Cleaing a computer out every few months is a very important thing to do.. although you can’t see inside of it most of the time, you may be suprised to know that the components inside of a computer function quite well as dust magnets!

Below I will go through the steps required to sucessfully clean and make your computer happy and much cooler again! {Not to mention extend its life a considerable ammount!}

Step 1: Disconnect The Computer
Pull out your computer and disconnect all of the cables, you will generally find that it may be a good idea to write down where everything is plugged into if you are not too sure on what you are doing.. a little documentation never hurt anyone! 

Step 2: Open Up The Computer
On almost all computers that are out there, the general standard is to have a side panel on the Left Side of the computer tower, this is usually held in place by two screws illustrated below.. Unscrew these and continue on down the page 

Step 3:  Assess The Damage
Get ready.. you may be in for a rough suprise!
Now its time to pull back that freshly unscrewed case. carefully slide it back until you hear it come off; next pull it away from the computer and set it aside for now.

-> STOP! <-
Before continuing you must be aware of the fact that computer components CAN be damaged by static charges and shocks; Therefore it is very important that you either ground yourself.. You can do this generally by making sure you are in contact with the computer case at all times {Using a free hand}

Step 4:  Plan Of Attack
Now the fun part begins! Start by looking around at the various components and check to see if they have any large particles of dust on them, if they do appear to have some, carefully remove them and clear off the areas as best you can.

Step 5:  Take The Front Cover Off
Locate the {Generally, though not always} Three clips that are on the inside of the case.

Closeup..

Unclip these and carefully pull off the front panel..

Step 6:  Take the Fight Outside!
It is generally a good idea to do this next step out in the garage or outside in the grass.. its no fun to do this inside.. it may not look like a lot of dust is in your computer.. but you WILL be suprised at all the fun things that can be hiding in those tight corners and components.

Once all of the big chunks of lint.. hair and other icky stuff is cleared out, you will notice a lot of buildup around things like fans and heatsinks.

This should be removed with the help of our good friend.. air.

You can do this by one of two ways..

Via Compressed Air Canister: Pretty self explanatory, use the compressed air to blow out the dust from those difficult corners. {Just be careful to read the directions on the canister} Also make sure that you do not hold the canister upside down while you spray the air out! {This will sometimes cause the compressed liquid inside of the canister to spray out on the electronic components; which is possible to freeze the components}

Via Vacuum Cleaner {That can be reversed to blow}: This way is the way i do it {No stinky canisters to deal with} also can be reversed to normal mode to suck up the dust that happens to be everywhere!

Step 7:  Final Check!
Start out by checking out the connections and cables to make sure nothing came loose by accident, if you do happen to see something that looks out of place, reconnect it and you should be all set to go!

Step 8:  Re Assemble !
Place the front cover back on until all of the clickers go back into position.
Then take another step back and slide the cover back on the left side of the computer. Re screw in the screws.

Step 9:  Re Connect 
Refer to your memory or the documentation you made at the beginning of this process and hook everything up as it was when you started.

Step 10:  Enjoy your happy computer!
And give youself a pat on the back! You did it *yay*.