This might seem off topic but it really isn't. I consider my computer to be a tool as important for fixing my truck as I do any tool in my shop. Just like almost everyone here, I have files with a copy of the shop manual, and parts manuals but I also vendor's web sites and a bunch of other very helpful information pertaining to my vehicles.

Today while doing my almost daily perusing of FTE I started a reply to a post when my computer suddenly stopped and I got the dreaded blue screen of death. I haven't seen this since I upgraded from Windows 95 many years ago. I am currently running XP at home and Windows 7 at the shop. I rebooted and the computer would only come to a DOS window telling me to reboot from CD, which I tried numerous times and it didn't work. I thought about the situation for a few minutes and remembered how fast the machine snapped off. One thing that I thought could make it react so fast was heat. It's been really hot and dry here lately, lots of dust in the air. I pulled the computer and opened it up and man, was it dusty inside there! I took it outside and used a small portable air compressor to blow the insides out, making sure to blow the small fans clean. I really made a cloud of dust! Be careful when blowing the little fans, when hit with the slightest amount air they will spin a 1,000,000 rpm and will take a chunk of meat out of your finger if you try to stop them, I know from past experience doing this. I put the computer back together and at first it didn't do much better than before. I rebooted it a few times and after futzing with the prompt commands got it to start Windows again. At first Windows ran really slow but after a couple of reboots the machine started running faster than it has in months. I don't know if blowing all of the dust fixed all the problems but I'm sure it helped a lot.

Remember, your computer is more than toy, you have a lot of important stuff on it.

 

Very good advice. And I'll come back and add that if you have it on the floor, get it up on something at least a couple inches above floor level where much dust collects and is sucked thru the computer.

 

I agree. My wife(the computer person in the family) takes ours apart at least once a year to blow the dust out. Am always surprised at how dirty it is.

 

I keep a couple of those canned air thingies around - They are made to blow dust from electronical gizzmos - They also are good for getting crumbs out of your beard.
There is also a canned electronics cleaner - It has some foul smelling stuff that comes out thru a brush - I've used it to clean the contact on circut boards and make things work.

 

I think I pee'd my pants a little, from laughing!!!!!!!! I gotta meet you sometime Dick, you gotta have some sense of humor! LMAO

 

I've also taken the 4 small screws that hold the fan in place and blown the fins behind it, they are also full of dust. Then the Heat Sink right above it, its square in shape with pegs protruding from it, blow that out as well.

As you mentioned be carefull, to much air pressure can do it more harm than good.

 

Also, don't forget to scan your computers for spyware, cookies, and viruses. I use two FREE programs (AVG FRee and AdAware); so far, they've kept me running.

 

I've known Dick for many years, I think he and I, among a few other old timers were the first to inhabit FTE, back when it started as an email digest. I had the pleasure of meeting Dick in person, Dick what was it maybe 8 years ago? When I bought a panel truck in PA that was on eBay. There was no way I was going to be in PA and not meet Dick Crabtree in person. I was not disappointed, Dick is exactly in person as he is on FTE. Dick, I wish you were able to make it to Truckstock. I think everyone is missing out on one of the treasures of FTE.

Good recommendation, it all should be done like changing the batteries in you home alarms. My wife doesn't like the whole computer thing and thinks it's a waste of time. She just doesn't' realize how intertwined computers have gotten with our every day life. Today being without a computer can be difficult.

 

It's like a sixth sense, i believe you, and truly would like to meet you Mr. Crabtree.
Hey Bob! Nice flyer for Truckstock!

 

Thank you!

 

Here's the links:

AVG Anti-Virus: Works well, Free, fairly easy to use. Make sure you set the update function to automatic, and there's no need for your average user to purchase anything, including their upgrades.

Spybot Search & Destroy: A staple product. Removes adware and malware. Very popular and very easy to use. Keep it updated, (there's a big "check for updates" button) and run it every couple of weeks. Also free.

Malware Bytes: Also free, and very effective. Always run 2 malware/adware scanners...it's extra insurance. Easy to use, and again, keep it updated. No need to purchase the full version, and don't get lost in the settings. Run the quick scan.

Run your adware/malware scanners regularly. Once a week if you are paranoid, every 2 weeks is fine. Once a month is fine if you don't do to much random web surfing. Start it up before you go to bed, it can take a bit of time.
Stay away from flash games, and FYI...you probably don't have any rich relatives in Nigeria. If you don't know who the email is from, don't click on any link or picture attached to it.
Remember to shut your computer down for a few hours every week. They get do get hot, and cooling off does them good. Let them cool off before you start blowing cold compressed air into them.

 

When I first read the title to this thread my mind immediately started thinking about cleaning out the history cache......maybe because I sometimes get sidetracked with by scantilly clad ladies and end up in some weird dark places of the internet....ooops, did I just say that out loud? dang it

I live in a dry, dusty, environment. I typically take my computer out to the driveway at least once a year and subject it to a thorough compressed air blowing out. I also try do the TV's, etc. My son's heat generator (Xbox360) gets a good blowing out several times a year.

Bobby

 

Dog hair gets into everything!