Ande's Computer Help 
Laptop and Netbook Care
Most people are not aware of what they can do to extend the life and reliability of their laptops and netbooks. I will attempt to share some of the ‘secrets’ for protecting your data and precious pictures. These apply to both laptops and netbooks.
The most overlooked and dangerous item is the laptop battery. If you are using your laptop like a regular desktop by keeping the charger plugged in to an outlet all of the time, then the battery will cause most of the problems.
These batteries were designed to be rechargeable. By keeping your laptop plugged in all of the time the battery never gets a chance to discharge and recharge. The battery will be constantly receiving a trickle charge. This constant charge will, eventually, cause the battery to lose its ability to hold a good charge. The battery will hold its charge for shorter and shorter periods of time. Eventually, the battery will not be able to power the laptop at all.
With some basic guidelines you can ensure a reliable and long life for your laptop. These guidelines are pretty basic and should be easy to follow.
1. If the manufacturer does not instruct you on the length of time for the initial charge one rule of thumb is to initially charge them for 6-hours before using them the first time.
2. For the first three uses, unplug the charger and use the laptop until the battery goes dead or gives you the message that the battery needs recharging. I recommend turning off the some of the power saving features during this initial break-in period.
3. One of the biggest enemies of re-chargeable batteries is heat.
a. If you are going to keep the laptop charger plugged in for more than six hours remove the battery. This will help to preserve the battery life time. Laptop batteries will overheat when left plugged in to the charger for extended periods of time. The heat generated will cause damage to your laptop battery and motherboard.
b. Make sure you have the laptop on a smooth flat surface. This will allow the needed air flow to maximize cooling and minimize heat build-up.
c. Don’t sit the laptop on your lap, a pillow or carpet. That will block the needed cooling air flow. There are many laptop accessories for sitting the laptop on which help with the cooling air flow. Some have additional fans which are powered through a USB cable and can cost as little as $10.00. A pretty good investment for having peace of mind. If nothing else, use a flat piece of wood or plastic to sit the laptop on. This will keep the cooling vents clear.
d. Laptop battery over-heating can burn you, cause a fire or, in extreme cases, cause the battery to explode.
By following these basics you can enjoy your laptop for a longer time, with fewer problems. Happy computing.
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Contact Information
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717-229-9449
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PO Box 148
Glenville, PA 17329
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Ande's Help 4 You