Notebook Maintenance Tips
(Click the above links for answers. To return, click Go Top links) |
|
Notebook Maintenance Tips
|
||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|||
You should go in for a Notebook Computer instead of a Desktop, if one or more of the following applies to you:
A significant part of your computing is away from your desk at home/ office. Therefore, you cannot lug around a bulky desktop or find a convenient power socket at all times!
You need to access the Internet during your travel/ trip away from your desk. Wi-Fi hotspots allow your Notebook to do just that and today, there are Wi-Fi hot spots at most Airports, Hotels and other public places. You may need to pay for availing some of these hot sport though
Even at your work spot, you are severely constrained for space - a Notebook occupies much less space and creates much less clutter, than a Desktop
You are not going to be running heavy applications - say an Oracle Database or a CAD/ CAM solution - on your Notebook
You (or your organization) is prepared to pay anything from 30% more and upwards, for a Notebook. Even an entry-level Notebooks costs 30% more than a comparable Desktop, with high-end Notebook costing even 3 times as much as a Desktop!
You have severe power problems at your place of work and are willing to pay more for a Notebook, which, after all, runs off a battery
You do not plan on major upgrades to your Notebook's hardware for the foreseeable future. A Notebook has very limited upgrade options, unlike a Desktop. While you can upgrade virtually everything in a Desktop - including its Motherboard and processor - at a reasonable cost, doing so with a Notebook would not be economical, as it would cost as more than a new Notebook!
You are prepared for about 20% higher Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). A Notebook requires change or Batteries every 2 years or so. Repairs to a Notebook also cost more than repairs to a Desktop Computer, thus hiking up the TCO of Notebooks
Once you decide to go in for a Notebook (as against a Desktop), you need to check out current Notebook models that fall within your budget, from leading Notebook manufacturers hp-Compaq, IBM-Lenovo, Dell, Toshiba, Acer, Fujitsu, SONY, etc. With the specs and costs at hand, we at WellOiledPC recommend that you apply the Brown-Gibson Model for your decision. The Brown-Gibson Model lets you specify your priorities in terms of the importance of each decision factor (customizable by you for your preferences), as well as lets you compare the specifications of each of your short-listed Notebook Models. Enter these data bits into our spreadsheet (download it free by clicking this link) and let the spreadsheet crunch out the mathematics that will determine the best Notebook your money can buy you! If you have difficulties understanding/ applying the Brown-Gibson Model - or if you would like to add a few more parameters or models, we would be pleased to re-work the spreadsheet to meet your needs. We will work out a customized spreadsheet for your specific needs, within 3 working days, at a nominal charge of US$ 2/-. Click here to get in touch with us, for your customized Brown-Gibson Spreadsheet!
You will find Notebook care guidelines in many a page on this site. However, this is the page and section that you should come back to, since this is the page that has all the ready Notebook care tips we have for you! Let us begin with you taking the wrapper off a new Notebook and take you along chronologically...
This step should be left to experts. Your Notebook vendor would send over a trained service representative to do these steps, so that everything works just fine thereafter!
Notebooks come in sealed packs, with its carry-bag coming in a second, sealed pack. Make sure you receive two packs, if you have ordered for a carry-bag as well.
Check the Invoice that comes along with the packs with your Purchase Order. If any item is missing in the Invoice, call your vendor immediately - do not have the representative open the packing yet - and ask him for the missing item! Once you are convinced that all items are present, its time to cut the packing tape of your New Notebook!
Typically, a new Notebook pack will contain the following items:
The Notebook itself
Notebook Power Adapter and Power Cord
Notebook's Usage manual, Guarantee Card and Insurance Papers, if you have purchased the Insurance option as well
Your Notebook's Operating System on CDs. Many vendors supply what is called a Recovery CD instead of the Operating System's CD, since it is easier to recover from a crash, using a recovery CD. We strongly recommend that you go in for a Notebook with Windows (XP Professional or Vista Home Premium/ Business/ Ultimate) pre-installed on it, as it will enable you to quickly, easily use all the features built into your Notebook
CDs for other add-ons - for example the CD for the CD/ DVD Drive, etc.
