How to Take Good Care of a Laptop Computer

Your laptop computer brings the world of computing to your car, bed, sofa or the booth in the coffeehouse. With all that versatility comes additional risk. In order to take good care of your portable computer, observe some general guidelines that will keep your laptop humming happily for a long time.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Take a break to eat. Your little computer is so convenient, it's easy to leave it on your lap while you're watching TV and eating nachos. Nevertheless, all that gooey cheese plays havoc with the circuitry under the keyboard, not to mention the effect it has of making the keys stick.
2. Put your drink on a separate table if you can. Even worse than food and crumbs, is the risk of damage from liquids spilled on the keyboard. Even if you're careful, another person or animal can bump your drink and spill it on your laptop.
3. Unplug your laptop by holding firmly onto the plug, not by tugging on the cord from a distance. You can loosen and damage the internal wiring, requiring a replacement cord in order for your laptop to run.
4. Put Fido outside before using your laptop if he likes chewing on cords. Puppies and even some grown dogs, will chew on anything and electrical cords are especially tempting. To protect your cord and your dog, keep the two separated.
5. Pick up your laptop computer by its base, not by the screen. Between the screen and the base are electrical components and wiring, located in the hinges. Lifting by the screen places undue pressure on this area and may shorten the life of your display unit.
6. Look carefully when you're inserting memory cards or attaching other peripheral devices to your computer. Trying to force a plug into a port upside-down can damage the pins in the port, rendering it useless.
7. Maintain a constant temperature for your laptop. This isn't always easy, but leaving it outside in your backpack in freezing temperatures or setting it on the dashboard in direct sunlight is a mistake.
8. Use compressed air to clean dust and debris from the keyboard and accessory ports. Once a year, consider having your laptop computer cleaned professionally to remove internal dust particles that cause the motherboard to overheat.
9. Carry and store your laptop in a protective bag designed for that purpose. Not only does it reduce exposure to dust, it protects the computer during transportation. Look for a case that features a suspended compartment that serves to cushion the laptop.

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