Love Your Laptop: Tips To Keep Your Laptop Running Smoothly

Tips to Keep Your Laptop Running Smoothly

The following are a few tips to keep your laptop running smoothly:

Keep It Clean

The following will help free up space and allow for better productivity on your laptop:

• Back up your data on an external hard drive or a portable flash drive
• Organize your desktop icons
• Empty your computer’s trash on a regularly
• Delete any programs you don’t use

Shut It Down Properly 

Make sure to shut down all open programs after you are done using them. Also, put your laptop to sleep instead of just closing the lid. This will help your computer stay cool and safe while in transport.

If you’ve had your laptop in a cold environment, let it slowly warm up to room temperature before turning it on. This will keep condensation and dew unaffected, which if it is it can ruin your computer’s sensitivity.

Protect It

If you take your laptop around with you to work, school, or the coffee shop, make sure to use a padded and secure case to protect it.

It is also important to shut down your laptop or put it to sleep before transporting it around. This is because if it is still running and you accidentally bump it into something, it could damage the internal components.

Clean Up Spills Immediately

Any form of liquid is an enemy to your device. Ever tried to use the rice method? It’s not a myth and it really does work.

Try using the following method to bring your laptop back to life after a spill.

1. Take out the battery.
2. Dry off the laptop as much as you can.
3. Pop the whole thing in a bag of rice.
4. Let it sit in the rice for at least 5 hours, or overnight.
5. After you take it out, wipe off any excess debris on the battery or device and reconfigure the laptop together.

Don’t Keep It In The Trunk

Extreme climates are also enemies to your laptop. Not only do hot and freezing temperatures suck the life out of your battery, but they also damage the laptop’s internal components, such as your hard drive.

Do not leave your laptop unattended in these climates. However, if you absolutely must leave your laptop in your car in freezing temps, wrap it up in layers – like a jacket or sweater – to keep it warm.

Feed It Kosher

No I don’t mean pickles. By kosher, I mean LCD-approved! You can’t use just any household cleaner to spruce up your delicate laptop screen and body. Don’t use any all-purpose household cleaners and anything containing acetone, ammonia, or alcohol, which will strip away your LCD’s protective coating. Use a soft cloth (like microfiber) to wipe down your monitor and screen, and steer clear of using paper or bath towels that will cause scratching.

If a dry wipe-down won’t cut it, try using distilled water, or a 50/50 mixture of white vinegar and distilled water, and use light, rapid circular movements to help reduce streaking.

Be Gentle

Whether typing, clicking, touching the screen, or closing the lid, be gentle with your device.

The harder you treat your laptop, the quicker it will become damaged in some way and you will have to fork over money to get parts replaced.

Recycle Properly

If you do decide to part ways with your current device and move on to a newer and sexier model, make sure you break it off with your old computer the right way. Find recycling centers in your area, resell it, donate it, or just drop it off at Best Buy for fast and easy recycling.

But whatever you decide to do, BE SURE to wipe your hard drive of any personal information and do a factory reset. You don’t want any personal information, such as credit card information, important forms or documents, or personal pictures getting into the wrong hands.