Laptop Life Tips: Experts Share 10 Tricks To Make Your Computer Last Longer

Though laptop prices have gone down over time, they are still big investments and can be expensive and frustrating to replace when they die. You want your machine to live as long as it possibly can, and to that end we have asked six of the highest-rated laptop repair shops in New York City for some advice on how to easily and cheaply make your laptop live longer.

Two tips were offered by all: DO NOT drink liquids near your computer, and DO NOT rest your laptop on a pillow or a bed. Otherwise, their advice was varied and quite helpful. Below we've collected 10 of the best rules (including the No Liquids and No Bedtime Use warnings) that could keep your laptop running a little bit longer, and just maybe save you some time and dough.

(Many thanks to the following New York-area laptop repair companies: Dr. Brendan's Mac Repair, The How Lounge, Hi-Tech Electronics, Laptop MD, The Little Laptop Shop and Repair on 6th. Many of their websites have more tips for computer care, so check them out.)

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• Be Careful Plugging In Your DC Jack

  Unless you have an Apple laptop with its MagSafe magnetic connector, you need to be gentle when plugging in your computer. If excessive force is applied to the jack, the solder joints connecting the jack to the motherboard can crack. The points of contact can quickly overheat, further damaging the motherboard and the jack. In some cases the motherboard can even catch fire. So don't apply too much force, don't use a cheap after-market charger (only an original charger), and if you notice that the jack is loose, bring it to a repair place ASAP. The more you use a laptop with a loose jack, the looser it becomes and the more you risk destroying both the charger and the motherboard.

• Clean Your Cooling System With Compressed Air

  Buy a bottle of compressed air and blow the dust out of your fan and heat sink once a month. Laptop heat sinks are very fine and get cloaked with dust easily. Open the case and get rid of all the dirt, dust, lint, Cheetos remains and whatever else might have accumulated in there. If you can't figure out how to open the case, call the manufacturer. Most help desks will be more than happy to tell you how to open the case for maintenance, even if your warranty or support plan is up. Also make sure to use static-neutral compressed air. The most popular brand is probably <a href="http://www.dust-off.com/" target="_hplink">Dust-Off</a>.

• Don't Use Your Laptop In Bed

  If you can avoid using a laptop that's lying on a bed or sofa, then please do. When you put your laptop on soft material, you block the ventilation holes in the bottom and the laptop can't suck in air for cooling. Make sure that your laptop sits on a hard surface such as a table or computer mat and that there is space between the bottom of the computer and the surface so that air can travel under the computer. If you must use your laptop in bed, prop it on a big hardcover book or a lapdesk.

• Consider a Cooling Pad

  Avoid overheating at all times. The lower the temperature of your laptop, the longer it will live. All of the repair shops we spoke with reiterated the importance of keeping the laptop's temperature low and agreed that overheating was a huge cause of laptop failure. Even <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/search/ref=sr_nr_scat_2243862011_ln?rh=n%3A2243862011%2Ck%3Alaptop+cooling&keywords=laptop+cooling&ie=UTF8&qid=1316580080&scn=2243862011&h=c0e469de81e81fe1a07328301960ae52fc27e8fc" target="_hplink">a cheap $20 laptop cooling pad</a> can help extend the life of your device.

• Get CCleaner, Use CCleaner

  Download CCleaner for Mac and PC. Every second you spend on your computer doing even simple things, the computer is working hard. That means it can get clogged with temporary files, history, cookies, etc. You can clean the computer and the registry with this very useful tool. CCleaner is free and incredibly easy to use, and <a href="http://www.piriform.com/CCLEANER" target="_hplink">you can download it here</a>. We've heard suggestions to use it as often as every day, but you should be fine with every week or two.

• Don't Drink And Surf

  No liquids near your laptop! It's that simple. Don't drink by your computer, don't eat by your computer, don't keep your goldfish bowl by your computer. Even if you've never spilled anything before in your life, it's just a matter of time, and the spill could seriously fry your electronics.

• Clean Your Screen Correctly

  When dust dirties your screen, don't grab for chemical cleaners like Windex. The chemicals in those cleaning solutions can destroy the thin protective layer on your screen and damage the display over time. Instead, take two tissues, one with a touch of H2O and one dry. Wipe your screen with the wet one and then the dry one, to clean completely and soak up any water drops on the screen. Even better, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=lcd+display+cleaners&x=0&y=0" target="_hplink">use only approved LCD cleaners</a> to keep your screen shiny, new and scratch-free.

