Must have been a PC that was used in a garage.

Three minutes of air blasting and...good as new! At least the fans were still moving.

Someone needs to tell that guy that blasting air into the PC like that isn't a real good idea- you end up driving dust into places it shouldn't go.

Meh. I had to tear down an AS/400 that had been in a construction equipment closet for nine years. That PC was merely untidy.

that reminds me. I should do some spring cleaning on my case.

Dinki: Someone needs to tell that guy that blasting air into the PC like that isn't a real good idea- you end up driving dust into places it shouldn't go.

I've done this hundreds of times, and never have I experienced what you're talking about. There's nothing wrong with what they're doing here.

As others have said, this isn't particularly remarkable. Probably the worst example I've seen is the server for a woodworking manufacturer client of mine. Their server, which wasn't even on the production floor, looked like this every two months or so. Being a server, it had 5 powerful fans pushing combustible sawdust into the thing 24/7. How that thing kept running is beyond me.

I have owned a computer store for 24 years now in michigan.. and that pc wouldnt' make it into my top 100 of dirty machines, the smokers machines are much worse, everything turns to a brown GOO you can't get off of anything:(

Machine shop computers have the worst dust though..

unyon: Dinki: Someone needs to tell that guy that blasting air into the PC like that isn't a real good idea- you end up driving dust into places it shouldn't go.

I've done this hundreds of times, and never have I experienced what you're talking about. There's nothing wrong with what they're doing here.

As others have said, this isn't particularly remarkable. Probably the worst example I've seen is the server for a woodworking manufacturer client of mine. Their server, which wasn't even on the production floor, looked like this every two months or so. Being a server, it had 5 powerful fans pushing combustible sawdust into the thing 24/7. How that thing kept running is beyond me.

Because dust is non-conductive, and non-corrosive.

Yup, not massively remarkable. My PC sits on the floor under my bed. Every 8-12 months I give it a clean out and although it doesn't look like that, there is always a solid layer of dust on the case fan blades, processor heatsink and generally a good amount of dust coating the bottom of the case and the motherboard.

Now, a question for the geeks out there. I tend to use a small air blower (one of those used for blowing dust of the front of a camera lens) but I'm always hella careful around the fans. I read many years ago that manually rotating the fans is bad for them so I'd assumed that blowing them around with air would be bad for them too. Is this true?

And I thought the Russians that free climb up 10,000 foot towers to bungee of on homemade ropes were risk takers!

downstairs: Because dust is non-conductive, and non-corrosive.

It's also an excellent insulator, so those pretty heat sinks and fans lose their effectiveness pretty quickly when caked with it.

My concern was neither conductivity or corrosion, but rather "thermal failure with visual indications", as Compaq used to call such an event.

I had to replace a power supply on 1 of my boxes yesterday. While I was in there, I dusted it out, so I'm getting a kick out of your replies...

I run mine through the dishwasher every six months. The laptop every 3 months.

The sound of one hand clapping: Yup, not massively remarkable. My PC sits on the floor under my bed. Every 8-12 months I give it a clean out and although it doesn't look like that, there is always a solid layer of dust on the case fan blades, processor heatsink and generally a good amount of dust coating the bottom of the case and the motherboard.

Now, a question for the geeks out there. I tend to use a small air blower (one of those used for blowing dust of the front of a camera lens) but I'm always hella careful around the fans. I read many years ago that manually rotating the fans is bad for them so I'd assumed that blowing them around with air would be bad for them too. Is this true?

The problem with using compressed air is that the fan will spin very fast and damage either bushings or bearings.

I unplugged my fans.
Never have this problem.

Do like that guy did and put your finger on the fan so it doesn't spin, and don't be too aggressive around the power supply fans and bits you can't hold still.

just don't be a dumbass and do it inside. WTF??? first 10 seconds or so is enough...

Huh... Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. Looks like in that PC someone was either coming or going.

So that's where grandma's ashes went.......

