Solved Can powder from pencils do harm to PCs

Computer0304

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Can powder made from writing with a pencil do harm to a desktop or laptop? Everytime someone in the house uses a pencil, a lot of graphite powder seems to be made. Can this get into any of my PCs since sometimes they use pencils right next to them? Will it just do the same damage as dust does, which I try to clean out when I have time? Also, sometimes, I accidentally hit my laptop with a pencil. Can graphite leave a scratch on the plastic shell of my laptop?
 

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hi,

i do not think you have to worry to much about the graphite from pencils. they would be so small like any other dust particals getting into the computer.
 

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Graphite powder would form a small part of the dust taken in every day.
 

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Not really equal to household dust. Graphite is an extremely good conductor of electricity. ART.
 

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Not really equal to household dust. Graphite is an extremely good conductor of electricity. ART.
thats true. just an interesting thread. never really thought about pencil dust which would take a lot of accumulation to short anything out in my opinion.
 

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Not really equal to household dust. Graphite is an extremely good conductor of electricity. ART.
Presumably writing would create only a tiny amount of graphite powder (unless you are drawing/shading pictures).

That said, you should try to prevent graphite powder from entering your PC.

thats true. just an interesting thread. never really thought about pencil dust which would take a lot of accumulation to short anything out in my opinion.
It could possibly accumulate in sockets though (e.g. RAM, PCI cards, etc.).
 
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@ Computer0304.

I suppose a sharp graphite pencil could scratch the plastic on a laptop if it hit it at the right angle.

I have actually used graphite pencils to remove scratches & discolouration from plastic. Just use spit for wetness & rub the graphite pencil on the surface to be repaired & wipe off frequently & reapply spit. Don't use the point of the pencil just use the side of the graphite centre. Just a case of spit & polish. It is not a fast job so have patience.
 

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@Ranger4 But the force of accidentally hitting the laptop with a pencil won't hurt the inside though, right? I mean, a very tiny bit of the powder could get in through the fan vents but I didn't literally stick it in the vent.

@LMiller7, @oscer1, @lehnerus2000 I have observed the vents every so often and it seems that there is no visible amount of graphite getting in.

@Wandering one Well that is something I have not known before. It is pretty interesting.

Well, I guess I am just being my self again by worring about small things. Thanks guys for answering. ;)
 

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Windows 7 Professional 32-bit/Windows 8 64-bi...Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600/Intel Core i7 4790/In...2GB/16GB/4GBIntel G33/G31 Express(Vostro)/NVIDIA GeForce ...
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Dell Vostro 400/Dell XPS 8700(Slightly Customized for me by Dell)/Toshiba Satellite T135
OS
Windows 7 Professional 32-bit/Windows 8 64-bit/Win7 Pro64-bit
CPU
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600/Intel Core i7 4790/Intel Pentium
Memory
2GB/16GB/4GB
Graphics Card(s)
Intel G33/G31 Express(Vostro)/NVIDIA GeForce GTX 745(XPS)
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HP 2009m(Vostro)/ViewSonic VX2250wm-LED(XPS)
Screen Resolution
1600x900(Vostro)/1920x1080(XPS)
Hard Drives
Seagate ST3160815AS(Vostro)/Western Digital Blue(Satellite)
External:
Western Digital My Passport 0748
Samsung HM121HC
Keyboard
Dell L100)(Vostro)/Dell KB2133p(XPS)
Mouse
Dell M-UAV-DEL8(XPS)
Internet Speed
100 Mbit/s(Only when IPTV is plugged out)
Antivirus
Avast, Malwarebytes PRO
Browser
Internet Explorer 11
Other Info
Note: Names with slashes between two different parts mean that the left is my old desktop and the right is my old laptop and the middle is my new desktop.(Unless specified)
Ping is horrible for servers overseas in US and Europe.
New laptop:LG Gram(Not available in US) Processor:Intel Core i3 4th Gen Ultra Low Power RAM:4GB Hard Drive:SK Hynix OEM MSATA or M.2 Graphics:Intel HD
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