• Manage Your Battery Life

  Drain the laptop's battery all the way occasionally. Most manufacturers recommend using the computer until the battery is drained completely at least once a month. Don't keep the laptop charged all the time, as this can reduce battery life in the long run.

• Get Anti-Virus Software

  There are millions of viruses, malware, spyware and other really nasty bugs designed solely to harm your system. Fortunately, there are plenty of free anti-virus programs recommended by our New York-area repair shops, including: - <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security_essentials/default.aspx" target="_hplink">Microsoft Essentials</a>. ("It's light, free, updated on a regular basis and just works," according to one of our repairmen.) - <a href="http://www.malwarebytes.org/" target="_hplink">Malwarebytes</a>, a program for all the malware that's flying around. - <a href="http://www.safer-networking.org/index2.html" target="_hplink">Spybot</a>, for spyware protection. - <a href="http://www.avast.com/en-us/index" target="_hplink">Avast</a>. - <a href="http://free.avg.com/us-en/homepage" target="_hplink">AVG Free</a>. Even <a href="http://www.reedcorner.net/guides/macvirus/malware_catalog.php" target="_hplink">if your laptop is a Mac</a>, you should have one of these anti-virus programs.

• Download Those Windows Updates

  Get those Windows Updates! Once a week Microsoft releases updates to its operating system, and often those fixes are critical to your security. In Windows 7, simply click on "Start," type in "Windows Update" and click on the first result to be taken to the Windows Updater. Mac users should also update regularly, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/20/mac-os-x-lion-password_n_971469.html" target="_hplink">especially in light of the recent bugs in Lion OS X</a>.

Comments

[dancingpotato]

09:00 PM on 10/01/2011

I have read that using compressed air to clean the little fans in a PC can burn out the bearings ... they will spin too fast if blasted with the canned air.

[dancingpotato]

09:10 PM on 10/01/2011

Warning: If you're using compressed air to clean the openings that have fans within them, it's possible that the amount of air blown on the fans can cause them to over spin, damaging or destroying the fan. To help prevent this issue, place something in-between the fan blades, such as a toothpick.

http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000780.htm

[maslin]

03:02 PM on 10/01/2011

Worthwhile.

[jukesgrrl]

02:36 AM on 10/01/2011

I tried to download the "free" version of CCleaner and was foiled. It allowed me to request a free usage and scanned my computer. Then it told me I had to register. Would not do anything else without registration. Only problem was, there were only two types of registration, $39 and $59. I screwed around with it for an hour then I gave up.

[Mark Duggan]

05:11 PM on 10/03/2011

Hmmmm. CCleaner is still free. I admit that a newbie might find the instructions to download a little difficult but just follow the links to "free download" rather than "latest version". Then click download either the piriform or filehippo links. Are you still at school?

[Blarg]

04:30 PM on 09/30/2011

With the hours and hours so many people spend on computers, its impossible not to drink near them. So forget that.

But if you're going to drink near them (and you will), you can still watch out for certain problems. The one that springs to mind right away is pop top cans and carbonated beverages. There's often a little drop or two, or just some spray, that comes out when you open a can of soda. No matter how careful you are! It can fly a long way too, and gets very sticky when it dries. Heck, anything with liquid in it -- thermos, juice bottle, whatever -- can get splashy if it's a little hard to open or slips in your hands a bit.

So drink at your computer (you know you're going to), but don't open containers next to your computer. At the very least, turn your back and shield your keyboard with your body.

[travwend]

01:56 PM on 10/04/2011

But don't ever eat a bowl of cereal with a laptop in your lap. Bad idea. Real bad idea.

[salexsander]

06:03 AM on 09/28/2011

Check out http://procompare.com/best-laptops
I think it’s the best place to get personalized, reliable and quick advice. They rank the best laptops in different categories based on both experts and users’ reviews. They also have a cool personalization slider that lets you optimize the results based on the criteria that are most important to YOU.

[mccord82]

11:30 AM on 09/24/2011

I've got a question for you guys who know a lot about Apple computers. I bought my Macbook Pro about a month ago. I haven't powered all the way down since I got it. When I'm not using it at night or for periods during the day, I put it in sleep mode. It says in the manual to shut it all the way down when you won't be using it for a few days, however, is my leaving it on and in sleep mode all the time harming it?

