How To Take Care Of Your Laptop

There are several easy steps that you can use to maximize the life of your laptop computer. By taking proper care of your laptop computer, you will insure that you have the computer for several years to come. Further, if you take good care of your laptop, when you decide to get another laptop, you will be able to sell your existing laptop for more money. Below are some useful tips on how to care for your laptop computer properly.

First, you should clean your laptop regularly. You should never use water to do so, as it can get inside the computer and damage the internal components. It is recommended that you purchase and use special electronic cleaning products or, at minimum, use rubbing alcohol on a cotton swab or q-tip to clean the keys on the keyboard. You can also purchase cans of pressurized air to clean out all the dust particles that accumulate in between the keys. Finally, be sure to clean the computer screen on a regular basis with a soft cloth.

You should always carry your laptop computer in a protective case. The case will keep the computer from being exposed to too much sunlight or water when you are carrying it outside and it will also keep the computer partially insulated--especially, if it gets jarred around in your vehicle or the like. Further, it is better that you purchase a separate carrying case for your laptop: you don't want to pack all of your belongings into one bag, only to have your belongings ruin your laptop by scratching it or crushing it beneath the weight of everything else you are carrying with you.

Finally, it is important to protect your laptop computer at all times. Never leave it in an area where it can be exposed to extremely high or low temperatures, don't pick it up incorrectly, or slam the computer carrying bag down on a hard surface while the laptop is inside of the bag. In the end, taking the above necessary precautions will increase the lifespan of your laptop computer.

Dust is one of the common reason for a fried motherboard

*dust caused the heat-sink not properly cool

After cleaned

Pictures below show the temperature before and after the service that was taken from AMD processor and nVidia’s GPU laptop while playing DOTA.

Before service

After service

Laptop motherboards don't often malfunction through normal use, but when they do, it may be difficult to figure out why. In part this is because there is often no visible physical damage. Common reasons for a fried motherboard can include static shock, power surges, excess heat, parts failure or general mishandling. Many other, more complicated technical problems can be the reason for failure as well.

Static electricity is probably the most common reason for a fried motherboard. When handling computer/laptop hardware, such as a motherboard, it is important for a person to discharge the static electricity that has been built up in the body. This static charge, if transferred to the motherboard, may short-circuit its components, rendering it useless. Discharging can be done by touching a piece of metal before beginning work on the computer/laptop. Working on an anti-static mat or a hard floor is also helpful; operating a computer/laptop with a carpet underneath you can build up static charges and is not recommended.

Power surges and damaged power supplies are also reasons for a fried motherboard. A power surge can occur during a storm, and a computer/laptop that is not plugged into a surge protector has a chance of being damaged. A surge protector will help shield the computer/laptop's parts from shock. Even if a motherboard is unharmed during a power surge, damaged power supplies can cause it to break down after a while. Power supplies that do not output the recommended wattage may also cause issues with the motherboard.

Overheating, dust, and dirt are also common reasons for causing a fried motherboard. If the motherboard has been placed in a computer/laptop case that is very small, or poorly ventilated, it can easily become overheated. If the case has not been outfitted with a properly working fan, there is no way to move excess heat away from the parts. If the fan is clogged with dirt and rarely cleaned, it cannot properly cool the system. Dirt can also build up inside the laptop case and cause problems, making regular cleanings very important.