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Tips When Buying a LaptopYour laptop is a big investment and you should take the best care you can of this important piece of equipment. Putting just a little of your time into some simple maintenance can greatly extend the life of your laptop and save you money. These easy tips can help you keep your laptop in good shape for years to come. Lock your computer. Locking your laptop will keep others from doing mischief to your machine while you are away from it. It's easy to do - simply press the Windows key and the L at the same time to lock your laptop. To unlock it, just press Ctrl+Alt+Del and enter your password. This will return your machine to its former state. Keep your vents clear. Once a week, if not more, check your vents to make sure that they are not blocked by debris. The best way to clear out your vents is to use compressed air; can sof compressed air are available at computer and hardware stores. Check your fan. This simple piece of equipment keeps every other part of your computer running smoothly. If your fan is not working, your laptop can overheat, causing a whole host of problems, even damage to your computer. If you don't know if your fan is working or not, you can often find software from your laptop's manufacturer to test this functionality. Don't get lap burn. If you are getting lap burn, it means that your laptop is not getting sufficient air flow – which means your computer is running hotter than it should. Use your laptop on top of a desk, table or other surface to get better airflow and keep your lap cool. Don't use soft surfaces to work on. A lot of people will place their laptop in a pillow on their lap – don't do this. This restricts airflow, blocks vents and leads to overheating. Storage. Just having a padded laptop bag is not enough. You need to make sure that your laptop is properly and completely shut down before placing it in the bag. You can cause serious damage to your laptop, even cause a fire by not powering down before storing it. Be careful with beverages. Keep that cup of coffee far, far away from your computer. Just one spill can irreparably damage your machine. Remember, liquids and laptops do not mix. Avoid shocks to your system. Make sure tat your laptop is on a sturdy surface. Jostling and falls can really do some damage to your computer, especially the monitor and hard drive. If your laptop is on a stable surface you can move it about safely. If not, power down your computer before moving it. Humidity can be dangerous for your laptop. You can't always prevent this, nor can you control the weather, but do your best to keep your laptop out of humid conditions. Humidity can damage your screen and motherboard. Dust can be a big problem. Keep your laptop away from dust and clean your fans and vents regularly to keep your laptop dust free. Dust can clog vents, causing overheating. Keeping your computer off of the ground will provide a measure of protection against dust. Speaking of which, never leave your laptop on the ground. This is just asking for trouble, even if it is just for a moment. Someone could step on it, or the family dog may decide that it is a toy. These mishaps can be easily avoided – just keep it off the floor! Use surge protectors. A power surge can seriously damage your laptop; using a surge protector can prevent this damage. Take care of your screen. Some people have a bad habit of storing papers between the screen and keyboard. This can scratch your screen (an expensive repair). Remember, it is not literally a notebook – keep your papers in your briefcase and away from your screen. Back to Acer Laptops
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