The Notebook's Battery - invariably, this is packed in a separate cover and needs to be fixed onto the Notebook
In addition to the above, you may also have ordered a Docking Station (also called Ultra Bay) for your Notebook. A docking station lets more devices (like Micro Drives, External Mice/ Keyboards, CD/ DVD Drives, Printers, External Monitors, etc.) to be plugged into your Notebook).
The second pack will contain your Notebook's Carry Bag and its shoulder strap - nothing to do here!
The first thing to do is to plug the Battery into the Notebook at its bottom and to connect the adapter, so that the battery is charging. Packed Notebooks Batteries are typically only about 50% charged.
Next, the Service Representative will switch on your Notebook. If your Operating System is Windows XP (Home or Professional) or Windows Vista (any of the Vista editions), he will log in as the Administrator. It is recommended that you put in an Administrator Account password right there - and note it down carefully, in case you require it anytime in future!
If your new Notebook is part of your office Network, the next step is to enable your Notebook to connect to your office network. The Service Representative will need the assistance of your office IT Department to ensure that this is done smoothly.
If you have a ready Internet connection (a ready Internet connection is again highly recommended!), the next step would be to set up your Internet connection. With Broadband ADSL technology available everywhere, this is usually done right-away by the service representative. Windows recognizes and simplifies install of Broadband Modems using its in-built drivers. Installing your modem and accessing the Internet right away saves you not only a second call to set these up, but also protects your Notebook from viruses and spyware from the first hour of purchase! Obviously, this is preferable to being sorry later on!
The first step after Internet is set up on your new Notebook is to activate your copy of Windows. It is advisable to activate your Windows then and there - you can use an un-activated copy of Windows for 30 days alone! You may or may not choose to Register your copy of Windows - there is no penalty for non-registry
After Activating Windows, you should immediately check out for the following categories of updates and patches:
Updates and Patches for your copy of Windows - usually you will need to download Megabytes of Windows updates...
Updates and Patches for your Notebook's Hardware - usually you merely need to check, there wouldn't be anything to download in this category.
Updates to your Antivirus program - again, it is likely that you will need to download Antivirus updates
Updates to your Antispyware program - usually there is more data to download in this category too
P.S. You MUST order for Antivirus and AntiSpyware - your Notebook is unsafe without these! Check out the following links for more information about Antivirus Programs and AntiSpyware Programs, for our recommendations
Updates and Patches to your Browser. We strongly recommend you download and install Internet Explorer 7.x at the earliest opportunity, if your Notebook has come with Version 6.x
Updates and Patches to all Microsoft Office products that are pre-installed or purchased separately by you. This is equally important, as hackers and unscrupulous elements mostly target Microsoft products. To annul this, you need to install the latest updates and patches for these products as well
Whew! Once you have completed updating and patching all the above six categories of software, your new Notebook is safe - for now - from security problems (Viruses, Spyware, etc.) Remember though, you need to check and update each of these categories of software many, many more times during the life of your Notebook!
The next step is to create a user Account. It is advisable NOT to use the Administrator login account, as it is a very powerful login account. If you use the Administrator account for logging in to your Computer, it is just a little more susceptible to security risks. Therefore choose a User Name that you like (usually people put in their own name - a Notebook is a very personal possession and therefore this is a good idea actually) and a password that you can remember even in your sleep (and obviously one that others cannot guess at all too!). If your new Notebook is part of your office network of Computers, your Network Identity will be set up as the default User identity.
It is not a good idea to leave the Administrator and/ or User Account passwords blank, or to use easy-to-remember passwords!
