Why did my PC started working again after cleaning the dust?

[Schamyl006]

My PC wasn't booting, so I unplugged all the cables and cleaned all the dust, plugged the cables back in, the keyboard and mouse lights were on, and it started working again. How did the absence of dust made it work again lol.

[Cathulhu]

Could have simply been a loose connection.

[✨Saint✨]

After water, dust is enemy number two to your PC.

[Rumpelcrutchskin]

Probably more to do with cables then dust.

[Illusion of Progress]

It was more than likely a combination of reseating something and dust, or even just reseating something, rather than dust alone. Sometimes my HTPC gets finicky after I move it where I need to reseat either the RAM or GPU and it's not at all dusty, but it is old (the GPU aside).

[Jamebonds1]

It is not easy to find the root cause, but you should always clean PC every 4 months. Dust also could building up some electrostatic if not clean for too long. ESD protection only applied to built PC, not internal boards.

[Raoul]

dust can cause short

[Jamebonds1]

Originally posted by Raoul:

dust can cause short

Not really unless the dust is metallic. If you're use a computer for metal work or auto repair, then you are better off with computer that has conformal coat that can cost up to $4000.

[_I_]

enough dust can short things, and/or change values of smd caps or resistors
but it takes a solid layer of dust to do that

[Kiwi {JESUS IS LORD}]

my would turn itself off cause of dust
took it to shop guy cleaned it out took out broken liquid cooling radiator pump and got new case it runs again

dust can really ruin a pc

i went 5 yrs without dusting it :(

[Kiwi {JESUS IS LORD}]

Originally posted by Kiwi {JESUS IS LORD}:

my would turn itself off cause of dust
took it to shop guy cleaned it out took out broken liquid cooling radiator pump and got new case it runs again

dust can really ruin a pc

i went 5 yrs without dusting it :(

my gpu still has a caked on layer of dust looking like dog poop

[Jamebonds1]

That too.

Originally posted by _I_:

enough dust can short things, and/or change values of smd caps or resistors
but it takes a solid layer of dust to do that

[[N]ebsun]

Originally posted by Jamebonds1:

Originally posted by Raoul:

dust can cause short

Not really unless the dust is metallic. If you're use a computer for metal work or auto repair, then you are better off with computer that has conformal coat that can cost up to $4000.

When dust builds up it can get wet when water condenses when it's humid (so much that it can even begin dripping) - when that happens it can cause corrosion and sometimes short.
If you have ever dusted a very old PC and found hardened or "caked" dust, that's from when it got wet from humidity and clumped together.

You can get a large 1L container of conformal coating for about $70 then just coat it with a paintbrush (wear gloves, eye protection, and do it in a well ventilated area over cardboard / newspaper - that stuff is very bad for your health). That would be enough to coat around 10 entire PCs, though there are some components that probably shouldn't be covered.

https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/mg-chemicals/419D-1L/9657991?s=N4IgjCBcoLQBxVAYygMwIYBsDOBTANCAPZQDaIALAOwDMIAugL6OEBMZlYAnACIxgAZBoyA

https://nz.rs-online.com/web/c/facilities-cleaning-maintenance/electronics-cleaners-protective-coatings/conformal-coatings/

[A&A]

Originally posted by _I_:

enough dust can short things, and/or change values of smd caps or resistors
but it takes a solid layer of dust to do that

I am wondering, how my 20 years old PC boot without cleanning it for several years

[Jamebonds1]

Originally posted by Nebsun:

Originally posted by Jamebonds1:

Not really unless the dust is metallic. If you're use a computer for metal work or auto repair, then you are better off with computer that has conformal coat that can cost up to $4000.

When dust builds up it can get wet when water condenses when it's humid (so much that it can even begin dripping) - when that happens it can cause corrosion and sometimes short.
If you have ever dusted a very old PC and found hardened or "caked" dust, that's from when it got wet from humidity and clumped together.

You can get a large 1L container of conformal coating for about $70 then just coat it with a paintbrush (wear gloves, eye protection, and do it in a well ventilated area over cardboard / newspaper - that stuff is very bad for your health). That would be enough to coat around 10 entire PCs, though there are some components that probably shouldn't be covered.

https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/mg-chemicals/419D-1L/9657991?s=N4IgjCBcoLQBxVAYygMwIYBsDOBTANCAPZQDaIALAOwDMIAugL6OEBMZlYAnACIxgAZBoyA

https://nz.rs-online.com/web/c/facilities-cleaning-maintenance/electronics-cleaners-protective-coatings/conformal-coatings/

Don't try make your own conformal coated MB. There is risk involved and it won't be like a real conformal coating. It is not really dust that killing computer, it is metallic, electrostatic, or wet with dust.

Bottom line, it is better to just buy $4000 computer with conformal coated. The manufacturer will test and replace board if need. This pc is more like commercial usage.

[_I_]

Originally posted by A&A:

Originally posted by _I_:

enough dust can short things, and/or change values of smd caps or resistors
but it takes a solid layer of dust to do that

I am wondering, how my 20 years old PC boot without cleaning it for several years

light dust, isnt to bad, can go for years without too much cleaning

thick from smokers or in shop with wet/oil/metal particles can eat the pcbs, solder and components