Hardware Maintenance

preventive maintenance that will help improve life time of the computers

General Notes

  • Don’t drink (or eat) around computers.
  • Keep it clean, especially air filters and ventilation paths.
  • Put a power surge suppressor on the power line.
  • Never move the computer when it is turned on.
  • Avoid vibrations and shocks even if its turn off.
  • Be firm but gentle when seating boards, chips, connectors, etc.

Preparation

Basic Hardware Information

What’s needed:

  • screw drivers
  • a lint free dry cloth: paper towel or those used for eye glasses
  • cotton buds
  • brush or tooth brush
  • a vacuum cleaner
  • a can of compressed air
  • distilled water
  • isopropyl (alcohol)
  • anti static spray: Never spray directly onto the device! Rather spray on a paper towel and use this to clean.

Cleaning

  1. Shutdown the computers
  2. Power off the system
  3. Disconnect all devices. Last cable to disconnect is the PC power cable.

Make sure that all power supply is removed!
You should do the cleaning outside the room, because you move a lot of dust.

Mouse

A dirty mouse effects in troubles of moving the pointer.

  1. Disconnect the mouse.
  2. Flip the mouse upside down, so that you face the bottom side.
  3. Remove the plate that retains the ball by twisting it in the direction of the arrow.
  4. Remove the tracking ball.
  5. Clean the rollers inside the mouse. You can do this with a fingernail or a knife.
  6. In some sticky cases you might use cotton bud soaked in isopropyl.
  7. Put back the tracking ball.
  8. Put back the mouse ball retainer plate and twist it to close.

Have a look at the pictures on How to clean a mouse

Keyboard

A dirty keyboard effects that keys are not working properly.

  1. Disconnect the keyboard.
  2. You better go outside now.
  3. Turn the keyboard upside-down and give it a vigorous shake. (… look at the outcome!)
  4. Clean the keyboard with a dry cloth.

That’s it.
If you need to clean with a liquid use distilled water and let it dry for at least 24 hours.
However if you want to clean the keyboard more thorough have a look here: How to clean a dirty keyboard or watch a video How to Clean Up Keyboard Spills

CRT Monitor

Only for tube based monitors!

A dirty monitor effects in a blurry screen.

  1. Disconnect the monitor.
  2. Clean the screen with a glass cleaner and a soft cloth or anti static cloth.
  3. You may use an anti static spray.
  4. Clean the monitor allover with a dry cloth to remove the dust.
  5. Use a vacuum cleaner to remove dust from holes on upper and back side.

PC

A dirty PC effects in overheating the CPU (Central Processor Unit) and breaks the computer.

  • Whenever you want to touch something inside the PC with your hands, first touch the case!
    Electrostatic shocks can destroy many integrated circuits instantly with no visible sign of damage.
  • Avoid using the vacuum cleaner directly inside the PC. It will generate static electricity and it might remove loosely parts or break something.
  1. Disconnect the PC completely.
  2. Put the PC up onto a desk.
  3. Use a brush to remove dust from the ventilation paths.
  4. Open the PC, how depends depends on the model. For older ones you may need a screwdriver.
  5. Remove the dust bunnies with a dry cloth or a paper towel.
  6. Use a brush to clean especially air filters and ventilation paths.
  7. Use a can of compressed air in short bursts to remove dust from all the single parts.
  8. Remove the dust which came out of the PC with a vacuum cleaner.

Have a look at a video on How to Clean a Computer

Finish

  1. Bring all devices back to position.
  2. Plug in all devices.
  3. Boot and check if it works.