At this point, we have achieved the following, in sequence:
Unpacked your new Notebook, confirmed that all the parts you have ordered are present and physically connected all the parts of your new Notebook
Powered your new Notebook on and created the Administrator Account, while allowing its battery to charge up
Connected your new Notebook to the Internet and activated your copy of Windows
Downloaded and Patched all software on your new Notebook, rendering it safe to brave the Internet
Created your own User Name and password, for you to use on your new Notebook on a regular basis
The next step is to connect your Printer, Scanner and other peripherals, so that they run with your new Notebook. This is a task that the Service Technician may not agree to do - if that is the case, you will need to either call in your office IT guys or tip the technician so that he completes the task
The final step is to install all other software that you have purchased - either along with the Notebook or beforehand, so that you can use it the way you plan to use it!
At the end of the 15 steps listed above, you have set up your Notebook, got it connected to the Internet, activated your copy of Windows, secured it (for now) from Viruses and Spyware and sent back your Notebook vendor's service representative. You are now on your own! Here are the Notebook Usage guidelines that you ought to follow, to ensure a trouble-free, smooth and well-oiled computing experience, while prolonging the life of your Notebook
The first 5 times at least, follow the guidelines below, for charging/ discharging your Notebook's Battery:
Charge up your Notebook Battery to 100% (Windows tells you how much is charged, on a real-time basis - check the icon in your startup group, as shown in the screenshot below. The screenshots show all three states of the Notebook Battery. When your new Notebook's Battery is 100% charged, you should disconnect the adapter, letting your Notebook run off the fully charged batteries. Continuing to charge it further will heat up its Battery unnecessarily, decreasing its life.
|
Battery Charging Screenshot (Battery Adapter plugged in with 39% charge remaining in Battery, Notebook running off Main Supply) |
|
|
Battery Fully Charged Screenshot (Battery Adapter plugged in, Battery 100% charged and Notebook running off Mains Supply) |
|
|
Battery Discharging Screenshot (Battery Adapter not plugged in, 93% charge remaining in Battery, Notebook running off the Battery) |
|
Let your new Notebook's batteries discharge, until your Notebook goes off into Hibernation (if you have enabled Hibernation) or Standby (if you have not enabled Hibernation). At this point, your Notebook will give an audible beep and immediately thereafter, the screen will go blank. You need not worry - your files are not lost, they have been taken care of!
When your new Notebook goes off into Hibernation or Standby mode as described in 2. above, you should again connect up the adapter and charge it up to 100%. A quick, light touch on the Power up switch of your Notebook will not only awaken your Notebook, but also take you to the exact state you were in - including the last key pressed by you - before it went off to sleep!
Repeat this 100% charge-100% discharge cycle at least 5 times right at the beginning. Thereafter, make sure you do this process once a week, so that you extract maximum life from your Notebook's battery
Original Batteries for Notebooks cost about 12% of the Notebook's cost. These Batteries (like your Cell Phone's batteries) are designed for a certain number of charge-discharge cycles. Therefore, careful use of the Battery makes good sense! The graph below compares the ideal and the not-so-ideal, with respect to Notebook battery usage. Following the Black waveform results in 3 charge-discharge cycles alone, while following the red waveform uses up 6 charge-discharge cycles during the same number of days! Following the red waveform will therefore reduce your Notebook's battery life to about half!
Hibernation and Standby Modes:
In Standby mode, the Notebook's the screen goes off and its parts consume a fraction of the power it normally consumes. Thus the Standby mode conserves Battery life, without actually shutting down the Computer. This is very useful when you need to start it up again in a hurry, as starting up from standby mode takes a few seconds alone, compared to the few minutes that it would take, to start up after a full shut down!
In Hibernation mode, battery consumption is further reduced, as the exact state of the Notebook and the programs you were running is written to the Hard Disk and the Notebook is, for all practical purposes, shut down! In Hibernation mode, your Notebook can run for months, without being fully discharged!
