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Thread: I smell burning from my PC

  1. #1

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    Default I smell burning from my PC

    Is it about to break?
    If I use it too long it starts making a god awful whirring sound. One time it just made a god awful beep when I turned it on and wouldn't take me to my homescreen.

    I've smelt burning, twice.

    My only solution has been to turn it off for a good while and then its ok. But...the pattern always starts again.

    Any advice?

  2. #2
    Nerf This~ Laddy's Avatar
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    How old is it? What's the make and model? Do you regularly scan it for viruses, defray, and disc cleanup?



  3. #3
    *permanent smite* Spuuky's Avatar
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    99% of the time, a burning smell from a PC is burning dust. If you get a can of compressed air and blow it out, there's a pretty good chance it will be better.

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    Yes homo Mr. Carnelian's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Spuuky View Post
    99% of the time, a burning smell from a PC is burning dust. If you get a can of compressed air and blow it out, there's a pretty good chance it will be better.
    Where do you even get compressed air, though?

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    Lovely Gal Night Fury's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Spuuky View Post
    99% of the time, a burning smell from a PC is burning dust. If you get a can of compressed air and blow it out, there's a pretty good chance it will be better.
    This.

    Quote Originally Posted by Mr. Carnelian View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by Spuuky View Post
    99% of the time, a burning smell from a PC is burning dust. If you get a can of compressed air and blow it out, there's a pretty good chance it will be better.
    Where do you even get compressed air, though?
    Office depot, PC shops etc.


  6. #6
    Slothstronaut Recognized Member Slothy's Avatar
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    Walmart in North America anyway. If they sell computers odds are they'll sell compressed air.

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    'Just Friends' Formalhaut's Avatar
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    I have never seen a can of compressed air. Though having said that, I don't often waltz into a home depot or computer store.

    But no, what Spuuky said makes sense. Especially if it is a desktop PC; those things collect dust so easily.


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    Radical Dreamer Fynn's Avatar
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    I don't think it comes in cans. More likely the store will just clean it up for you.

    Unless compressed air cans are a thing in 'Murrica. I honestly wouldn't be surprised.

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    Crazy Scot. Cid's Knight Shauna's Avatar
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    No, you can buy cans of compressed air from shops. Heck Asda and Tesco's website say they sell them, so you could probably walk into a shop and pick one up.

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    Radical Dreamer Fynn's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Shauna View Post
    No, you can buy cans of compressed air from shops. Heck Asda and Tesco's website say they sell them, so you could probably walk into a shop and pick one up.
    Okay. Wow. That's fascinating.

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    absolutely haram Recognized Member Madame Adequate's Avatar
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    Can't believe the government would just let people walk in and buy materials which may be useful to carrying out acts of terrorism.

  12. #12
    cyka blyat escobert's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Fynn View Post
    I don't think it comes in cans. More likely the store will just clean it up for you.

    Unless compressed air cans are a thing in 'Murrica. I honestly wouldn't be surprised.

    Yes, they are. Why pay someone to do it when you can buy a can and do it whenever you want for $7?

    It's probably dust and the noise is most likely a clogged up or dirty fan.

  13. #13
    Feel the Bern Administrator Del Murder's Avatar
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    It's likely dust, but you should probably dump a bucket of water on it to be safe.

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  14. #14
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    Burnt dust isn't really dangerous, although it does smell a bit unsettling. It doesn't get hot enough for it to catch fire, just give off the distinct smell. It is most likely coming from the power supply, if you have a desktop PC.

    If it isn't dust, it could be a blown capacitor, but you would probably hear that as a pop in your PC, and the smell from that wouldn't stick around for a long time. It's not nearly as likely to be the case as just dust, though.

    Do all the fans spin when it's on? If one doesn't, a lot of heat could build up on that component and the dust on it. If a fan is stuck, it could either be because of too much dust buildup, or it could be a broken ball-bearing. You probably can't fix the latter without replacing the fan entirely.

    Are you guys serious about never having seen cans of compressed air? <,<
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  15. #15
    Radical Dreamer Fynn's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by escobert View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by Fynn View Post
    I don't think it comes in cans. More likely the store will just clean it up for you.

    Unless compressed air cans are a thing in 'Murrica. I honestly wouldn't be surprised.

    Yes, they are. Why pay someone to do it when you can buy a can and do it whenever you want for $7?

    It's probably dust and the noise is most likely a clogged up or dirty fan.
    See, the shops here usually do that for free

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