Buying a new computer can be a big investment, here are some ways that will help your computer live a long and productive life:
1. Keep Your Computer Cool
Heat is your computer’s worst enemy. Thankfully there are several things that you can do to keep it from overheating:
- If it is a laptop, set it on a flat, firm surface
- Don’t set it on pillows or other soft surfaces that will block fans
- Buy a laptop lap desk with an extra fan for more cooling
- Use a can of air to clean dust build up from cooling fans
2. Keep Fluids Away
Computers and liquids are not a good combination. Many laptops die a quick death after a drink is spilled onto the top of the keyboard. If you are going to enjoy a beverage while using your computer, it is a smart idea to keep it in a container that has screw top or a lid that won’t fall off if you drop your drink near your computer.
3. Keep Your Computer in One Place
Moving your computer around from place to place can cause wear and tear on the computer that can take its toll over its lifespan. Leaving it in one spot can prevent these issues:
- A failing hard drive from being bumped around too much
- Cracked laptop screen
- A broken shell from picking it up with one hand
4. Keep It Updated
Help your computer stay relevant by updating its software patches regularly. These will help your computer fend off virus attacks and allow you to stay compatible with the latest software and web applications.
If your computer is still running Windows XP, it is time to update to a new operating system or purchase a new computer.
5. Consider a Solid State Drive
Unlike hard disk drives (HDDs), solid-state drives (SSDs) have no moving parts. This allows SSD’s to be faster and more reliable than HDDs. Although HDDs provide more storage for the money, upgrading to a SSD could add years to the life of your computer.
Read more about the differences between SSDs and HDDs.
6. Keep it Plugged In
If battery life is your concern, you should actually unplug your laptop frequently and drain the battery before charging. If you are more concerned about the longevity of your laptop, then unplugging all the time could prove to be more costly.
Unplugging and plugging in your laptop frequently causes wear and tear on the end connector assembly of your laptop charger and on the dc input jack inside your laptop. A common reason that laptops need replacement is the failure of the input jack inside the laptop, which is a costly repair.
7. Use a Surge Protector or Battery Backup
Even if you use a laptop, it is important to protect your computer from power surges by plugging your computer into a surge protector or a battery backup device. Power surges and nearby lightning strikes can cause damage to your computer’s motherboard. In most situations, a damaged motherboard will result in an unstable or unusable computer.
8. Own a Desktop Instead of a Laptop
Laptops are great for people that are always on the move. However, if you don’t need the mobility, desktops will likely have a longer life. Desktops aren’t moved around as much as laptops, they are able to stay cooler and they don’t have the same issues with the power cords or screens that laptops can experience.
9. Regular Computer Tune-Ups
Make it easy on yourself! Let the TechTeam at NU-Telecom help you with our computer repair service and keep your computer maintained with a full tune-up. We will make sure that you have the latest security updates installed, clean out your dust riddled fans and get rid of those pesky viruses for you. Regular computer maintenance is another great way to lengthen the life of your computer.