Home Forums Discussions Problems Cleanliness is Close to Aaaahhhhh

Hey Folks,
Just a quick FYI for all our lerkers especially as I gather I don't need to tell the regulars and actually I'm a bit embarressed here myself almost to state it in front of many of you here who are somewhat if not very tech savvy....

But it is Amaaaazzzzing how much our Main P2P server machine has Mostly "Improved" in reliability and consistancy since I finally did some serious clean-ups using simply good old free but well recommended CNET products on this XP Pro Set-Up here.... Speed has not really changed all that dramatically but having the programs do their job, consistantly and reliably, so Nancy's day goes smoothly and she can work from home, remotely reliably with LogMeIn is in a single word "Huuuuuge". Simply Amazing.

I cleaned up and defragged the registry and then after Waaay too long, defragged the entire mirrored array too, and what a difference....

With tech it is always the same....Be it software cleanliness or more mechanical cleanliness the importance is all the same.... Keep things Clean and clean them regularly.... Be it your system or computers or the throttle body or Carb on the throat of you engine....

And the same with clean and free flowing air too... Vaccuum out your computer's intakes and fans, Heat Sinks and the like.... or clean or replace your air filters on your car, truck or Jeep.... And for that matter gently brush and or flush out the fins on the front of your car's Radiator and or AC Condensor for the very same reason as the computers... A cool machine is a happy and smooth running machine. And now with the warm weather upon us, it wouldn't hurt to check and clean up both of them.... Laptops too... You can frequently get to your laptops cooling and heatsinks, fans from under the keyboard (check your manufacture's website for diagrams and instructions, Mine Dell and our old no longer there Business Class Gateway's were very good about this kind of thing). I was amazed, ashamed of all the crud that was inside mine and Nancy's laptops on the Copper Pipes cooling fin heat sinks clogging and blocking the fan and air's paths.... Makes a Big Difference.

We have the same exact tower at home as an extra back-up to the server at the office and for a week or two it was running its fans harder and harder... Without even pulling out the vaccuum and brushes but simply pulling out the dust bunnies with the thing turned off so it would suck in the front or overly blow out the back, the thing is quiet as it usually is. Yes I plan to crack it open and do the job right in the next week or two, but just getting the main viseable crud off the front and back holes panels was enough for that kind of stress reducing difference....

FYI, if you want to get a nice little vaccuum attachment kit to get small crevice tools and brushes that fit on a small vaccuum hose with an adapter, I got a nice set for like $10-$15 bucks I believe it was "Craftsman" brand right in the hardware part of one of our local Sears, so anyone should be able to get one... It's made to fit on the hoses to their uprights and their smaller shop Vacs one inch size I believe.... so now I can really get into most of those hard to reach places where that crud loves to build up and hide....

It's worth every penny for sure..... And watch your computers speed and performance stay up there with just simply if not a bit time consuming up keep.... And peace of mind about the equipments long term health too, right???? Don't we always preach til we're blue in the face about the many benefits of "Preventive Care"..... Well so are software clean-ups, cooling maintainance of any heat generating machines, oil and other fluid changes.... No less peace of mind about your expensive and depend upon it equipments' long term health and reliability..... Like the old Fram Filter ads used to say about changing your oil regularly.... "You can pay me now, or you can pay me later...."

Cleanliness is like..... Aaaaaahhhhhh.

Paul

I use the MetroVac duster: http://www.amazon.com/Metro-Vacuum-ED500-500-Watt-Electric/dp/B001J4ZOAW

Much cheaper than using cans of compressed air all the time. I installed dust filters in my server. Opened it a year later. There was hardly any dust in there and it sits in a supply closet too.

Hey we've got lots of furry pets and tons of dust in our home to boot. Tell me more about these filters. Are you just using average AC filter material, Polyester white stuff, that thin grey foam cell like stuff, computer specific? I have thought about that for a long time now but was always worried about the filter itself becoming a source of air flow restrictions and potential thermal harm.... The crud I get out of some of our computers and other electrical equipment makes this old stagehand, audio-video tech's feel a sense of shame just thinking about it... Like I KNOW better than this... Thanks much....

Paul

Sorry I didn't notice the response 'til now.

Computer-specific filters like these:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811999217
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811988015

Cotton-based filters restrict air flow too much. ~20% passes
Plastic filters ~40% passes
Nylon-based ~65% passes

Newer PC cases come with dust filters (which are removable). Makes it a lot easier to remove a filters and run it under the sink for a few seconds and put it back. They make magnetic ones to get around that issue for other cases:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811999234

These are nylon-based. But obviously greater airflow=more dust passing through. The solution would be to set up positive pressure inside the case (meaning more intake fans than exhaust). That would prevent dust from settling in the crevices and whatnot.