Dinki: Someone needs to tell that guy that blasting air into the PC like that isn't a real good idea- you end up driving dust into places it shouldn't go.

That's why I use a leaf blower! Pencils in the fans keep them stationary..

I_Am_Weasel: I run mine through the dishwasher every six months. The laptop every 3 months.

I never thought of trying this. Thanks for the great tip. What setting is best?

unchellmatt: Huh... Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. Looks like in that PC someone was either coming or going.

Dr Peppers.

unyon: downstairs: Because dust is non-conductive, and non-corrosive.

It's also an excellent insulator, so those pretty heat sinks and fans lose their effectiveness pretty quickly when caked with it.

My concern was neither conductivity or corrosion, but rather "thermal failure with visual indications", as Compaq used to call such an event.

I don't know, I have a 333Mhz computer that's been running 24/7 since 1998 or so. Never cleaned it. Heck, never opened the case but maybe once.

I'm amazed that thing fired up at all. When mine gets too dusty (nowhere near as bad as this) I get lockups and BSODs all the time. Just a delicate going over with a dyson is good enough (and clearing CMOS whil I'm in there).

downstairs: unyon: downstairs: Because dust is non-conductive, and non-corrosive.

It's also an excellent insulator, so those pretty heat sinks and fans lose their effectiveness pretty quickly when caked with it.

My concern was neither conductivity or corrosion, but rather "thermal failure with visual indications", as Compaq used to call such an event.

I don't know, I have a 333Mhz computer that's been running 24/7 since 1998 or so. Never cleaned it. Heck, never opened the case but maybe once.

The PC in the video looks circa 1999~2000 at best... so it's probably been running 24/7 for 12~13 years. I've seen PCs accumulate almost as much dirt in far shorter amounts of time.

As for dust, back when I was in the Marines, working an ISMO in Beaufort (late 80s), we were told that cigarette smoke residue WAS conductive, and we did have systems short out in offices where the admins smoked heavily.

This is nothing, my PC will look like this if I don't clean it for 6 months. The downside of living by a busy road in a dusty city. Can't wait to move out cause every breath I take here is just contributing to my future cancer.

The dust accessory kit is a very rare option. Vintage gold!

Off to eBay.

Change your HVAC filters!

StoPPeRmobile: The sound of one hand clapping: Yup, not massively remarkable. My PC sits on the floor under my bed. Every 8-12 months I give it a clean out and although it doesn't look like that, there is always a solid layer of dust on the case fan blades, processor heatsink and generally a good amount of dust coating the bottom of the case and the motherboard.

Now, a question for the geeks out there. I tend to use a small air blower (one of those used for blowing dust of the front of a camera lens) but I'm always hella careful around the fans. I read many years ago that manually rotating the fans is bad for them so I'd assumed that blowing them around with air would be bad for them too. Is this true?

The problem with using compressed air is that the fan will spin very fast and damage either bushings or bearings.

So how ARE you supposed to get the dust off of them if touching or even using air on them is bad? Telekinesis?

Icetech3: I have owned a computer store for 24 years now in michigan.. and that pc wouldnt' make it into my top 100 of dirty machines, the smokers machines are much worse, everything turns to a brown GOO you can't get off of anything:(

Machine shop computers have the worst dust though..

What's your shop? I'll buy local the next time I need parts.

When I was a tech in a distribution center the PCs would end up with inches of dust unless cleaned regularly, normally 1/4" to 1/2" per month. The worst I saw was a mid-tower like that filled up with about 3 inches. The amount of PCs and the environment it wasn't worth blowing them out entirely. Take off the side/top and then tip em over, dust would fall in a nice silhouette that maintenance cleaned up later, only the power supply and cpu got a quick burst of air. Do that every month and they were happy, at least for a few years. They were all basically clones/clients so if one did fail it wasn't an issue, take a spare off the shelf and slap it in place.

