What have I done to my computer?

Let me explain. About a year ago my computer made an alarm sound at first I thought it was a car or house alarm out side so just waited for it to stop...it did eventually but then a little while after (month's maybe) the sound happened again then I realised it was my computer. So I got scared thinking is it gunna explode haha so turned it off.

Recently I have been learning about the in's and out's of computers hench the reason for joining this site as I want to build my own computer. Anyway I have learn't from reading stuff on sites that the noise was my BIOS telling me the computer was too hot.

Is that true? If so what damage could I have done to my computer?


Jay

It's a heat alarm, and yes, unattended you will melt stuff but most motherboards have shut down protection anyway.

To fix it open the case and check all the fans are spinning and are clean of dust and debris.

Thanks. I was looking in it the other day and it was a little dusty. How long do I have to keep the computer off until its safe to touch it?

Jay

Just unplug it from the mains and make sure you are free of static and away you go.

ok thanks Dave :)

You seem to know what your talking about. I hope you like answering my questions as I have a lot of them :p

Jay

oh yeah what do I have to do to make myself static free? Im sure that sounds like a stupid question lol

I only ask because my dads friend put his hand at the back of a tv when he was young and got a shock and now has short stubby fingers... I like my fingers the way they are.

Jay

I'm here to help mate so it's no problem.

Static kills PCs.

Just touch something metal and that should do the trick.

And make sure you have a pair of shoes on, because if you are standing on a carpet you will just restatic(don't think that is a word) yourself

Good you told me that as I never wear shoes or anything on my feet.

I saw this static clip thing on amazon is there any point buying one as im going to built my own PC or just touch metal?

Jay

I do own one but don't often use it, They aren't that expensive at all so it cant do any harm

Would it kill my whole computer if I had static and touched it?

Jay

Maybe, maybe not.

As for the static wrist things I own one but touching the case does the same thing so never use it.

Best way to ground yourself when playing with the innards of a pc is simply to touch the psu case every now and again. And to also only touch components by the edges of the pcb, like the ram or the graphics card.

Don't bother with the anti-static wrist straps as they can be a bit of a hindrance and it's money you needn't pay.

Regarding what you can damage, well, your mobo for one. Hdd for another, graphics card for a third. Pretty much all of it to be frank.

aah right ok thanks guys.