Overheating CPU

I just worked on an eMachine for Family of Family. Basically the CPU was shutting down because the heatsink was completely clogged with dust. From the original description I thought it was the power supply. A can of air and a dustvac later it seems to be working, after installing speedfan the CPU (Athlon XP 2200) shows it is at 57 (which is what my personal machine is at), and I'm thinking of adding more fans just for kicks.

While I'm about it I think I'll see if I can talk them into installing a free virus scanner.

How do you tell someone who is completely computer illiterate to clean it out now and then?

Oh well.

 

i have a better idea, try installing some filters on the intake area of the case that way no dust will get in and all you have to do is clean the filters(easier to clean than heatsink), try using thin 1/4" black foam filters. They are usually used with window ac units, i found some at walmart, i bet even homedepot has them. Also make sure the filter has fairly open pours, so should be able to see light though it fairly easy. The foam material is basically going to look like this but in flat sheets. http://www.gy6usa.com/images/150-125_foam.jpg

 

Yikes! Thats a lot of dust! I work on a family friends computer all the time. They live a very dirty house, and have lots of animals. All the fans are usually a hair or dust bunny away from failing by the time they bring it over with overheating problems. Filters on all the fans helped a lot, but they still clogged up.

I'd give the inside a good cleaning, and by the time it breaks down again, hopefully they'll be ready for a new computer. As for cleaning out viruses and stuff, install something low key that does a boot time scan. Or a scan in the background or at night when the computer is not in use. I know a lot of people who won't run a scan to clear out the junk because they think they're ok since the software was there in the first place. When they bring the computers to me, i install avast or something, and schedule a boot time scan. They don't complain and the computer stays virus free.

Sorry about the rambling, i haven't had much sleep lol.

 

Someone suggested getting that sucker off the floor, which struck me as a good idea, so I passed it on. This dust was extremely fine, and while the computer was a bit dusty there were no dust bunnies at all. I wound up putting 2 more fans in the PC box, and doing a thorough blow out. I posted this as a heads up to some of the other folks who might have something similar going on.

I did something similar for my neice, who's computer I build from scratch, and is one of the machines I service. It wasn't bad enough to be a problem, but given time.

I'm thinking of setting up a project and documenting it here. I have a large peilteir cooler, and my box is running a bit hot, and I may try something different to cool it down.