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Chapter Five. Maintaining a Computer Part I: Cleaning a Computer. Strata Objectives Covered. 5.3 (3.2 FC0-U21 U.K.) Identify preventative maintenance products, procedures, and how to use them Liquid cleaning compounds Types of materials used to clean contacts and connections Compressed air
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Chapter Five Maintaining a ComputerPart I: Cleaning a Computer
Strata Objectives Covered 5.3 (3.2 FC0-U21 U.K.) Identify preventative maintenance products, procedures, and how to use them • Liquid cleaning compounds • Types of materials used to clean contacts and connections • Compressed air • Cleaning monitors • Cleaning removable media devices • Ventilation, dust, and moisture control on PC hardware interior • Replacing printer consumables (U.K. only) 2
Why Clean a Computer? • More pleasant to use • Less prone to overheating • Dust and hair clogs up vents • Dirt that settles on chips insulate them, keeping the heat in • Better performance • Dirty mouse can behave erratically • Dirty keyboard keys can stick • Dirty monitor is difficult to view 3
Cleaning Supplies • Spray cleaner • May have antistatic properties if designed for computers • Spray on a cloth, then wipe; do not spray directly onto computer • Monitor cleaner • Spray or towelette • Specifically designed for monitors (antistatic, no ammonia)
Cleaning Supplies • Can of compressed air • Blows dust out of crevices • Can be used to cool a hot chip when troubleshooting • Cotton swabs and alcohol • Not rubbing alcohol (too much water) • Antistatic spray • Spray on floor in work area to minimize static electricity
Cleaning Supplies • (Optional) Small hand-held vacuum cleaner designed for electronics • Regular vacuums don’t have a fine enough filter • Regular vacuums generate static electricity when they operate
Cleaning a Monitor • Turn off before cleaning • Clean outer casing with spray computer-cleaning solution • Spray the cleaner on the cloth, then wipe • Clean the glass using a cleaner designed specifically for monitors • Don’t use glass cleaner containing ammonia • Don’t spray directly onto the screen
Cleaning External Surfaces • Computer-cleaning spray product or mild general-purpose cleaner • Mild soapy water with a damp cloth may also be used
Cleaning a Keyboard • Turn off the PC and unplug the keyboard • Turn the keyboard upside down and shake it over a trash can • Use compressedair to blow dirt out from underkeys
Cleaning a Keyboard • Clean the key tops with a cloth or paper towel dampened with computer-cleaning spray liquid • Do not remove keys • Do not spray the keyboard directly • If liquid is spilled on keyboard, turn it upside down and unplug it immediately; let it dry for at least 48 hours
Cleaning a Mouse • Symptoms of dirty mouse • Erratic pointer movement • Pointer moves in only one direction • Mouse doesn’t work at all • Cleaning varies depending on whether mouse is mechanical (with ball) or optical (with light sensor)
Cleaning an Optical Mouse • Wipe off the outside • Use a cotton swab dipped in alcohol to clean out the hollow area where the light shines through
Cleaning a Mechanical Mouse • Rotate the plastic plate that holds the ball in place • Turn the mouse over, and catch the ball and plate as they fall out • Clean the inside of the ball chamber with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol • Clean the ball with mild soapy water and dry it thoroughly; do not use alcohol on rubber ball because it dries it out
Cleaning the Inside of a PC • Avoid using liquid cleaners inside a PC • If liquid is absolutely necessary, use alcohol on a cotton swab
Cleaning the Inside of a PC • Cleaning the inside of a PC removes dirt or hair that may be preventing air flow through the case • Remove the case cover • Fish out any large clumps with fingers • Blow out the case with compressed air or use vacuum designed for electronics • If very dirty, take outside before blowing out case
Cleaning Circuit Board Contacts • Old circuit boards build up deposits on the metal pins • Remove deposits with a pencil eraser, or with alcohol and a cotton swab • Avoid touching any of the circuitry on the board • Handle boards only by their edges
Cleaning the Power Supply • Wipe off air vents with a damp paper towel • Point the compressed air nozzle at an angle to the fan opening rather than blowing straight into it
Cleaning a Printer • Wipe down the outside plastic parts with computer cleaner sprayed on a cloth or paper towel • There are no user-cleanable parts inside a modern printer • Older laser printers had some cleanable wires inside • PC technicians can hand-clean ink jets but this is beyond end-user skill level
Cleaning Up Toner • Wipe up toner with a damp paper towel • Vacuum spilled toner with a vacuum designed for electronics only • Do not use regular vacuum because filter is not fine enough • Toner particles will get into the air; they are carcinogenic • Clean toner out of fabrics with a magnet
Cleaning Ink Jets • Use the software-based cleaning utility built into the printer • Activate using buttons on printer (refer to manual), or • Activate using software utility in the operating system
Cleaning Removable Media • Wipe a dirty CD or DVD gently with a soft cloth • If surface is grimy or sticky, use an alcohol-dampened towelette or cloth • Air dry thoroughly before use • Use a scratch-remover kit if needed