Number 197 - October 1999

Dust is a Fact of Life For Anyone With a PC
from Q&A by Patrick Marshall Seattle Times JUly 18, 1999
Q. In this current era of rampant major construction projects and mass expansion every which wat, my PC has sucked up more dust than a camel at a dry well. How can I safely clean it out and keep it dust free from then on?     Erika A. Short of setting up a "clean room" with air filters, you're not going to keep dust out of your PC. To keep cool, the PC needs to circulate fresh air inside the PC box. Along with that fresh air, the fan in your PC brings in dust.     The dust isn't generally harmful unless it gets moist. Still, if enough dust builds up inside it can result in the PC running hotter. Periodically, I take my PC out on the porch, open the cover and blast it with a can of compressed air.	TOGGLE Editor's Note:     Blast is a relative term. Use canned air as the author suggests. Don't use high pressure air designed to drive factory tools since it will likely damage your PC components. Blowing your own breath over the components is relatively safe, except that your breath contains moisture which, unlikely as it seems, may create an unwanted electrical path between components and that is not desirable. I'll bet you blow on stuff anyway--I confess I do--just try to keep your spittle to a minimum.     If you have pets, animal hair has also been known to clog air delivery screens and systems, even keyboards. Check air passages periodically to ensure that they are free of hair as well as dust or other debris.
Number 197 - October 1999