If you are closing down the Notebook until tomorrow, it is better to let it go into Standby mode. However if you are not going to be using the Notebook for a few days, let it go into Hibernation instead! You can program the Notebook to Standby or Hibernate, when you close its lid. More about how to do that, in the section below.
A Notebook's lid is delicate. While some models have a single clasp, others have double clasps. Whatever be the case with your Notebook, you should gently press the clasp(s) so that the lid pops free. Thereafter, use both hands to gently ease the lid open all the way, so that equal pressure is applied on both the hinges. Uneven pressure will cause the hinge in question to wear faster and thus, fail earlier. Replacing a hinge on the Notebook not only means spending money due to your carelessness, it also means you will have to part with it until the damaged part is replaced by the vendor! Again, a Notebook's hinges have finite life, therefore do not open/ shut the lid unnecessarily!
In summary, the Notebook's lid achieves two vital functions. Besides protecting the Screen from physical damage, it also lets you quickly close your work by setting the Notebook on Hibernation or Standby mode, when you shut it down.
You may need to program your Notebook to Hibernate or Standby. To do so, follow the steps below:
|
Click on Start/ Control Panel, as shown in the screenshot to the left |
|
|
Click on Control Panel, to bring up the screen shown to the left |
|
|
Click on Performance and Maintenance, in the screenshot above, to bring up the screen shown to the left. You may choose any of the default Power schemes or create (and save) your customized Power scheme as well |
|
|
To enable Hibernation, you may have to click on the Hibernate Tab shown in the screen to the left under 3. When you click on the Hibernate Tab, you will see the screen shown to the left here. Tick Enable Hibernation if it is not ticked, so as to enable your Notebook to hibernate at your command |
|
|
After enabling Hibernation (if necessary) as shown in the previous step, click on the Advanced Tab as shown in the screenshot to the left and choose what you want your Notebook to do, when you close the lid, when you press the power switch or when you press the sleep switch of your computer. The settings shown here are recommended best settings for all Notebooks.
We encourage you to experiment with these settings though, for your preferences are your own! |
|
Here are a few useful tips that you can use to clean your Notebook!
Before beginning to clean a Notebook, shut it down and unplug it from the Mains supply. You may leave the battery connected if you wish - no harm will come to your Notebook by leaving it in.
The Notebook's Screen is one of its costliest parts. Unfortunately, it is also its flimsiest part, therefore the task of cleaning it must be taken up very carefully. If you (or someone close to you in the family) wears glasses, the best option is to use a piece of Chamois Leather to dry-wipe your Notebook's screen. If you do not have Chamois leather at home, a dry lint-free cloth (like the yellow cloth for cleaning cars or an old, soft-textured, discarded cotton T-shirt) will get it clean again, usually. However if there are dirt marks on your screen, it is fine if you gently wipe the dirt mark away with the lint-free cloth, using just a drop of water. If you have an oily smear on the screen, you may use a drop of low-foam liquid detergent (like Colin, which is available in every home) on the lint-free cloth, to wipe the oily spot away. Quickly wipe the spot with a barely wet lint-free cloth immediately thereafter too, so as to remove the detergent completely as well!
All that your Notebook's body requires is a periodic dry wipe with the lint-free cloth. However if you have dirt or oily smears on its body, Colin may be used as described previously.
To clean the Keyboard, TouchPad and other areas too, you will require nothing more than a lint-free cloth or old T-shirt, with the option of the liquid detergent being used for difficult-to-remove dirt or oily spots alone. If you have particles of food or dust under the keys, turn the Notebook carefully upside down and tap its bottom side very gently, until all the dust/ food particles fall off. Do Not Attempt to Remove the Key Buttons - a Notebook's Keys are fixed using specialized equipment: if you remove them, you would most probably not be able to fix them back!
