Happy New Year! Time to Clean Your PC

It's 01-01-2007! You're probably still in bed. Actually, if you're reading this you must be up. Now that we've gotten that straightened out, I've got a little job for you. It's time to clean your PC. Not the software this time. The hardware. It's time to clean out the inside of your tower case. If you haven't done this in a year, or if you've never ever done it (shame on you), cleaning it out will prevent overheating and damage to the delicate innards of your machine. Didn't know that? It's true, believe me. Here's how.

You will need a vacuum cleaner and a can of compressed air, which is available in fine office supply stores everywhere. First, unplug the computer's power cord. (Some experts recommend unplugging everything.) Open the case and look inside. Is it filled with dust bunnies and other types of disgusting crud? This is why we're doing this. As a precaution against static electricity buildup, touch the power supply (don't worry, you unplugged it, right?) With your vacuum cleaner nozzle, remove large clots of gunk from the fan vents at the back of the case. Then, cautiously remove the obvious dust on the inside, being careful not to touch any of the parts. Finally, use the compressed air to gently blow out the accumulated dust that you can't reach with the vacuum cleaner. When you get to the fans, be very gentle, since a full-on blast might spin the fan blades faster than they can handle. That's it. Close it up, reinsert the power cord and fire that baby on up. Now you can relax and enjoy the rest of your New Year's Day.

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