[ArturoYee]

02:02 AM on 09/25/2011

No - not doing any harm - but it will save some electricity. If you are not using it - go ahead and shut it down completely.
And it never hurts to restart your machine - even an Apple applications have memory leaks.

[mccord82]

04:28 PM on 09/27/2011

Thank you!

Regards

[mccord82]

11:06 AM on 09/24/2011

I purchased my first Macbook Pro about a month ago. I don't run any anti-virus protection what so ever at this point, however, I stay completely away from the internet's "red light district." Would any of you Apple experts recommend this course of action and level of non-protection? And also, I usually charge my battery right before bed at night because it stays charged all day. Will it hurt the battery performance to leave it charging while I sleep and have it remain charging for a little while after it reaches full charge? Sometimes it gets done charging before I wake up, and I was wondering if the machine has a fail safe of some kind to prevent over charging. Thanks for any advice in advance!

[ArturoYee]

01:56 AM on 09/25/2011

Not sure if I can be called an Apple expert - I've been using MacBook Pros for 7 years, managed a small company's IT system consisting of all macs...

I would install ClamXav not just to protect your Apple computer - but to also help to NOT spread and Windows Viruses via email or documents. There are no known Apple/BSD viruses - but we do need to be good Internet citizens.

Keeping it fully charged ALL the time is the problem - or that was the belief. So - what I do - and it seems to make sense - is to discharge the battery through use until it is low - I do it to about 10%, and then charge it overnight. I make sure that gets done at least once a week. Current theory now is not the number of discharge/charge cycles - more with the battery fully charged and high temperatures. I've had my personal MacBooks for 3 & 2 years now - both batteries are working fine -

[Mark Duggan]

05:20 PM on 10/03/2011

What? "There are no known Apple/BSD viruses" What?
You've been a fanbhoy for 7 years and managed a network of Macs and you say there are NO Apple/BSD virii?
Every computer can become infected. End of story. Always install a recognised antivirus program.

[connecticutyankee]

09:43 AM on 09/24/2011

The number 1 trick to keep your computer running was not even mentioned. Keep you computer away from your kids!

[VirgoLinnea]

01:09 PM on 09/24/2011

It wasn't mentioned because it should be common sense. But yes, a lot of parents don't possess that, you're right.

[Blarg]

03:50 PM on 09/30/2011

That's why I don't lend people with kids DVD's anymore. Their kids scratch the hell out of them, and when I get them back, the parents won't say a word and when I spot it, don't want to take responsibility. I become a bad guy for implied criticism of their kids or simply wanting stuff back in the condition I lent it out, or both.

[pepper1311]

10:47 AM on 09/23/2011

WD-30 works to clean any computer.

[Kley Todd]

09:59 AM on 09/23/2011

CCleaner is PURE GOLD. I'm willing to bet I'll be getting a couple extra years out of my laptop because of this tiny little program.

[RattleCat]

07:50 AM on 09/23/2011

Something they don't really mention.  Research your purchase.  Like every other product, some laptops are decent, and some are good.  If your $500 laptop breaks and has to be replaced every year, its not really a good investment.

[Blarg]

04:15 PM on 09/30/2011

One thing I've noticed with friends and associates who aren't computer-savvy is that the prospect of researching and making a rational decision about something they feel so uncomfortable with and don't understand is almost always completely overwhelming. Even if I write up lists of options and features to pick and avoid so they know what they're looking for (or that they can show to a salesperson for guidance), unless I am with them right at the moment, they just buy on impulse every time. More to get the whole thing over with and lose the tension than anything else, I'd guess. Good computer, bad computer -- they don't care anymore and just want to get it out of the way.

So for many people, that $500 laptop that breaks down every year IS the computer they want. Even if the $550 one is twice as good. Or the $450 one.

[Max Load]

05:18 AM on 09/23/2011

"Even if your laptop is a Mac, you should have one of these anti-virus programs."

Does anyone proof their links anymore? If you click into that on slide #9 it sends you to a page with a list of known Mac malware, none of which presents more than a "moderate" threat, and there's no recommendations for Mac anti-virus or security software anywhere on the page.

