Are you in the habit of bringing your laptop wherever you go? Do you love drinking coffee while you work on your computer? Do you sleep with your laptop still on?
A lot of people own a computer but very few know proper maintenance. It’s no surprise there are so many repair companies now, given how complicated PC maintenance can get.
Does your laptop frequently overheat? Noticed that your desktop is getting slower? What you’re not doing might be the reason for these common computer problems.
Let us help. We’ve listed several good habits you can adapt to keep your computers safe and break-free. If you want to know how you can fix and avoid these problems, read on below.
1. Regular Cleaning
Can you imagine the dust bunnies you find the crevices of your room every spring cleaning? Imagine how much more dust can get stored in your computer.
Your computer is a lot like your body. It needs the right amount of consumption and sleep. On a regular basis, it needs cleaning and check-ups.
Cleaning a computer can be risky if you don’t know what you’re doing. Surface cleaning is a good habit for laptop users. It’s the same with desktop users but every now and then, you’re going to want to do some internal dusting.
A common problem with computer cases is they store dust. Combined with heat, chances are the airflow inside the tower gets reduced. Reduced airflow means slower performance.
For most of the cleaning, use a microfiber cloth for wiping out dust. For heatsinks, dust filters, and similar components that won’t get cleaned with simple wiping, use cans of compressed air. If you are going to take any of the components out, place them on a non-conductive surface.
Do not use vacuums inside the tower. Do not blow dust away with your mouth. If you are unsure about disassembling a component, get someone qualified to do it.
Tower components are very sensitive. They are prone to static damage so use an anti-static wristband when you touch them. If you don’t have any, you can ground yourself by touching the case or PSU housing every few times.
2. Give Your Computer Armor
How many times have you had your laptop bag get hit by a passerby? How often have you had your bag with your laptop in it pressed against you in the subway?
Constant travel can harm your computer. The solution to this is to get a protective case for it. Better yet, get a protective shell and a firm bag.
There are tons you can order online like an Apple MacBook Pro case. You can buy stylish designs or get a custom design made. Cases like these also have rubberized surfaces so your computer won’t slide off tables or other surfaces.
Firm waterproof bags are great for all kinds of weather. They’re often outfitted to hold laptop accessories, too. Others have extra space to hold other items or documents.
When we talk about armor, we also mean installing anti-virus programs. Your software is as vulnerable to problems as your hardware. Secure your files and enjoy your privacy with anti-virus protection.
3. Keep It Away From Liquids
Imagine this: you’re on a deadline, but at last you’ve finished your report. You haven’t had sleep and so you’ve got your fourth half-finished cup of coffee on the side. As you’re getting ready to get your files printed, your shaky hand spills the coffee by accident right onto your computer.
The estimated repair cost for a wet laptop is around $350 to $500. Desktop repairs could cost you as low as $40 to over $1000. The longer you take to unplug your computer and get it checked, the higher your repair bill.
After liquid damage repair, your computer and your wallet won’t be the same. To avoid situations like this, keep liquids as far away from your PCs as possible. If you do get it wet, we’ve got some tips for you.
Rice and blow dryers won’t help with computers but absorbent towels and Q-tips will. Don’t turn your computer in angles that will move the liquid around it. Even if you think it’s dry, wait for 48 hours before you turn your computer on.
4. Keep It Cool
Any machine that isn’t designed to heat up should get checked and fixed right away. Depending on what processor you’re using, the average differs. The standard running temperature for the CPU processor is between 113° F and 131° F.
You can check out what processor you’re using and what temperature your CP is at by downloading programs that track these. The internet offers the average ideal temperatures for each processor. From there, you will be able to see how well your PC is faring with its internal temperatures.
If you’re a laptop user, don’t use it on a bed, carpet, pillow, or similar surfaces that block out the vents. If you want to work in bed, get an e-table. Most of these already have fans built-in at the bottom that you could plug into your laptop to keep it cool.
If you use a desktop computer, the usual reason for overheating is dust accumulation. Clean your fans from time to time to avoid build-up. If the fans aren’t doing their job, get them checked or install a new one in.
5. Upgrade When Needed
If you have a job like software development, you’re likely using your PC most of the time. You might even have installed new programs to your computer. If your PC isn’t designed for high-performance tasks, you’re going to have to make it.
Desktops are easy to upgrade because they’re less compact. There are more options for different modifications for desktop PCs. Laptops are very limited when it comes to functional upgrades and modifications.
There are PC-building communities online that talk about custom tower builds, component brand comparisons, computer fixes, and more. You can check out their forums to help you with your upgrading. You can find forums on how to convert laptops too, though they may be rare.
6. Avoidable Common Computer Problems
Do you have the habit of stacking other things on top of your closed laptop or notebook? Here’s an advice: stop it; it’s a bad habit. Portable computers are not designed to support any weight.
Shutting down your laptop with your headphones inside can damage the screen. Laptops are not designed to have anything inserted between them when closed. You’re even doubling the damage with leaving your headphones plugged in, risking the wires and the jack.
Computers, in general, are not designed to take a beating. Hitting your PC because you died at a critical moment in League of Legends won’t make you respawn faster. If anything, your PC will only return the favor by blacking out or crashing.
Even the best repair shops in town won’t be able to fix some of these problems if they’re too big. Sometimes it’s cheaper to simply buy a new computer rather than fix one.
Save Your Computer While You Can
And that’s it for our list of problem prevention for your computer. We hope it helps. If you know where to get laptop repairs, chances are they’ll tell you the same things.
These are easy ways to avoid common computer problems, but they aren’t always followed. We get that sometimes accidents can happen. Still, prevention is better and cheaper than cure.
Don’t stop here! Check out our other guides to discover more important and useful tips and tricks. Here’s one discussing the newest trends in shipping technology.
