technology
Laptops: Don’t put them on your lap! …and other suggestions to maintain your work laptop
Dok’s Six Cardinal Rules
BY KLAUS FUECHSEL, DOK KLAUS COMPUTER CARE
What is considered a work computer? If your files — either business or personal — are irreplaceable, it’s a work computer. Most people have laptops, which are convenient, but they are more prone to bumping, spills, and drops while traveling, especially on airplanes. Here are Klaus’s tips for maintaining a healthy laptop INVEST IN A HIGH QUALITY (BUT NOT TOO HEAVY) CASE. Before traveling, MAKE A BACKUP OF YOUR DATA. For
laptops, it’s best to do a full image, which allows you to restore the operating system, programs, and settings as well as files. I recommend backing up to an external hard drive. You can also back up to the Cloud, but it may not back up the entire system.
I recommend SOLID STATE HARD DRIVES for laptops
for better speed and less damage/data loss in case a laptop should ever be dropped. Make sure your hard drive is big enough for all your storage needs. If the hard drive is getting full, it can fail.
44 Warrenton Lifestyle
Get your computer a YEARLY CHECKUP, both hardware and software, to forestall expensive problems. A COOLING PAD is another necessity to keep your laptop happy. If it’s used on a soft surface such as your lap or a pillow, it can overheat and get clogged with dust. If you notice some bulging near the touchpad or keyboard, it could mean that your battery is overheated, which can be a fire hazard.
DO NOT KEEP THE LAPTOP POWER ADAPTER PLUGGED IN all the time. A battery needs exercise in the form of being discharged and recharged.
FEBRUARY 2023
Who doesn't like a hot mocha latte or chai tea on a cold day? But lately, we’ve been getting more cases with bad SPILLS ON LAPTOPS. In this case, unplug the power cable, hold down the power button to shut down, and turn it upside down to drain the liquid. Take it to a professional right away. Any spill can cause corrosion and hardware issues, if not addressed quickly. What if you can’t do without your work laptop for even a day? You need the “HEIR AND A SPARE” SOLUTION. Getting an identical second laptop that syncs with your original is the ideal solution to avoid down time. L
Keep food and drinks, pets, and kids away from your laptop Keep business separate from pleasure (avoid games, random surfing, etc. which can lead to popups, viruses, and malware.) Avoid public Wi-Fi networks. Free internet is tempting, but you risk data theft. Make sure you use secure websites – the address will start with “https://”. Have secure passwords, and keep them written down on paper in a secure location offline. If they are stored on your computer, you won’t be able to get to them if your system crashes. And, as always, backup, backup, backup!