PC Hardware Maintenance

Most of the time, when it comes to hardware, this module should be all that you need. The first thing you will want to do is find a clean surface to work at. You will possibly be blowing dust around, so the dinner table might not be the best place, unless it is the only place available. Cover the work surface with your static mat to both mitigate ESD, and to protect the work surface from getting damaged by sharp corners, or slipping screw drivers! Make sure you have your wrist strap handy and we are ready to start.

Your computer should have all external cables disconnected. Place the computer on the table and open the side panel of you computer. Clip the wrist strap to a section of bare metal on the computer case and place the other end on your wrist, making sure the metal plate is firm against your skin.

Use the vacuum cleaner to remove any large fuzz balls that have taken up residence inside the machine. You might use the compressed air to dislodge some of the beasts that are hiding behind boards or cables. Do not worry about getting all of the dirt at this point, we are just trying to make it easier to see all of the components. I recommend staying away from the fans at this point.

Perform a visual inspection of the computer. You are looking for obvious problems, not hidden technical issues. Carefully check the cables to be sure they are firmly connected. When checking the cables, be careful that you do not disconnect them by mistake. It can be tricky to get some cables re-connected correctly. If you are daring, you may want to disconnect, and re-connect each cable. However, it may be better to leave that for Module 2.

Another thing to look for is that there are no obstacles (wires, tags, stickers, etc..) that may get caught in fans. If you find such an object, remove it if you can, otherwise try to tuck it away so that it will stay away from the fan.

Air flow is very important in keeping the computer working correctly. Most computers are designed to get the air to follow a specific path through the machine. The fan in the power supply vents air out the back. The air is generally drawn in through the opposite corner. This causes air to be pulled past the interface cards, over the processor and memory, and then through the power supply. The reason I point this out is that I have met people that recognize that cooling is important. The solution they generally try is just leaving the side of the computer open. This is not always a good idea since now the air does not get pulled past everything. The fans no longer can do their jobs (except for maybe device fans like the processor fan).

Keep airflow in mind when inspecting the computer. Make sure there are no cables that might block good airflow past anything that might generate heat. Below is a list of devices that may generate, or are sensitive, to heat.

Processor
Memory
Enhanced Video Cards
Hard Drives
Power Supply

Other devices will generate some heat, but these are the 'biggies'. Anything that you see with a metal heat sink will probably generate heat and need to be cooled.

We can return to using the vacuum to clean out the dust and dirt. This time you may want to have both the canned air, and the brushes handy. Again, be careful that you do not bump anything loose. You can use the vacuum to clean out the fans, but do not let the fans spin too fast or they may break. Make sure you clean out all of the vent openings on the case. When using canned air, try to blow debris OUT, rather than IN. For example, with a heat sink, instead of blowing straight down, blow at an angle.

Once you have the dust and fuzz-balls out, you can remove your wrist strap clip from the case, and replace the cover on the computer.

At some point, after you have your computer back in place and running for a while, you may want to carefully open the case and make sure all of the fans are running. Some fans only run when they are needed, so it is best to check this when the computer has been busy and is likely HOT.

Advanced Maintenance

This level is not needed most of the time. It is not to be performed by the faint of heart. Since computer parts can shift due to heating and cooling, sometimes it may be necessary to re-seat some of the components. This involves removing and reinstalling all of the components such as any add-in boards, memory, processors, and cables. If you are not careful, it is very easy to break parts as you do this. If any parts are installed incorrectly, it is possible to fry the main board. I include this paragraph because any discussion of maintenance requires it. However, it is risky and I strongly advise against it if you do not have experience in assembling computers.