Notebook Computer Care
To get the most out of your notebook computer - remember...
RULE #1...No food or drink!
Refrain from eating or drinking near the notebook. The crumbs from the food can slip through the keyboard directly to the components inside your notebook. As for spilled drink, liquids and electronics do not mix! This happens more often than you would think. In the event it does happen, immediately unplug the AC adapter, remove the battery and get it to a qualified computer repair shop as soon as possible.
RULE #2...Keep it 'in the bag'
If you don't already have one - get a good quality padded notebook bag - the more padding, the better. Keep your notebook in this bag when you aren't using it, and any time you take your notebook out of the house or from place to place! Also make sure your bag fits your notebook well - the computer should not be able to shift or move inside it, and yet it shouldn't be a tight fit either. Another common mistake is to put objects such a mouse or AC adapter in the same compartment as the notebook - one good hit and that object will surely break whatever part of the notebook it was touching at the time. Another common mistake is to not remove all cables, plugs and devices from your notebook BEFORE putting it in the bag - these objects are connected to delicate ports on your notebooks' motherboard - if something is plugged into them and they get hit or jarred the repair (if possible) will be very expensive. Also - when putting your notebook in its bag - think of it like a book, where the hinge side (back of unit) is the spine of a book. This is the strongest part of the notebook - and the 'Spine' of your notebook should always be the side that faces the bottom of your bag - never the screen latch side!
RULE #3...If you have to ship it - package it really well!
Occasionally you will need to ship your notebook. KEEP THE ORIGINAL PACKAGING! Notebook computer boxes are specially designed to protect their contents. An improperly packaged computer will be damaged during shipping. Make sure the shipping label is on the top of the box and that a return address in included or you might not get it back. Once you've packaed your notebook - put it through the shake test. If the computer can move inside the box, chances are it will get damaged. Also ensure that the AC brick or any other objects in the box with the notebook are properly padded and unable to move. Last but not least - do not over-pack the box. If the box 'bloats' when you try to close it - remove some of the filler until it closes properly. Insure your shipment for the replacement value of your computer in case something happens...
RULE #4 - Keep it cool.
Always use your notebook on a had surface. Pillows, blankets and the like suffocate the cooling vents underneath notebooks and cause them to overheat which almost always results in premature failure and expensive repairs or unexpected replacement. Notebooks used to be called laptops just 3 or 4 years ago until manufacturers realized that they had been indicating these computer could/should be used on our laps. After thousands of complaints that these computers were failing, the problem was identified as due to overheating, thus laptops became notebooks almost overnight.
A laptop cooling pad is an inexpensive precaution against overheating - for between $20 and $40 you can purchase one. These cooling pads are nice because if you really want to use your notebook on a soft surface - the pad creates a hard surface for it to sit on.
Also be sure your notebook is off and not in standby when you put it into your notebook bag - your notebook generates heat even in standby - and even moreso when left on - this will surely damage the unit.
RULE #5 - Cleaning
If you have been following RULE #1, than cleaning is really easy. Do not use household cleaners to clean your notebooks' LCD screen. Retail electronics stores sell special wipes coated with chemistry specifically designed for these plastics. Do not apply pressure on your screen, but instead gently wipe the screen in verticle or horizontal passes. Household cleaners such as Windex contain Bleach and Ammonia, which will damage the screen plastic and turn it yellow. Another good screen cleaning solution is to moisten (not very wet) a lint free non abrasive cloth with a 50/50 mix of water and isopropyl alcohol.
Your keyboard can be cleaned using a lint-free swab just barely dampened with a non chlorine, none ammonia solution (409 and Fantastic work well) to get dirt of the key surfaces and around their edges. Just be sure not to spray any cleaners near the notebook. Vacuum cleaners and compressed air are not a safe way to remove crumbs and other debris from your notebook. If there is a significant amount of debris or dust in your notebook, we recommend you bring it to a computer repair shop who will disssasemble the unit and clean it out properly.
RULE #7 - The Battery and Charging
The most overlooked part of a notebook is its battery. To properly care for your battery(s) you need to drain and recharge weekly. I've seen people with laptops plugged in for a year wonder why battery only lasts 20 minutes instead of 2 hours like it used to. You need to do this so it remembers it can fully drain, and it will extend battery life. Leaving your notebook plugged in to the AC brick constantly charges your battery to its capacity and can shorten battery life. I recommend using your notebook for extended periods WITHOUT plugging in until the notebook warns you of a low battery charge - then plug it in and let it fully charge - again at least once per week.
RULE #8 - General use and other precautions
Do not walk around with your notebook on - even in standby! The hard disk drive is almost always spinning and if you shock your notebook while it is accessing the drive (which it does constantly without our knowledge), the drive heads could strike the spinning platters and permanently damage the data there, causing loss of informaiton, system failure and inevitable repair.
When closing a notebook - gently pushing it closed from the center of the top of the lid. Slamming the notebook closed, and closing it from one side of the lid will eventually damage the hinges or the screen itself.
Be very careful of the Power plug insertion point. This brittle power plug socket is soldered to your laptop motherboard and tends to break when pressure or force is applied to it repeatedly. Indicators of a faulty power plug are the notebook battery will not charge, and/or the notebook will not power up consistantly even when plugged into power. These plugs are often on the back of a notebook - which is the worst place because people typically lift the notebook under the front, which can apply pressure on this plug as the notebooks' weight transfers to the rear of the unit. Reduce the likelyhood of a problem by lifting your notebook with two hands - one on each side of the unit.
Be gentle when closing your CD/DVD reader and don't touch the lens or attempt to clean it.
Keep your notebook and anything plugged into it far out of reach of small children (and sometimes even the big ones).
Always be aware of tripping hazards related to things plugged into your notebook - such as the AC power adapter - they'll not only hurt someone, but are a constant cause of 'flying Kamikazee notebooks'.
If your notebook has been left in the cold (below 50 degrees for more than an hour) - give it an hour or so to warm to room temperature before turning it on. Likewise - avoid leaving your notebook in direct sunlight and if it has been left in a really hot area - let it cool for a while before powering up.
