Dust - A Hazard to Your Computer

If you were to survey personal computer repair technicians, what type of computer problem would you think their response would be as to what is top cause of computer malfunctions? You might guess their answer would be computer viruses or hard drive failures, but you might be wrong. One of the major causes of computer problems that force users to take their computer to a repair facility is the result of internal dust build-up!

What are the symptoms that point to a problem of dust build-up? If your desktop or laptop computer shuts off after it's on for some time, but then when you wait a while and turn it on again, it works fine, dust accumulation inside your computer is most likely the culprit! Dust collecting on components inside your computer's case will cause them to overheat. If your computer's components overheat, they may cause a number of problems, including shutting down of the computer. Obviously, if you turn your computer off and let it cool down, it will work fine when turned back on, until the heat builds up again.

You know how fast dust piles up around your home. Dusting seems like a never ending battle. Just wipe your finger across any TV set or computer monitor screen that uses a cathode ray tube (picture tube) and you'll see how fast and thick dust accumulates. The high voltage on picture tubes is an additional attraction to dust.

Your computer also has a tendency to collect dust faster than other furnishings. That's because many computers today have one or more fans inside that draw in air.

The cure to this serious problem is fairly easy. If you feel competent enough, you can disconnect your desktop computer from the electrical outlet, remove the cover, and carefully vacuum the inside. Or, take the computer outside, remove the cover and blow the dust out with a can of compressed air (which should be available at your local office supply store or computer retailer). It is not recommend to take apart a laptop or notebook computer. They are very delicate and it is easy to damage them if you are not experienced at taking them apart.

Make it a habit to vacuum or blow out the dust in your desktop computer regularly, and have a qualified service technician clean your laptop computer periodically.