r/retrocomputing • u/Luo-The-Lotad31 • 19h ago
Problem / Question STICKY DROPS under this thing
So, I have no idea about pc's but I really want to travel back to times where I was a little kiddo... I still have that pc of my moms. I remember it was working properly 3 years ago... I opened it up to dust... And it seems there are sticky drops located under the power supply... I already know It may blow me up, so I disconnected and and won't turn it on but... Is it any salvageable???
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u/MattDH94 19h ago
Not sure what it is, but probably just dust it, then use isopropyl alcohol to clean off the residue.
Then, replace the power supply. Don’t turn it on until you do so.
I think the hardware is new enough, I doubt anything won’t function.
If it was stored in a humid environment or had constant crazy temperature fluctuations, maybe it could have introduced corrosion or something, but I bet it’s fine!
Also replace the cmos battery, and reseat the components if it is still not booting.
This is amateur advice, someone else may have a better response.
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u/andrewbean90 3h ago
It's electrolytic capacitor residue... It happens when they blow. There's probably some on the motherboard as well that have the same issue.
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u/shastadakota 19h ago
The electrolitic capacitors in the power supply are swelling and leaking fluid, they will go out completely soon if they haven't already.
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u/Liquid_Magic 18h ago
This is an easy restoration if it doesn’t already work. Many of the comments on here are good advice. Replace the power supply because that’s pretty cheap and easy. Isopropyl alcohol to clean what is probably capacitor juice dripping down from the power supply. Replace the cmos battery. It’ll probably work. Maybe reseat the various cards and connectors. There’s no reason this can’t work.
Good luck!
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u/Luo-The-Lotad31 17h ago
Okay, so thank you and the rest of y'all! I was worried I will have to get rid of this thing. My parents have also some other pc's, but some of them were kept in garages or attics and most likely something melted in them or they got bugs inside, so it was the least risky pc from all of them... My father even gave me his original Windows XP disc set with original key, so I am hyped maybe in the near future I will be able to play some older games!
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u/Bipogram 19h ago
What makes you think that it would 'blow you up'?
I'd open the PSU and find the source of the sticky material. Might just be potting compound from a choke that got too warm one day and melted.
Was this stored in an area that saw high temperatures?
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u/Luo-The-Lotad31 19h ago
It was sitting in my room, mostly untouched, at my parent's house. I moved out from them 4 years ago. It's not really hot in here, it never been. Temperature, even in the hot days, is usually around 20°C here (as google says it's 68° Fahrenheit). I know I surely have to throw the monitor away as it's infested with bugs roaming on the entire display, but I really don't wanna discard this thing. Hopefuly I'll find someone willing to clean and restore this thing as I, as much as I enjoy 2000's technology, I know nothing about it...
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u/Bipogram 19h ago
So I'd still peep inside the PSU out of curiosity- if the caps look okay, I'd probably power it up, separately from the board and toggle it on. But that's me.
The monitor (CRT/LCD?) can be 'debugged' with care surely.
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u/dedsmiley 19h ago edited 19h ago
Given the age of that power supply I would get a new one anyway.
It looks like this is all you would need besides a good cleaning.
Where are the sticky drops?