cleaning a case, don't use a vacume

[MikeL]

if you're calling it a hard drive, you have no business trying to do any sort of software or hardware maintenance whatsoever.

just my opinion.

[Baroque]

Normally I would be getting pissed at everybody in this topic, but it is a good point that in this particular case (actual hardware maintenance) the rather large distinction between a hard drive and a case is pretty important.

However, as usual, everyone is overreacting about this mistake. I don't see why an entire page of extremely angry persons responding was necessary, particularly after the mistake was admitted.

Oh wait; Lightning and MikeL were here. Never mind, then.



If there is dust in your case, and you're uncertain how to handle the components of a computer (ie. you cannot remember their names), you should probably have somebody else do it for you. You should not risk trial and error on such a delicate operation, although blowing dust out really isn't very hard for anyone with experience.

Also, you might lose the screws. **** that.



My (witness) experience is that someone who remembers where each of the wires and plugins go takes them out, because they get in the way, and blows safe / stable areas with compressed air held from a good distance until the majority of dust is removed, then returns them.

Under no circumstances should moisture or anything stupid like that be anywhere near the computer (I'm extremely unlucky and thus try to keep a distance of 10+ feet from any fall-able objects.) This is unlikely to happen if any sense at all is exercised while the case is open.

Although I've never seen it happen, I imagine that holding the compressed air too close or blowing into the (grossly) wrong area will risk damage to the system.

[MikeL]

It's what I do 8)