Computer Repair


Title: Laptop Etiquette
Author: LLRo
Editted: 06/11/08



Laptops are very useful mobile devices. It's a useful tool especially if you're on the go. Here are a few tips for keeping your laptop in top shape. Most may sound like common sense, but they are often neglected.

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1. Keep it cool. A simple device that people may consider a gimmick is a laptop cooler. However, with a few precautions these actually do help disappate the heat from a laptop. Make sure that when you purchase one of these coolers that the cooling fan is not being blocked by the laptop itself. If the fan is blowing on a spot of the laptop that doesn't have any ventellation holes, then it's not working as optimal as it should.

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2. Keep it off the bed! Under your laptop are vent holes that help to take the hot air out of the tiny space that the motherboard is in. If you put it on a bed, The blankets and comforter will actually suffocate your computer. Make sure that if you are going to work this way, to place a flat object underneath it, such as a book, a lap desk (usually made of plastic or wood).

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3. Close the lid or run a screensaver when you're not using it. Screen burn-ins are often caused by leaving your computer screen on without doing anything for an extended period of time. Technology has gotten better over the years but it can still happen so take preventive measures and just close the lid or modify your power settings to shut off the screen after 5-10 minutes of being away.

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4. Don't leave the power supply plugged in for long periods of time without taking the battery out. If you are constantly trying to charge the battery by plugging in the power supply, it will decrease the life of that battery's cycle. When you are staying at home for extended periods of time, just take the battery out and plug it straight into the outlet. Otherwise run the battery till it gets midway power then plug in the power supply.

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5. If you live in a dust infested area, either clean up your space or clean your laptop vents often. Once dust clogs up the inside of your laptop it is very hard to clean without the proper tools.

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6. Laptops are usually down-clocked for a reason. Some people may ask why their laptops run slower than their desktop even if they are the same speed. There are many other factors in how fast a computer feels (memory, video, hard drive) but a big factor is that laptop manufacturers will actually downlock the CPU. Intel has a technology that actually controls the speed of the chip depending on the workload (idle it will run slower and when it's working it will speed up).

If you run Vista, there is a power management setup that actually controls this aspect of the chip. Be advised though that if you run in 'power' mode, make sure that you have taken the proper measures to keep the computer cool. Overworking the laptop can shorten the life of many vital parts in the computer.


This page is updated from time to time so make sure to check in for more tips.


Note: There are many advanced ways to fix a computer but these articles are intended for novice computer users. If you find any mistakes to any of my articles, please let me know through the Contact Form. I hope you have enjoyed/learned something. Thank you for visiting the site.