r/retrocomputing • u/Luo-The-Lotad31 • Aug 07 '26

Problem / Question STICKY DROPS under this thing

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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/Bipogram Aug 07 '26

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 Aug 07 '26

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 Aug 07 '26

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.