Here is a random collection of Notebook Usage Tips gathered by our team, over the years - you are welcome to use them! If you have any new ones, do share them with us, we will gladly give you due credit!:
NEVER leave anything between your Notebook's screen and its Keyboard. Not even a sheet of paper, as it will abrade the screen! For the same reasons, NEVER let anyone touch your Notebook's Screen. The "anyone" here includes you too, naturally! If pressed sufficiently hard and sufficiently frequently, the Screen distorts permanently, causing it damage. We have observed Notebooks just a few months old, showing fingerprints even when the Notebook is switched off. This is caused when someone repeatedly touches the screen! Note that we are not talking about today's NoteTabs, which come with Touch Screens. Touch Screens are designed to withstand touch and therefore are not flimsy like a Notebook's LCD screen.
NEVER use a Notebook on a soft, fluffy mattress or pillow. By doing so, you are choking off the Notebook's vents, trapping the heat that is generated when it works and keeping it inside the Notebook itself. Consequence - early failure of the Notebook! While you can work for short periods of time with the Notebook on your lap, this is not recommended for long periods, as sufficient heat is generated by most Notebooks today, to make you feel uncomfortably hot where the Notebook rests on your lap, after about 15 minutes of use! A flat Table or other surface is best - you can see the Notebook best in this position and you allow the heat to be released by the vents all around it as well. Moreover, the chances of your Notebook accidentally dropping to the floor are eliminated!
If you are going to be away for a few moments, it is a good idea to leave the Notebook's lid open. However if you are going to be away longer - and/ or if you have children/ pets at your work spot, it is recommended that you close the lid and allow your Notebook to go on Standby/ Hibernation mode, for obvious reasons!
A Notebook requires a clean power supply as well, although this is less important for Notebooks and absolutely vital for Desktops. Check whether you receive clean power at the point you charge your Notebook from and check that your work spot's electricity supply is correctly earthed.
When you are traveling, MAKE SURE you use the Notebook's Carry Bag: the Carry Bag is designed to protect your Notebooks from the usual intensity of knocks, jars and shocks. Do not unnecessarily expose your Notebook to accidents, by not using its carry bag!
To borrow Uncle Ben's famous statement and modify it a bit to suit our context rather than Spider-man's, "With greater mobility comes greater responsibility". DO NOT begin working immediately, when you bring in your Notebook from a warm environment into a much cooler one. Warm environments contain more water vapor per unit volume of air. When the Notebook is brought into a cooler environment, this extra water vapor could condense onto the Notebook's parts. If you were to switch it on immediately, you could short-circuit your Notebook! Give it 15 to 30 minutes outside its carry bag in turned off condition, to 'catch up' with the changed temperature. This significantly reduces the risk of short circuits!
Similarly, DO NOT begin working immediately, when you bring your Notebook in from a cool environment into a much hotter one. All Notebooks contain micro-circuitry comprising of thin Copper, Silver and Gold circuits. Allow these to expand (give it 15 to 30 minutes, as before), before switching on your Notebook, when you come in from the cold into a warmer environment. If you do not do so, you could end up snapping the circuitry on its motherboard!
Make sure you do not have liquids around your Notebook. Drinking and Computing do not go together! :)
NEVER attempt to repair your Notebook yourself. Or have it repaired by people who "claim" to be experts. It is best to take your Notebook to its vendor's service center - they would be able to source genuine parts and fix it a lot more reliably than anyone else!
A Notebook has very limited upgrade options. The only parts that can be upgraded are RAM, Hard Disk and the Optical Drive. If you are planning to upgrade any of these parts, DO MAKE SURE that you purchase genuine parts from the vendor. A different make of product could easily cause a mismatch with the rest of the Notebook, curtailing its life. We have observed Notebooks failing within 3 months of an upgradation of RAM, just because the vendor's RAM was not deployed on the machine! During the 3 months after upgrade, the Notebook may perform better, but failure - usually of the Power Supply or Motherboard - could occur soon after, leading to much costlier repairs or even junking of the Notebook!