2wolves: Meh. I had to tear down an AS/400 that had been in a construction equipment closet for nine years. That PC was merely untidy.

We have one in a ferrite plant. It looked like that, but rust colored after three months.

Um, gross. Where's their protective gear?

I'm not a germ-phobe (well, maybe 3/10 Howies) but there's no way I'd be squirting that much dust - dead skin cells, dust mites, and all the other bacteria and critters therein - into the air I'm breathing without at least a mask, goggles, and rubber gloves on.

Lernaeus: Um, gross. Where's their protective gear?

I'm not a germ-phobe (well, maybe 3/10 Howies) but there's no way I'd be squirting that much dust - dead skin cells, dust mites, and all the other bacteria and critters therein - into the air I'm breathing without at least a mask, goggles, and rubber gloves on.

LOL. Sure, this dust is more concentrated but everything in that dust is stuff you breath and touch every day.

/Have fun!

Icetech3: I have owned a computer store for 24 years now in michigan.. and that pc wouldnt' make it into my top 100 of dirty machines, the smokers machines are much worse, everything turns to a brown GOO you can't get off of anything:(

Machine shop computers have the worst dust though..

Heavy smokers houses, computers and cars are absolutely awful. That Goo gets into everything, on everything and sticks to everything...

I used to do IT work for a company that had a lot of computers in warehouses. This is a relatively clean computer compared to some I saw.

Once opened one up that was literally half-full of dead crickets.

Icetech3: I have owned a computer store for 24 years now in michigan.. and that pc wouldnt' make it into my top 100 of dirty machines, the smokers machines are much worse, everything turns to a brown GOO you can't get off of anything:(

Machine shop computers have the worst dust though..

Yep.. I hear ya loud and clear.. my dads PC died yesterday and when I opened it up it was CAKED with the crap that you get when tar mixes with dust.. the fins on the heatsink were completely caked and here is the worst thing.. we cleaned it not more than 6 months ago.. I wish I had taken pics of it.. very bad.. even the brand new video card was nasty.. and yet he STILL refuses to believe smoking had anything to do with it dying..

I've seen worse.

Used to occasionally have to install or remove, or service PC's shipped in from, jails. From the medical / hospitals of jails.

One place, they would wax the floors, and run the little rotary floor waxer / buffer right up against the PC. So some of the wax would splatter up on, or into, the PC case.

When they first started showing up, we had no idea what was causing it, and dubbed the substance "prison juice." We were incredibly relieved once we figured out it was just floor wax stuff.

In 17 years in IT, the worst was a 90s-era 100 Mhz app server tower in the days when the College kept them in the offices of those who used them, usually tucked into closets or behind furniture, so that they could change their own backup tapes.

This thing wouldn't let anyone log on one day. There'd been no warning, slowness, or anything else weird the day before. Rebooting resulted in POST but that was it; no OS loading at all. We'd had RAM stolen from things like it before, so I opened it. It was a tiny bit warmer to the touch than I'd have called "normal".

The ENTIRE inside volume was gray dust the consistency of cotton candy. I'm talking packed flush throughout the whole case, power supply, you name it. I'm sorry now that I didn't think to take a picture, but we didn't exactly have camera phones back then, so nothing was handy.

One afternoon with canned air, tweezers, q-tips, and rubbing alcohol later, the thing fires up like nothing ever happened, and ran for another 3 years.

/CSB?

The biggest concern...I bet that PC was still running Windows ME. (shudders)

agree with the PCers about the smokers' computers...that yellowish good is a biatch to clean off.

I have seen much worse when I used to do PC repair for farms and nurseries.

Meh. The ex-girlfriend would tell her buddies "Snuffybud knows about computers, he can fix them". I do, and I could (gave that up). It seemed that it went together - lotsa viruses, lotsa dust. I would take the worst of them out on the deck and hit them with the leaf blower. I never had a hardware failure, just filth everywhere.

unyon: I've done this hundreds of times, and never have I experienced what you're talking about.

