Make your laptop last

It's difficult to imagine life without our laptops. And in these credit-crunched times, there's all the more reason to make them last longer and work better.

We've asked our experts to give us their top tips on how to de-stress your system and make your laptop live a longer, happier life.

The battery

The amount of battery power consumed by your laptop depends on conditions such as how often it is used, the operating temperature and the period in storage if unused. If the battery is new and you are charging it for the first time, make sure you cycle the battery (fully charge, then fully discharge) at least three times to maximise performance. This is also recommended if you store the battery for a few months, says Binu Thomas, the regional service manager, Computer Systems Division for Toshiba Gulf.

His top tips: Charge your battery for 12 continuous hours the first time you use it. Recharging a battery that is not completely discharged can shorten battery life. Once you start charging, avoid using it until it is fully charged to prolong its life. Decrease the brightness of your screen and remove the battery pack and keep it in a cool place if you are not using the notebook for a long period.

For Mac users, Melchor Buan, a representative from iStyle, the Apple Premium Reseller in the Middle East, advises users not to shut down the Mac. "Simply close the lid unless you won't be using it for more than two days. That will preserve the battery and decrease the need to replace it."

The LCD

LCDs on laptops are designed to outlast the usefulness of the laptop they're connected to but can be easily damaged by a simple careless mistake, says Felix Baretto, the business manager for Notebook PCs at LG Middle East.

"Don't lift the laptop up by the display (it will bend) and be easy on the hinges. Only clean the display with something soft and never store anything under the LCD when the lid is closed."

HP Middle East's Category Manager for consumer products, Elena Danici, says: "Reducing your default display brightness by a notch or two will help preserve your LCD pixels to ensure your picture is constantly as bright as it was the day you bought it."

To clean it, gently wipe the LCD with a dry, soft lint-free cloth, suggests Toshiba's Thomas. "If a stain remains, moisten the cloth with a 50-50 mixture of isopropanol and water or even just water. Be sure to dry the screen before closing it."

Also make sure that you do not clean with a spray by directly pouring it on the screen, adds Madhav Narayan, head of IT division at Samsung Gulf Electronics.

"Do not use any chemical cleaners or aerosol cleaners, which may contain flammable substances as they might damage computer components."

Apple computer users should change wallpapers frequently and relocate or hide the on-screen dock to avoid screen burn, says iStyle's Buan.

The software

Keep it updated. Using genuine products from the manufacturer with the licensed software will have regular updates and downloads for your system, which can enhance its performance, says laptop expert Baretto.

Windows Vista, for example, includes an automatic updating feature, which you can use to schedule important and recommended updates to download and install at a time that you specify, says Thomas.

The power

Laptops already produce heat so make sure your laptop is always kept at room temperature to avoid overheating," says Buan. "Use power adapters with three pins to avoid short-circuits."

HP's Danici says having too many programmes or services running in the background not only wastes power, but bogs down your computer. "Windows hides inactive icons you haven't recently clicked (as indicated by the arrow on the left-most side of your system tray, opposite the clock). Turn off this feature so you're more aware of what's running, and close all unnecessary programmes to restore some of the power you paid for.

"Fine-tune your Vista power options, component by component, from the Control Panel->Power Options-> Change plan settings located below any of the three configurations. Tailor your tweakage to your user style. If you only e-mail and chat, you can reduce your WiFi power requirement without noticing much of a hit."

The hard drive

Always maintain five to 10 per cent empty space in your hard drive, says Baretto.

"Operating systems use a portion of hard drive space for virtual memory and if you don't leave any room your computer will slow down tremendously, potentially overheating or crashing under the stress."

Danici agrees. "Light is right," she says. "Many applications offer "lite" versions, which will install only the minimum required for the functionality of the programme, keeping hard disk space free and clear for swap file or other usage.

"Maintain a simple and clean desktop, free of icon chaos to allow your PC to run smoothly. This includes keeping files organised and sorted, as your PC's hard disk behaves much like an ordinary file cabinet – the more structured things are, the easier they can be accessed."

The protection

Protect your laptop from jolts with a case. Laptops are sensitive instruments and they are never more vulnerable than when they are travelling, warns Baretto.

"Constant bumping and shaking can cause parts to shift and can permanently damage the laptop. Using a cushioned laptop bag will preserve it from the shocks of travel, and storing it in a laptop bag when not in use can help prevent any number of accidents."

Samsung's Narayan says the hard disk in your notebook is a rapidly spinning metal disk covered with a delicate magnetic coating. "The read/write head literally floats on a cushion of air, less than a hair's width above the disk surface. Banging or jarring your computer while the disk is spinning can permanently damage the disk," he says.

"You must always ensure your notebook is set to automatically suspend when the lid is shut," he adds. "To verify this, go to the Start Menu and choose Control Panel-> Power Options. On the Advanced tab, verify that your notebook is set to stand by or hibernate when the lid is closed. Then click OK. When you suspend or shut down the computer, the disk head is parked in a safe area. You must suspend or shut down your laptop if possible whenever you move it from one place to another.

"Always make sure that your notebook is at least at a distance of 13cm away from any electrical appliance that generates a strong magnetic field, for example the microwave oven."

The anti-virus

Viruses and spyware can be crippling to a computer and have a tendency to build up over time and get worse, says LG's Baretto. He suggests running weekly scans "which can nip these problems in the bud".

"Most laptops are shipped with at least some sort of anti-virus software but these frequently expire after a short time. There are plenty of free anti-virus site from where you can download, such as AVG.com," he says.

Use a firewall on your internet or network-enabled notebook computer, is the advice from Samsung. "Even if you use your OS's built-in firewall, your notebook's security will greatly benefit from it. Blocking out all the unnecessary ports and closing all the loopholes will prevent a hacker or virus from freely entering your hard drive."

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