If you have a Mac and wish to run anti-virus, or must due to company policy, here's a link to a good round-up of Mac AV/Security products:
http://mac.appstorm.net/roundups/utilities-roundups/5-mac-antivirus-tools-for-os-x-and-do-we-need-them/

I decided to have anti-virus software on my Mac, tried McAfee and Intego products, but found they really bogged down my system. I later stumbled on ESET Cybersecurity for Mac [http://www.eset.com/us/home/products/antivirus-for-mac/] at a trade show and have been using it for over a year now.

It integrates well with web browsers, doesn't bog things down and picked up threats in file storage that the other two missed. YMMV.

[Max Load]

04:18 AM on 09/23/2011

CCleaner for Mac is a beta, with support for OS X 5 - 7, and recommended for "advanced users". Caveat lector.

[Oh Johnny]

02:58 PM on 10/01/2011

I have been using AVAST for my antivirus applications. Have had it now for about 3 years. I had CCleaner with Avast for about 2 of those 3 years but did not renew it with my new desktop.

Doesn't Avast do the same thing as CCleaner? Do I need both? Will adding it slow my PC down?

Your thoughts are appreciated.

[euromarkusx]

11:36 PM on 09/22/2011

Cooling Pads are a scam and do NOT work.

[pickles n pops]

11:40 PM on 09/22/2011

Interesting...

[Tyler-Durden]

11:40 AM on 09/23/2011

i think your statement is a little too generalized to be true.

i have one of those cheapy cooling pads. it "works" without even plugging it in, if you consider the effect of having your laptop on a hard, flat surface instead of on your lap. it allows space under the laptop, so the fans can draw air. will a large hardcover book do the same thing? YES. but it still "works" for keeping your laptop cooler.

the little fan inside which promotes circulation may or may not provide additional cooling.

i've not done any testing by comparing internal operating temps with vs. without its use, which is what would be necessary to make the statement you did.

[euromarkusx]

01:09 PM on 09/23/2011

The photo showed a pad with a fan.

The fan(s) are useless, for the premium charged on them.

Having anything raised or slatted will work, and at a cheaper price.

The main thing is to keep laptops off the lap, off pillows and blankets.

[Pod-gers]

11:29 AM on 10/02/2011

My laptop worked much better after I added cooling pad fan. My friend also had putter problems, which cleared up after I bought her the same devise I am using. A targus with two openings for coolinhg fans.

[notsotupelohoney]

08:57 PM on 09/22/2011

I drank hot tea while on my laptop. I leave the tea bags in my cup and didn't know that the strings were wicking tea, dripping it onto the keyboard. The keys started acting funny, then I noticed that they were wet.

I unplugged it immediately and turned the laptop over and did not turn it on for a month. Thank God, it came back, but the keyboard doesn't work. There is an external keyboard attached.

Is there a circuit that can be replaced or anything that can be done to fix this or am I just extremely lucky and should be happy that there is such an easy and inexpensive work-around?

[Max Load]

05:23 AM on 09/23/2011

Was the tea sweetened? If it was, that's likely the culprit, and a replacement would probably work.

Depending on your manufacturer you might be able to do it yourself. Google your make, model and "replacement keyboard". You may be pleasantly surprised and able to lose the external keyboard.

[notsotupelohoney]

10:53 AM on 09/23/2011

It was. I popped off the keys and cleaned what residue I could, but I've never opened the case.

You're very kind to answer my question. I have a Toshiba and replacement keyboards are available.

[Tyler-Durden]

11:47 AM on 09/23/2011

used laptop keyboards can be bought on 'fleabay' for pretty cheap. i've swapped in used keyboards before with relative ease. the instructions are usually available step-by-step online if you do a little searching too. take all specified precautions and treat it like open-heart surgery at your dining room table, and you can do it too.

also, keyboards can be cleaned and reassembled if you want to try that. i have a bunch of people who will not let go of their old PS2 ergonomic split-style keyboards, and i have completely disassembled, washed, dried, and reassembled them back to life. it's a PITA, but it is sometimes possible to recover a spill victim.

a quick google search for "replace keyboard" with your unit's model number should give you information you can review and determine if it's within your ability. good luck!

[notsotupelohoney]

12:15 PM on 09/23/2011

You and Max Load have made me feel a little brave and I may attempt to open the case and clean the keyboard.

Is there a book I can read first that can help me to do this with confidence? Obviously, if I turn over my machine, take out the screws, lift off the case, the keyboard is going to be at the bottom of the innards. How do I get there? I need a map and an excellent reference book.