HOW-TO: Clean your computer for better performance

Yes, we clean our computers all right. We wipe the monitor, making it all shiny, keyboard's all dust-free and we even wipe clean the belly of our mouse. But, that's all superficiality. What about the inside? Have you ever given a thought to cleaning up your PC inside out?

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I think most of you will answer no. This is not the right approach. A computer's cabinet is not sealed as we want the air to come inside the cabinet and cool things down, as the air is sucked inside the computer by the fans some dust particles also make their way on to the delicate circuit board of the machine. I know none of you would want to see some foreign materials harm the delicate parts of your computer. Here is a guide that would teach you the right way to clean a computer.

Step 1: Unplug all cables

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The first step should be to unplug all the cables attached to the cabinet of the computer, it is better to first remove the wires connecting the system to the mains. After removing the main cables the next step is to remove all other cables that are connected to the back panel of the computer. These cables will include the mouse, keyboard, connections, monitor and even USB devices that you might have connected to the computer.

Step 2: Move the cabinet to a large table

Once the cabinet is free from all external connections it is better to move it on top of a desk however, a large table will always be appreciated as the more surface area you have the better you will be able to place the removed components.

Step 3: Remove the cover of the cabinet and click some pictures of the interior

Remove the cover of the cabinet; most new machines don't have a cabinet with covers screwed up to the chassis. So removing the cover is not difficult... all you have to do is to figure out the locks holding the covers in place. Once the covers are off don't forget to click some images of the interior and take out a hard copy of them. These images will help you in case you forget which wire should be connected to which part while reassembling the computer.

Step 4: Remove Components

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When you open the covers you might see that there is a thick layer of dust around some components and on the floor of the cabinet. The components that are most prone to dust are those near the fans and the fans themselves. This dust can act as a conductor between components and can destroy them. First of all try to remove the wires that are coming from the SMPS of the system these wires are in different colors and one of them is a thick lot of wire that is connected to the motherboard of the computer. Remove this connector without damaging any component or the wires themselves. Next remove the data buses and the power lines that connect the SMPS to the HDD, FDD and the CD/DVD Burners or what ever you have in there to the motherboard. Remove them slowly and carefully so that you don't break any pins from the connectors of both the optical device and the motherboard. After the wires are off you might get to see a better picture of the cabinet. Now slowly unscrew the optical drives, FDDs and HDDs that you just unplugged. Remove these drives and keep them on a static free cloth. Finally remove the RAM by unlocking two locks that are present on both ends of the RAM. Place the RAM on a static free cloth. Next comes the turn of the most crucial element of the system, the microprocessor. I do not recommend any amateurs to remove the microprocessor. If you think you still want to do this and have some processor paste at your disposal then remove the fan by unlocking the fan's holders. These are mostly different in different systems so you should refer to the manual of the system. Slowly remove the fan and the heat sink that comes with it. When this is done you should now unlock the processor. Processors are usually tied down with the help of a lever-like lock. Unlock it and then finally remove the processor very carefully so that you don't end up having a broken processor. Carefully place the processor with its pins pointing upwards on a static free cloth. Static electricity can damage the delicate components of a processor so please make sure that you are using a static free cloth to keep your removed components.

Step 5: Clean

Do not remove the motherboard from the system as fixing it back in place might be a tedious task for many. Once all the components have been removed from the motherboard cleaning it is simple. Clean the covers of the cabinet with a damp cloth or wash them thoroughly with washing powder. Use a damp cloth to clean the interior of the motherboard and make sure that all the dust is removed from the floor and the corners of the cabinet. Once that is done use a vacuum cleaner to clean the fans, motherboard, heat sinks, keyboards and mice. Clean the HDDs and the optical drives with a soft static free cloth. Try to clean the data connectors of these drives as well using a static free cloth.

Step 6: Reassemble

Once the cleaning work is done the next part is to bring the computer back to life. Reconnect all the components following a reverse order as you did in step 4. Be sure to apply some processor paste between the processor and the heat sink. This paste acts as a conductor and assures that the heat distribution is even between the processor and the heat sink. Then connect the processor to the motherboard by following the markings on the motherboard and the processor. Once the processor is in fix the heat sink and the fan back in place. Connect all wires from the SMPS to the motherboard and the fans. Next attach all the drives to the cabinet and screw them tightly. Attach the buses and the power cables to these drives. Finally put the RAM back in place. You will get a tick sound of the locks when the RAM is in its perfect position. Check all the connections with the images you clicked before removing the components from the computer. Then, proceed to clean the outer surface with a non-corrosive liquid, so that everything is really glossy. Finally wipe dry the covers if you have washed them to make sure that no moisture has remained inside the computer.

Step 7: Connect and enjoy

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Connect the monitor, keyboard, mice, network cables and USB devices to the back panel of the computer and finally connect it to the main supply. You will see that there is a clear performance increase of your computer. Repeat the procedure at least every two months for a happier computer.

Please Note:

1) Removing the covers of the cabinet of your computer might result in the end of your system's warranty. Better remove the covers once the system is out of the mentioned warranty period.

2) You are removing the covers and the components at your own risk and the GizmoWatch team will not be responsible for any damages that might occur.

Image Credits: DIY Life