Computer in the garage...

[n737nc]

I keep a laptop in the garage, and wondering if I am killing it.

I produce a lot of dust when I'm working in there, and I try to keep the computer clean by wiping it down and blowing the dust out of the keyboard on a regular basis. Is there anything else I should be doing to protect it? Is it just a matter of time before I completely kill the thing?

Thanks,
Nick

[sleeperLS]

I'm sure just putting something over it with the dust will help. But it will deff kill it in the long run.

[n737nc]

Hmmm, well I keep it on while I'm out there. Wouldn't covering it up trap the heat in? Kind of a catch 22?

[ceyko]

Yeah. So just HOW dusty is it? I've had laptops in extreme environments last a long time, but if it's not the heat or dust something will make it go eventually.

Can you simply close the lid and let it go to "standby" when you're not using it? That'll cause heat to not be a factor anymore and it'll turn off the fans. Then if it is that dusty it can be covered if needed - but it may not be needed.

[n737nc]

It's not extremely dusty, just a light coat on everything. And it's not an everyday thing.

Usually I close the lid while I'm working, hoping that helps a little

[Justa4banger]

the biggest issue is the dust collection on the fans. this later wears them out prematurely and then you have over heating issues. if you regularly clean the fans off (compress air in the can) and keep the lid down, the computer will be fine.

Oh and regular cleanings depend on you. In the desert we cleaned our laptops for the helo's everyday. and everyday they was a huge pile of dust on the fans and on the fan intake ports.

Keep those fans clean, keeps the comp cool, thus it lives longer.

[ceyko]

It should help the situation assuming it goes into some mode (standby, sleep...etc) other than just staying on.

You could also find the air intake and rig up a filter for it, but sometimes that's more hassle than it is worth.

[KOZMO]

What the hell does it matter?!?!

Your still gonna do it no matter what someone tells you! :p

[Txstang1]

blow off where the fans are and also take the keypad off every once in awhile and blow out under there too.

[ram57ta]

spray it down with a pressure washer and then dry it out using an air compressor with a nozzle...it will stay very clean. Not sure if it will work afterward :p

[JimD]

[QUOTE=ram57ta]spray it down with a pressure washer and then dry it out using an air compressor with a nozzle...it will stay very clean. Not sure if it will work afterward :p[/QUOTE]
Might as well buff the screen while your at it.

[Cooter]

it's just a laptop... blow it out w/ air and it'll last a long time.

you can always open it up and clean the cooling fins

[Yellowstang]

Cover it in saran wrap, the entire thing. Helps keep it fresh longer

[IHaveAMustang]

[QUOTE=Yellowstang]Cover it in saran wrap, the entire thing. Helps keep it fresh longer[/QUOTE]

Don't forget to rotate your stock either!!


In all honesty, if you are comfortable taking things apart, I would go further than just shooting high pressure air into the fan vents, that is just blowing it elsewhere.

I had a Compaq Armada that would get all sorts of crap stuck at the BACK of the vents and thus blocked all air coming into the vents. And compressed air did nada...I had to scrape that crap off.

I don't know about modern laptops, but that Armada have a self service area that allowed you to directly access the fans and heatsink fins and clean them without completely destroying the case.

[Cooter]

you can clean any laptop without destroying the case! they don't weld them shut

[ceyko]

Taking it apart is good advice since there are other fans inside that'll slowly build that dust up and possible negate all cooling properties of the fan.