Was told to never use air compressors because of ESD while in the service. IIRC, they make some hoses with metal/conductive material and that stops a charge from gathering, but have no idea if ours is safe. I know I've seen house vacuums blow up electronics with ESD.(electro-static discharge from the plastic tubes)

I only use canned air for the job.

Use a vacuum. There's no valid use for canned air. People in all fields are dumb beyond measure.

ESD is a myth, like the your abominable snowman or "yeti"

omeganuepsilon: unyon: I've done this hundreds of times, and never have I experienced what you're talking about.

Was told to never use air compressors because of ESD while in the service. IIRC, they make some hoses with metal/conductive material and that stops a charge from gathering, but have no idea if ours is safe. I know I've seen house vacuums blow up electronics with ESD.(electro-static discharge from the plastic tubes)

I only use canned air for the job.

I use a shop vac blower from about 2 feet away, outside of course.

10 seconds and its done.

I've peeled dust off of motherboards like it was a quilt. I've also cracked open 8-year-old PC's and been amazed at how clean they were.

As far as the way they blew the dust out, yeah, they could've been more careful. Not AaaAaAaaaAAaaa; here, here, and here.

As far as utter nastiness goes it makes my top 10 but not my top 5 since the dust wasn't sticky with cigarette tar.

xnmw: Use a vacuum. There's no valid use for canned air. People in all fields are dumb beyond measure.

ESD is a myth, like the your abominable snowman or "yeti"

xnmw: ESD is a myth

Lying douchebag. What, did you blow up a PC once, felt like a jack-hole and now you want others to as well?

Shadow Blasko: I use a shop vac blower from about 2 feet away, outside of course.

10 seconds and its done.

Never seen a shop vac with enough power to do that, especially from 2 foot.

I suppose an air compressor wouldn't be too risky if you could keep distance like that(the hose is what gathers the charge).(save the canned air for up close work, shiat does get spendy).

Of course in the Air Force, I suppose they don't want you doing it even in a one in a billion chance, $50,000 components and such.

/personal record of shiat I saw broke, 250,000 part.
//yeah, it was me
///lucky they didn't write me up, would still be paying that off.
////the part that I broke was a part that went bad a LOT, but the part I cracked wasn't the innards with the problematic system, so I'm sure the manufacturer had tons of shells lying around

omeganuepsilon: Never seen a shop vac with enough power to do that, especially from 2 foot.

My shop vac has a detachable blower.

-Features
265 MPH Detachable Blower Removes Debris from Walkways, Decks and Job Sites; Large Enough to Tackle Tough Chores

I love this thing.



Basically the gray part (motor) comes off, and is just a blower.

Shadow Blasko: I love this thing.

I can see why. I think my vac/hose/bucket all together are the size of the motor on yours. (picks up the sawdust and does car interiors fine, that's about all we use it for so *eh)

omeganuepsilon: Shadow Blasko: I love this thing.

I can see why. I think my vac/hose/bucket all together are the size of the motor on yours. (picks up the sawdust and does car interiors fine, that's about all we use it for so *eh)

I worked at Home Despot when they went on sale, and picked it up for $60.

It gets used very often, a lot more than I thought it would.

Worst I have ever seen are:

PCs pulled from a sugar mill. At least dust you can pull off. Smoker's goo you can take a mild solvent to some parts if you really have to. The sugar dust floated around, caked and then hardened in literally a candy shell on everything in the case. I tried talking out client into getting sealed system, but he didn't care. He could buy 286s board and parts cheap enough then to keep a bunch on hand to replace out.

The other were some controllers in a fab that made huge fiberglass pipes, 30" ID and up. The resin caked inside of those and I always wondered why they didn't flame up. Again, too cheap to look at sealed systems, but could eat the downtime and buy new hardware every 6 months.

I do basically what that guy did, but I do it better and it only takes me 30 seconds.