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support.dell.com Maintaining the System B-1
Proper use of preventive maintenance procedures can keep the system in top operat-
ing condition and minimize the need for costly, time-consuming service procedures.
This section contains maintenance procedures that you should perform regularly.
An exhaust fan in the power supply cools the power supply and system by drawing air
in through various openings in the system and blowing it out the back. However, the
fan also draws dust and other particles into the system, causing contaminant buildup,
which results in an increase in the system's internal temperature and interferes with
the operation of various system components.
To avoid these conditions, Dell recommends keeping your work environment clean to
reduce the amount of dust and dirt around the system, thereby reducing the amount
of contaminants drawn into the system by the power supply fan. In particular, you
should keep the exterior of your system clean, and you should use a commercially
available diskette-drive head-cleaning kit to remove contaminants inside your diskette
drives.
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Dell recommends that you use the following tools and accessories when you clean
the system:
A wrist grounding strap — The proper use of a wrist grounding strap reduces the
effect of electrostatic discharge (ESD), which can damage certain system compo-
nents. To use a wrist grounding strap, place the strap around your wrist and
attach the other end of the strap to an unpainted metal surface in the chassis,
such as the power supply bracket, that is connected to chassis ground.
A liquid dishwashing detergent — Use a mixture of one part liquid dishwashing
detergent and three parts water to clean the exterior of the system.
A soft, lint-free cleaning cloth — Moisten the cleaning cloth with the dishwashing
detergent solution to clean the exterior of the system.
A nonabrasive diskette-drive head-cleaning kit — Dell recommends that you use
a kit that contains pretreated diskettes in individually sealed packages. These kits