Proper Use of

HARDWARE
Tools
COMPUTER SYSTEM SERVICING

PREPARED BY:
MARIAH JEANNE DE VERA
Are you
ready to The purpose of an antistatic wrist strap is
to equalize the electrical charge between

learn, how you and the equipment. The antistatic

wrist strap is a conductor that connects
to use the your body to the equipment that you are

ESD? working on. When static electricity builds

up in your body, the connection made by
the wrist strap to the equipment, or
ground, channels the electricity through
the wire that connects the strap.
The wrist strap has two parts and is easy to wear:

1. Wrap the strap around your wrist and secure it using the snap or Velcro. The
metal on the back of the wrist strap must remain in contact with your skin at all
times.

2. Snap the connector at the end of the wire to the wrist strap, and connect the
other end either to the equipment or to the same grounding point that the antistatic
mat is connected to. The metal skeleton of the case is a good place to connect the
wire. When connecting the wire to equipment that you are working on, choose an
unpainted metal surface. A painted surface does not conduct the electricity as well
as unpainted metal.
An antistatic mat is slightly conductive. It works by
drawing static electricity away from a component
and transferring it safely from equipment to a
grounding point:
1. Lay the mat on the workspace next to or under the computer case.

2. Clip the mat to the case to provide a grounded surface on which you
can place parts as you remove them from the system.

Reducing the potential for ESD reduces the likelihood of damage to

delicate circuits or components.
Proper Use of Hand Tools

Screws
Match each screw with the proper screwdriver. Place the tip of the
screwdriver on the head of the screw. Turn the screwdriver
clockwise to tighten the screw and counterclockwise to loosen the
screw. Screws can become stripped if you over-tighten them with a
screwdriver. A stripped screw, may get stuck in the screw hole, or
it may not tighten firmly. Discard stripped screw.
 Use a flat head screwdriver when you are

Flat head working with a slotted screw. Do not use a flat

head screwdriver to remove a Phillips head

screwdriver screw. Never use a screwdriver as a pry bar. If

you cannot remove a component, check to see
if there is a clip or latch that is securing the
component in place.

CAUTION: If excessive force is needed to

remove or add a component, something is
probably wrong. Take a second look to make
sure that you have not missed a screw or a
locking clip that is holding the component in
place. Refer to the device manual or diagram
for additional information.
Phillips head
screwdriver
Use a Phillips head screwdriver
with crosshead screws. Do not
use this type of screwdriver to
puncture anything. This will
damage the head of the
screwdriver
 Use a hex driver to loosen and tighten bolts

Hex driver that have a hexagonal (six-sided) head. Hex

bolts should not be over-tightened because the
threads of the bolts can be stripped. Do not use
a hex driver that is too large for the bolt that
you are using.
CAUTION: Some tools are magnetized. When
working around electronic devices, be sure that
the tools you are using have not been
magnetized. Magnetic fields can be harmful to
data stored on magnetic media. Test your tool
by touching the tool with a screw. If the screw
is attracted to the tool, do not use the tool.
Part retriever,
The part retriever, needle-nose pliers, and
Needle-nose tweezers can be used to place and retrieve parts
pliers, or tweezers that may be hard to reach with your fingers. Do
not scratch or hit any components when using
these tools.
CAUTION: Pencils should not be used inside
the computer to change the setting of switches
or to pry off jumpers. The pencil lead can act as
a conductor and may damage the computer
components.
Proper Use Keeping computers clean inside and out is a vital part of a
of maintenance program. Dirt can cause problems with the physical
operation of fans, buttons, and other mechanical components. On
Cleaning electrical components, an excessive buildup of dust will act like an
insulator and trap the heat. This insulation will impair the ability of
Materials heat sinks and cooling fans to keep components cool, causing chips
and circuits to overheat and fail.
CAUTION: When compressed air is used to clean inside the
computer, the air should be blown around the components with a
minimum distance of four inches from the nozzle. The power supply
and the fan should be cleaned from the back of the case.
CAUTION: Before cleaning any device, turn it off and unplug the
device from the power source.
Computer Cases
and Monitors Clean computer cases and the outside of
monitors with a mild cleaning solution on
a damp, lint-free cloth. Mix one drop of
dishwashing liquid with four ounces of
water to create the cleaning solution. If
any water drips inside the case, allow
enough time for the liquid to dry before
powering on the computer.
LCD Screens Do not use ammoniated glass cleaners or
any other solution on an LCD screen,
unless the cleaner is specifically designed
for the purpose. Harsh chemicals will
damage the coating on the screen. There is
no glass protecting these screens, so be
gentle when cleaning them and do not
press firmly on the screen.
 To clean the screens of CRT monitors, dampen a soft,
clean, lint-free cloth with distilled water and wipe the
screen from top to bottom. Then use a soft, dry cloth

