10 Ways to take better care of your laptop

Today’s digital devices are almost extensions of ourselves, and nothing is more heartbreaking than having your laptop quit on you. It will eventually happen, but there are a few things you may do to extend the life of your device by several years and save money in the process.

Here are 10 tips for optimizing your laptop’s care:

Give your battery a rest.

Batteries, like humans, will eventually die no matter what. However, there are a few things you can do to extend the life of your batteries. Wired claims that keeping your laptop plugged in will shorten its battery life.

This is due to how lithium-polymer batteries operate. Each cell in a lithium-polymer battery is charged to a voltage level and the higher the charge percentage, the higher the voltage level.

The voltage level is important in determining how much stress the battery receives. Before you should unplug and let it drain to 40%, your battery should be charged at a voltage of around 80%. This can extend the life of your battery by up to four times.

Heat isn’t good for batteries, either. Batteries will naturally degrade as they age, but extreme heat can accelerate the process by causing the cells to expand and bubble.

So keep the fans running smoothly, avoid placing your laptop on pillows or laps, and allow air to freely flow through them.

Turning it off from time to time is a good idea.

Keeping your laptop in Sleep Mode is indeed convenient, but it isn’t the greatest idea in the long run. To stay in Sleep mode for eternity, your computer requires consistent power, which is bad for your battery and also disruptive to its lifespan.

Hibernation is a much better choice than Sleep because it reduces energy consumption and makes resuming work easier, although Shutting Down occasionally is still necessary.

A lot of error messages are caused by poorly configured or outdated programs or malware that infiltrates your system without you realizing it. Strange software may not operate well after resuming from Hibernate or Sleep, which is why Windows works better with a reboot now and then.

There’s also the benefit of allowing all of your computer’s hardworking components to take a break for a while, making it run quieter and potentially longer.

Keep it cool, please.

Just as maintaining your computer cool is critical for the battery, it’s also crucial to the other components. The simplest way to keep it cool is to ensure there is adequate airflow.

This implies keeping the air vents clear and off of your lap. Maintaining a normal temperature when the weather gets bad will also preserve it in peak condition.

Keep it up to date.

Keeping your software up to date may seem like a nuisance, especially when you are reminded at the most inconvenient times, but it is still essential.

Software updates protect your laptop from known cybersecurity risks and can include fixes for bugs and other minor issues that may crop up.

If the pinging annoys you, turn them off. However, set aside some time once a month to run all of the required updates.

Make a backup.

Every computer recovery effort should start with a complete backup. Backing up your data to an external hard drive is probably the simplest method to backup your information.

Simply connect your external hard drive and start transferring files from your PC to the removable storage. The biggest benefit of this technique is that it’s offline and resistant to ransomware assaults, but backing up to the cloud is also an option.

Backing up data is easy with cloud storage services like Dropbox, OneDrive, Google Drive, and numerous others. It’s also mostly free until a certain point, after which you may pay either a monthly or yearly charge to increase your storage space.

Please note that most cloud storage services sync files in a certain folder on your computer, and deleting it will also remove the online copy. According to Tech Advisor, most reputable firms use encryption to keep your data secure.

Free up room on your hard drive

Once you’ve made a backup, it’s time to clean out your hard drive of anything you don’t need. Uninstall any programs you don’t use, perform a disk cleanup, identify and delete duplicate files, and so on.

Clean your laptop

Yes, it should be cleaned. Cleaning it is the most simple thing in the world, but people frequently cut corners on this step. Before you start performing any activities, unplug and switch off the computer.

Because a laptop’s display is its most delicate component, proceed carefully. Only clean it with monitor wipes or cleaning products that have been certified for electronics

If you’re using anything like anti-static spray, douse a microfibre cloth with a few drops and clean the screen with it. Keep an eye out for any hard edges that might scratch the display. The only thing you should wipe down is the case itself.

There are several methods to clean the keyboard. You may use a regular vacuum, a portable vacuum, or just a cleaning toothbrush to sweep debris from between the keys.

Some people enjoy using compressed air, but it might push dirt farther beneath the keys and out of reach.

Clean the tops of the keys with isopropyl alcohol. Cover a microfibre cloth with it to wipe over a wider surface, or use a cotton bud to clean each key individually. Never allow any moisture into the gaps between the keys or any other openings.

Keep your antivirus software up to date.

Keeping your antivirus up to date is critical for keeping your laptop safe. It updates signature files that describe new threats and how to combat them. It also keeps the scan engine up to date, allowing it to perform scans more quickly and avoid false positives.

Antivirus applications can discover faults in computer operating systems, but because Microsoft’s Windows Updates automatically checks for and applies fixes on the computer, this isn’t much of a worry.

Run a defrag

Defragging a computer may appear to be more difficult than it is. Defragmenting is the process of reordering jumbled data so that it’s easier to read and helps your computer operate more effectively, according to Lifewire.

It’s another typical computer maintenance operation, but the procedure might take some time, so you don’t have to do it more than once a month.

Defragging regularly may help to prevent software crashes or freezes, allowing programs to run more smoothly. However, if your laptop has an SSD, you don’t have to defrag it at all.

Find the right bag

Laptops are intended to be carried, therefore finding the correct carrier is critical. Choose a bag with sturdy handles and sufficient padding. You’ll need adequate cushioning for shock absorption and strong handles to prevent the bag from falling out of your grasp or off your back when carrying it.

Decide what kind of bag is best for you, whether it’s a backpack, a tote, or a messenger bag. Look for something with at least two pockets or compartments so that your laptop isn’t mixed in with your other stuff and can be protected from scratches.

Check that the zips are functional, that the cloth is robust and water-resistant, and that the stitching is solid. However, it’s also essential to pick a design you’ll love toting with you every day.

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