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Windows 10/11 Laptop Maintenance: Hardware and Software
Computers have become an integral part of our daily lives, thereinto, laptops are favored by many IT guys for their excellent performance and compact size, making them an essential tool for programming work. However, laptops contain many delicate electronic components, so it's also very important to protect and maintain our laptop during everyday use. But for a computer novice user, how should one go about maintaining their laptop? This post gonna show you some tips about laptop maintenance, both hardware and software. Let's take a look at what you need to pay attention to when using your laptop.
Hardware is the most critical part of a computer, akin to the vital organs in a human body. When hardware brokedown, the damage to the computer is severe and may require hardware replacement; in some serious cases, it might even necessitate replacing the entire motherboard. This is particularly true for most laptops, which use integrated graphics cards and have many components soldered onto the mainboard, making them non-replaceable. Therefore, extra care is needed during use. Next, I will discuss how to maintain both the internal and external hardware of a laptop in our daily use.
The motherboard is considered the central component of a computer. Gaming laptops might have dedicated graphics cards installed, but some lightweight laptops generally use integrated graphics, with the graphics card built into the motherboard. In daily use, we should avoid getting the motherboard wet and keep it dry. Also, avoid using the laptop in excessively high temperatures to prevent the CPU from overheating, which could cause the computer to restart. If you know how to disassemble the laptop, you can open it up and clean the dust and dirt off the motherboard to prevent it from affecting heat dissipation. Additionally, you can regularly replace the thermal paste on the CPU, as the thermal paste can lose its effectiveness over time. You can also use a laptop cooling pad or fan to help with heat dissipation, thereby extending the lifespan of your laptop.
Tips:
The battery is also an important internal hardware component of a laptop. To maintain your battery, you need to:
The keyboard is usually located on the C-side of the laptop, typically including the keyboard and trackpad. For daily maintenance, you can clean it regularly. Use keyboard cleaning gel or wipes for the keyboard, and gently wipe the trackpad with a soft, damp cloth. Also, avoid liquids to prevent damage. You can use a silicone keyboard cover to protect the keyboard from dust and debris. If you often use the laptop in a fixed location, consider using an external keyboard and mouse to reduce the usage frequency of the built-in keyboard and trackpad, thereby extending their lifespan.
The screen is located on the B-side of the laptop and often includes a camera and microphone at the top. It primarily serves a display function in daily use. When transporting the laptop, avoid placing heavy objects on the screen and use a laptop carrying case to prevent screen damage. Try not to touch the screen with your fingers to avoid scratches (except for touch screens), and clean the screen regularly with a specialized screen cleaner and a soft, damp cloth.
The remaining parts are the expansion ports on the sides of the laptop, including the charging port, HDMI port, USB port, Thunderbolt port, and other expansion ports. When using these ports, be careful not to apply too much pressure when inserting or removing external devices to avoid port damage. You can use dust plugs for ports that are not frequently used to prevent dust from causing poor contact. Lastly, avoid unnecessary plugging and unplugging of devices to prevent unnecessary damage.
Previously, we compared hardware to the vital organs of the human body. Now, let's talk about software maintenance, which is akin to the tools a person uses beyond their own body. These tools, such as driver updates, disk space management, and software management, directly affect the smooth operation of your computer. It's like choosing between using a tractor or a hoe for farming; it directly impacts your efficiency. Proper software maintenance can make your laptop more efficient and easier to use. Let's explore the key aspects of software maintenance!
Check the versions of your hardware drivers and update to the latest versions if available. This ensures that your hardware works properly. For example, consider the graphics card driver: if it hasn't been updated for a long time, the following issues might occur:
By keeping your drivers updated, ensure that your hardware functions correctly and efficiently, and avoid potential issues related to outdated drivers. You can also click here to get more infomation about driver update.
How to Update NVIDIA Display Driver to the Latest Version
How to Update AMD Graphics Card Driver to the Latest Version
Cleaning disk space and managing computer software are indeed very important. iSumsoft System Refixer is a practical system optimization tool designed to clean up and optimize the Windows operating system, thereby speeding up the startup and operation of your computer. You can optimize your laptop by following these steps:
Step 1: Download and Install iSumsoft System Refixer.
Step 2: Run iSumsoft System Refixer for System Optimization.
Step 3: Uninstall Unused Software
By following these steps, you can effectively clean and optimize your computer system, thereby enhancing its performance and speed.
The last part is some other useful tips I'd like to share with you, hope this post can help you!
