BASICS OF LAPTOP MAINTENANCE
Just like the way you give proper maintenance, gentle use, and regular care of your car, your laptop isn’t any different. If you ignore important factors such as manufacturer’s instructions and cleaning guidelines, you might end up with a frustrating and difficult machine to work with. Also, your laptop won’t last for years either.
Taking good care of your laptop is very important to ensure it keeps working well. It is also very important to always do a routine check-up once in a while in order to correct any problems or challenges that might have occurred during usage. If you follow these steps below, your laptop won’t just last longer but will maintain it’s speed and require little maintenance as well.
The maintenance tips in this article are things a typical computer user that isn’t an expert would be able to carry out. None is time, money or effort consuming. Some apply to a wide range of devices while some are just directed to laptops only. Most of these tips are best done regularly to ensure the safety of your laptop.
Your Laptop Should Be Clean Always
The cleanliness here is the physical one. Keeping your laptop clean does not only prevent dust particles from building up in the exposed ports and laptop fans but also helps prevent the laptop from overheating. It’s easier for your eyes as well when you looking into a clean screen always. Cleaning your laptop case often prevents dust and dirt from getting into the laptop.
The best defense against a virus is an antivirus software
It’s possible to have a virus in almost everything we download even if we’re sure of what downloaded. Not having an antivirus software puts you at risk of software issues or errors in the circuit of your system. The operations and performance of your system could be slowed down as well due to the presence of a virus.
Food and Beverages Should Be Kept Away
It is very wrong to drink or eat over your laptop. It could be difficult to adhere to this simple instruction especially when you’re doing important work during your lunch break for instance or seeing a movie but the consequences should also be highly considered. A little spill could cause a lot of havoc such as damaging the keyboard or seeping through the casing to damage the internal components. At most, no other thing but water should be on the same surface as your laptop. It should be a rule in your house if possible.
Extreme Temperature Should Be Avoided
Extreme temperatures can have a negative effect on your laptop. If your laptop has been outdoors on a really cold day, it is best to take it indoors and let it get warm gradually till it reaches room temperature before turning it on.
Always Close the Lid
Always close the lid of your laptop after using it. It should be closed too when moving it as well as when it has been left for any length of time. Doing this will help keep your laptop running between charges as well as protecting the screen from any accidental damage.
The LCD Display Monitor Should Be Protected Always
Ensure that there small items like a pen or keychain on the keyboard when shutting your laptop. Such items could scratch the screen when it is shut which could lead to the damage to the display screens. The lid should be closed gently while holding it in it’s middle. This prevents the lid from bending and snapping over time which is what happens if the lid is always closed using one side only.
Avoid Blocking the Vents
It’s important for your laptop to breathe just like you do. Note: AVOID BLOCKING THE VENTS! It’s important for machines to breathe just like humans do though in their case, it’s for their insides to keep being cool so they can function effectively. The importance of this increases when you demand a lot of performance from the machine such as gaming.
Your workspace should be cleared from things that could obstruct the flow of air such as books or clothes. Also, check that your laptop fans are working well from time to time. Always ensure your machines are well ventilated and should always be placed at room temperature.
Peripherals Should Be Plugged in Gently
Items that you can plug into the laptop are called peripherals. They could either be accessories, adapters, USB flash drives, headphones, or power cables. It is important to
take note of the size and shape of an item’s connector before inserting it into it’s designated port as such items have specific locations.
Complete Back-Up
It’s important to carry out complete backups monthly. Go for an easy method as there are a variety of hardware as well as software options. You may have to keep trying out different methods until you discover the best one. Note also that it’s important to have a well-secured location for your backup storage. Doing these backups monthly is a reliable way of preventing data loss.
Your Laptop Shouldn’t Be Left in a car
A laptop is an enticing target for thieves, that’s why it shouldn’t be left in a car. Also, the huge temperature swings the insides of car experience could result in the damage of your laptop.
Cords and other Electrical Debris Should be Organized
Having the setup of a home office could come with features such as accessories on working surfaces/floors, messy cords, or power strips. Having pets or little kids in such an environment can put them at risk of being electrocuted. If care is not taken, there could be a fire incident especially if you have cords that are jumbled up as they’re more vulnerable.
So it’s advisable to always unplug, untangle and rearrange your cords in a more organized system and plug everything back in thereafter.
Your Chair Shouldn’t Be Over Your Computer Cord
Try to make sure your cord is far from your legs and the floor. It’s also best to attach the cord to your desk using a tape or special tie which can easily be untied after using the laptop.
