Your computer sure makes life easier, but can you say you pay it back the same way?
It turns out, seemingly insignificant things, like keeping the battery in or forgetting
to unplug your headphones, can slowly kill your electronic buddy.
Don’t worry!
I’ll fill you in on the most common mistakes in PC care.
14.
Connecting the laptop to a power supply the wrong way
If you’re like me, you probably think that it doesn’t really matter which end of the
charger gets plugged in first.
You’re wrong.
Never ever plug it into an outlet without first connecting something to the other end.
If you do this, the power supply can simply burn out, or, worst case scenario, you can
kill the motherboard.
Always start with connecting the laptop to the charger, then the plug to the outlet and
only then turn the laptop on.
13.
Plugging into the power source without removing the battery from the laptop
If you frequently use your laptop while it’s plugged in, it’s a good idea to take out
the battery after you’ve charged it to about 50–60%.
If you leave it inside, it will become less productive over time, only reserving enough
energy to run for 20 minutes.
Now, here comes the surprising part: it’s best to keep that battery in the fridge (not
the freezer, but the fridge).
To protect it, wrap it in a waterproof package.
This way it won’t oxidize and will retain all its properties.
12.
Being impatient as you turn on or restart your PC
After it’s shown you the welcome message, your PC still needs some time to fully turn
on.
Impatience gives your computer too much pressure it can’t handle, causing the operating system
to freeze and the distortion of data.
If the computer still works slowly after a few minutes, check the list of startup programs
and sort them.
11.
Using a tee and extension cable instead of a power strip
Power surges or unexpected power supply cuts can lead not only to instant data loss, but
also to the processor burning.
It’s not just the grid to blame for power surges, lightning can give you a hard time
as it sends its pulses through cables and even phone wires.
A build-up of static is also a potential danger.
To protect yourself and minimize all risks, you must use a power strip instead of the
usual tee or extension cord.
It will let you turn off the power supply in times of strong current drops.
For the same reason, don’t keep your PC constantly plugged in.
10.
Putting your system unit too close to the wall, furniture and home decor
If you have an old-school computer, you must be facing the “where do I put that stack?”
question.
It’s pretty huge and many people prefer to push it somewhere far away where it can’t
be seen.
When you do so, you’re forgetting the rule of free access to ventilation.
The airflow often gets blocked by a wall, curtains, or other interior items.
Remember, your computer needs an effective cooling system.
Otherwise, you’re at risk of overheating and the interrupting functionality.
Make sure that nothing prevents access to air and that the ventilation opening is not
blocked.
9.
Not paying enough attention to your software
For the operating system to run smoothly for many years, give it the treatment it deserves.
• Keep track of what you’re installing.
Avoid unnecessary programs.
• Clean the registry often and get rid of temporary files and various duplicates.
• If possible, use only original drivers that are fully compatible with your computer.
• Regularly scan it for viruses and get rid of suspicious files.
8.
Transporting your laptop in sleep or hibernation mode
Before you put the laptop in its case and go somewhere, make sure that it’s in shutdown
mode.
Sleep and hibernation are only good when you’re using the gadget at home and don’t like
to constantly wait for the system to fully boot (although it’s worth doing it from
time to time).
Sleep and hibernation modes are not recommended for transporting a laptop because laptops
don’t handle active movement well.
Only movie characters can use them on the back of a motorcycle while running away from
enemies.
In real life, it can lead to serious software damage.
7.
Exposing the screen to direct sunlight
One thing that your laptop and computer both have in common is that they hate the Sun.
Obviously, it can cause problems with overheating, and its rays can slowly, but surely, kill
your display.
So if you keep your gadgets close to the window or in direct sunlight, be prepared to say
goodbye to a bright and saturated picture in the near future.
6.
Mangling the cords
What do the cables and power cords of your laptop look like?
If they’re all twisted and bent or wrapped around something to keep them bundled, don’t
expect them to serve you a long time.
You see, sharp edges, even on plastic objects, easily cut into the cords and ruin them.
Bending does the same thing.
So the best you can do is either bundle the cord over itself or the power adapter.
And, make sure all cables are attached to the motherboard and don’t hang loose every
time you turn the computer off and on.
5.
Keeping your laptop too hot
Heat is your laptop’s worst enemy, so keep your gadget cool on a flat and firm surface.
If the air vent is located in the lower part of the laptop, just a flat table won’t be
enough for support.
Get yourself an additional cooling system using a special stand with small built-in
fans.
This way you’ll extend the lifespan of your laptop and keep it quiet.
4.
Using a cheap replacement power supply When your power supply burns or gets lost,
don’t go for a cheaper version or borrow your friend’s old charger to save money.
It’s really important that you use an original power supply that’s fully suited to your
laptop model!
If you ignore this rule, you’ll give your battery and even the motherboard a really
hard time.
3.
Installing and uninstalling lots of programs When you install and uninstall tons of programs,
they take up different spaces of previously installed programs on your disk.
This is called disk fragmentation, and it slows down the work of your software.
You can use a disk defragmenter to solve this problem.
And, if your disk is full but you don’t think you have too many programs installed,
try using some tools that delete rarely used and temporary files.
2.
Cleaning the screen the wrong way Do you use some liquids to clean your computer
screen?
Stop it right now!
Ammonia-based, alcohol-containing substances can seriously damage the anti-reflective coating
of your screen and shorten its lifespan.
Using wet wipes, cleaning agents and running water aren’t the best ideas either.
The best thing you can do is use microfiber or soft fabrics.
If they don’t do the trick, use special wipes for cleaning screens.
Choose them depending on the type of screen so you don’t spoil the coating.
1.
Keeping too many gadgets plugged in
Whenever it’s possible, turn off the sound, keyboard backlight, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi if
you can work offline.
It seems like something insignificant, but actually affects your laptop battery performance.
Another thing that can help is disconnecting the wireless mouse, flash drives, headphones,
and external hard drives.
All of them absorb energy even when turned off.
Do you know of any other things that seem harmless but actually damage your PC?
Spread the word in the comments below!
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