LAPTOP MAINTENANCE

I have recently purchased a brand new laptop. So I thought of searching on internet how can I maintain my laptop. I got many sites providing tips for maintenance of laptop. Here I have taken best of all the tips.

First of all keep one thing in your mind, laptop is a very delicate item it should not be mishandled. Take utmost care while handling it. Repairing of laptop may cost you a lot so always follow a thumb rule that “Prevention is better than cure”.

CLEANLINESS

Cleanliness is very important for the laptops.
Always use a very soft cloth for cleaning screen and never spray any cleaner directly on the screen, instead spray it on the cloth and then use the cloth to clean the surface.
Keep the cooling vents clean to maintain the proper airflow for better cooling.

Do not leave the laptop open while not in use always keep it in the case. As laptop has many open ports dust can easily find its way inside the system.

Avoid eatables near the laptop. Accidental spillage of liquid can damage the internal circuitry.


HANDLING

As hard drive is sensitive to magnetic field so keep the laptop away from devices having strong magnetic field such as electrical appliances.

If not in use always keep laptop inside casing.

You must avoid packing your laptop in a bag or case along with other bulky objects such as school books. This can cause flexion or torsion of the screen, which in turn leads to "black screen" problems and imprinting of the screen with a black Accupoint dot. Accupoint dot imprint damage is not covered under the screen insurance policy or extended warranty.

While traveling make sure that your laptop should not be subjected to any kind of jerk or shock.

Avoid using your laptop in front of dessert cooler. Dessert cooler creates a humid environment, which is not suitable for computers.


PERFORMANCE & DATA HANDLING

Avoid piling up unusable software in your machine. Uninstall all the applications that are not in use. This will prevent the laptop from slowing down.
To maintain system performance you should defrag your hard drive on regular basis.

Always backup your data on regular basis. Laptop is mobile device which is more prone to damage.
Update your virus scan software regularly and scan your machine at least once in a week.

It is mandatory that the system be suspended or shut down whenever the laptop is packed in its carrying case. If not, the electronics, including the Pentium CPU, continue to run at full power generating considerable heat. Inside the carrying case, no flow of cooling air is possible, and the result is permanent damage to the Pentium CPU, video display, and other components. You must assure that your laptop is set to automatically suspend when the lid is shut. To verify this, go to the Start Menu and choose Control Panel > Power Options. On the Advanced tab, verify that your laptop is set to stand by or hibernate when the lid is closed. Then click ok.

BATTERY MAINTENANCE

Laptop battery must be fully discharged and then fully recharged every few weeks. If you don’t do this, it will quickly lose battery life due to what is known as the `memory effect'.
The memory effect means if you don't follow the above procedure, your battery will only charge up to the percentage of the last charge. For instance, if you discharge it to 30 per cent, it will only charge up the remaining 70 per cent. Do this repeatedly, and the 30 per cent will become unusable, giving you an effective 70 percent charge even though the indicator will still show a 100 per cent charge each time you charge it.

Booting the notebook when it is not connected to a power source draws a lot of power from the battery. Instead of shutting down your laptop in the middle of a meeting, choose the `Suspend' mode if you wish to use it again after just a short interval. This will save battery and help you restart your work faster.

Keep the laptop brightness low for longer battery backup.

It's a good idea to clean dirty battery contacts with a cotton swab and alcohol. This helps maintain a good connection between the battery and your portable device.