Opening The Beast
Opening that box of Unreason
This is usually quite an interesting time for the newcomer, especially if the machine is more than 12 months old.
Right! You’ve decided to give it a shot..good for you! Trust me, if you’re careful and sensible, you have nothing to fear. Remember, it’s only a box of electronics. First things first:
1. Unplug the box.
Shut down the PC normally, and carefully disconnect all the cables from the back (making notes as to their locations if you need to). Now, pick up that hallowed box CAREFULLY and move it to a convenient and well lit place to start cleaning it. Don’t drop or jar it-it may be off, but the disks inside are sensitive. I suggest lying it on a newspaper or worktop, as carpet produces static, which can literally kill a microchip.
2. Take a good look at that box.
Most have screws fitted around the back, where the cables went that hold the casing onto the chassis itself. If you’re lucky, it has thumbscrews like one of my Compaq’s. If you’re REALLY lucky and own for instance a late Dell machine, you may find a release button on the top/bottom/both sides that allows the case to hinge open like a car bonnet.
Remove the screws/thumbscrews/press the buttons and having done so, gently remove the cover of the PC. It may take a pull or 2-I’ve come across some stubborn swines in my time. Most older desktop/tower cases require you to pull the rearmost part of the cover towards the back of the PC, along with possibly lifting it to remove it.
3. Look inside the PC and think “Why was I worried?”
You should now be able to see the guts of your PC. The video card, the Motherboard, Processor, Memory, Hard drives, etc etc. Don’t worry if you can’t identify them. Unless you’ve spent a while doing PC repair they all look like circuit boards or silver boxes and that’s fine. Marvel at how such a collection of seemingly small parts can do so much. I frequently look at them and wonder that they work as well as they do!
4. Notice the dust film.
It may be thin and hard to notice, or it may be thick and obscuring the printing on the chips. It may be hanging off parts in huge great clumps..or not. No hard and fast rules here! The only rule you need to remember is “DUST=BAD”