Prolong the life of your laptop
Laptop or notebook repairs are costly and sometimes replacement is the only option when one is damaged. Additionally, just because a laptop is mobile in design doesn't make it well-suited to be used just anywhere. Follow these tips to prolong the life of your laptop and get the most out of your investment.
Instructions
Prolong the Life of a Laptop
1. Keep liquids away to best prolong the life of your laptop. While it may seem obvious not to drink coffee directly over the keyboard, a soda opened a few feet away is also unsafe, due to potential splatter. It may only take a drop to cause damage. Some laptops are more spill resistant, but many, including several sub notebooks or UMPCs, on the market are highly moisture sensitive.
2. Prolong the life of your laptop by cleaning the system components according to the manufacturer's instructions. This includes using cleaners designed for your laptop. Caution is needed with homemade cleaners, such as distilled water and alcohol, as these may damage the laptop finish or leave a residue on the screen. Save money instead by comparison shopping for computer and LCD safe cleaners.
3. Use a light touch when cleaning the laptop screen and avoid applying cleaner directly to the LCD. For stubborn areas try a microfiber towel and reapply cleanser as necessary, again, while limiting pressure.
4. Remove dust frequently as it is one of the laptop's worse enemies. Compressed air is worth the price, sold for less at discount stores, and should last a long time with a laptop. Follow both the product instructions and warnings concerning usage. Ensure that the computer is turned off, and not just in standby, before use.
5. Protect your laptop while traveling or transporting the computer in an automobile or outdoors. Pack the laptop in a well padded, properly sized bag that keeps the laptop securely put. Limit its exposure to the sun, heat and harsh elements. Computers with standard hard drives, rather than flash memory, are more sensitive to motion.
6. Position your laptop on a hard surface while it is powered on or in use. Soft surfaces or fabrics may block air vents, which are critical to prevent the laptop from overheating. If you feel your laptop is running too warm, restart the system and look at the CPU shutdown setting and current temperature. Optionally, install a program such as PC Tools, to identify your laptop CPU fan speed and system temperature.
7. Consider connecting an external monitor and/or keyboard when using your laptop for extended periods or at home. Prolong the life of your laptop by not placing unnecessary demands on the machine. Some laptops are designed for heavy usage but lower-end and smaller models may not be as durable.
