of wht the accumulation happens.
>

No, no! We want you to spoon feed us. We don't want to have to think or
work on our own. ;-)

Clyde

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt (More info?)

>> A google of "helicopter static electricity" comes up with lots of
>> discussion of what happens if you grab a cable lowered from a copter
>> before it hits the ground.
>>
>> Google for "physics static electricity air flow" will propably come up
>> with an axplanation of wht the accumulation happens.
>>
>
> No, no! We want you to spoon feed us. We don't want to have to think or work on our own. ;-)
>
> Clyde

I'll think on my own if I absolutely have to. Anyway, Googling
isn't quite the same as thinking.