CRT Screens to wipe the screen and remove any streaking after you
have cleaned the monitor. Clean dusty components
with a can of compressed air. Compressed air does
not cause electrostatic buildup on components. Make
sure that you are in a well-ventilated area before
blowing the dust out of the computer. A best practice
is to wear a dust mask to make sure that you do not
breathe in the dust particles. Blow out the dust using
short bursts from the can. Never tip the can or use the
compressed air can upside down. Do not allow the
fan blades to spin from the force of the compressed
air. Hold the fan in place. Fan motors can be ruined
from spinning when the motor is not turned on.
Component Clean the contacts on components
Contacts with isopropyl alcohol. Do not use
rubbing alcohol. Rubbing alcohol
contains impurities that can
damage contacts. Make sure that
the contacts do not collect any lint
from the cloth or cotton swab.
Blow any lint off the contacts with
compressed air before
reinstallation.
 Clean a desktop keyboard with
compressed air or a small, hand-held

KEYBOAR vacuum cleaner with a brush

attachment.
D
CAUTION: Never use a standard
vacuum cleaner inside a computer
case. The plastic parts of the vacuum
cleaner can build up static electricity
and discharge to the components. Use
only a vacuum approved for
electronic components.
 Use glass cleaner and a soft cloth
Mouse to clean the outside of the mouse.
Do not spray glasscleaner directly
on the mouse. If cleaning a ball
mouse, you can remove the ball
and clean itwith glass cleaner and a
soft cloth. Wipe the rollers clean
inside the mouse with the same
cloth. Do not spray any liquids
inside the mouse.
Love learning!
 ACTIVITY
Directions: Complete the computer cleaning chart shown below. Write your answers on a separate
sheet of paper.
1
COMPUTER MAINTENANCE
 QUIZ 2
Directions: Fill in the blanks. Write your answers on a separate sheet of paper.
1. The purpose of an antistatic wrist strap is to ________ the electrical charge between you and the
equipment.
2. Turn the screwdriver _________ to tighten the screw.
3. Turn the screwdriver ________________ to loosen the screw.
4. Use a ________ head screwdriver with crosshead screws.
5. On electrical components, an excessive buildup of dust will act like an _________ and trap the heat.
6. When compressed air is used to clean inside the computer, the air should be blown around the
components with a minimum distance of ______ inches from the nozzle.
7. Pencils should not be used inside the computer to change the setting of switches or to pry off jumpers
because the tip contains _____ which can act as a conductor and may damage the computer
components.
8. To clean the screens of CRT monitors, dampen a soft, clean, lint-free cloth with _______ water and
wipe the screen from top to bottom.
9. Clean the contacts on components with _________ alcohol.
10. Use a __________ to loosen and tighten bolts that have a hexagonal (six-sided) head.
 QUIZ 2
DIRECTIONS: Identify the appropriate tool to use for each of the
following situations. Write your answers on a separate sheet of
paper.
__________1. Equalize the electrical charge between you and
the equipment.
__________2. Tighten /loosen a screw.
__________3. Tighten /looses bold with a hexagonal head.
__________4. Retrieve parts that may be hard to reach with
your fingers.
__________5. Tighten /loosen a slotted screw.