Advice needed: PC smells terrible!

[vivitron 15]

I have recently acquired a new pc - long story, but im looking to swap my pc with someone.

Anyway, ive got the pc home to look at, and it stinks! Its got a lovely "stale smoke" smell, which frankly is disgusting The way it is, it looks like I may just refuse the swap, but that would be a shame...

So, does anyone have experience of removing a bad smell from a pc? ive opened it up and removed as many of the disks and pci cards as poss, and ive had the psu to bits, but its still as bad! I dont think spraying air freshener into it will work - it just seems a bit of a crazy idea

Any suggestions?

[Barbarossa]

clothes peg on nose?

[vivitron 15]

hmm, thats a pretty good short term solution, but we use the tumble dryer, and so dont own any pegs!

im going to open her up and stick it in the attic for a couple of days, see if that'll let the smell out, before attacking with some compressed air...

but any other ideas out there?

[tesco]

Can you figure out which parts smell?
Most likely the case holds the most of the smell so just swap cases.
Anything else cheap like ide/sata cables and fans could be switched out too.

[clocker]

Strip the case completely, scrub out the inside with a rag and some Windex.
Make sure to remove and clean the inside of the front bezel (if it has one).
Spray with Ozium (originally developed for the mortuary industry but popularized by head shops due to it's efficacy removing telltale odors).

Go to Radio Shack (or your local equivalent) and get some electronic contact cleaner (aerosol spray which evaporates quickly leaving no residue) and douche the motherboard and cards.

That should take care of most of the problem.

BTW...did you really have the PSU disassembled "to bits"?- that's pretty ambitious.

[vivitron 15]

thanks guys

I suppose the case is the most likely candidate...might have a look for a sexier one (its pretty ugly) to fit it all into, which i suppose would follow naturally onto getting new fans (though will try to clean it first - trying to do this at cost)


Maplin
is this the aerosol cleaner you refer to?

and "to bits" is all relative - its the most ive ever stripped one before! but no, not completely desoldered

[clocker]

Maplin
is this the aerosol cleaner you refer to?

Yup, that's the stuff.

[lynx]

Eat plenty of beans.

You won't notice the smell of the pc.

[zapjb]

If the case is empty on the bottom. No HDDs or other parts on the "floor" of the case. And the case will be sedentary.

Smear a thick 1/8" layer of mentholatum or vicks vapor rub on the bottom of the case. Coating the entire bottom. Close the case. Use but don't move the computer. After 3-6 months clear out the goo. If needed repeat.

[zapjb]

I'm surprised nobodies laughed at my suggestion.

Btw I assume no responsibility.