Guns ‘n’ Roses weren’t off the mark with the rock classic November Rain. Nothing lasts forever. Not even tech. But laptops and PC computers still make a decent job of lasting several years. Provided, of course, that you’re a careful and prudent owner that treats their PC or laptop well. If your laptops or PCs tend to break down a lot earlier than they usually would, the problem could be with your bad tech habits.
Aside from basic computer safety tips, most people don’t really care how they use their PCs or laptops. They only start noticing something is wrong when the machine starts overheating, gets noisy, or loses battery life. Does that sound familiar? Your PC or laptop could be a victim of any of the following bad tech habits:
Overheating Due to Inadequate Airflow
Heat is bad for a laptop or PC, as well as the internal components. When your processor begins to overheat, it often throttles its own performance to try and cool down. This will slow down your computer’s processes as the machine struggles to regulate temperature. Your fans will also have to work harder to cool down the essential components. If your machine regularly slows down and the fans start getting noisy, it could actually be because the computer is overheating. This usually happens when the airflow in and out of the machine is constricted. For example, leaving your laptop on a plush blanket or putting your PC in a tight cabinet both impact your computer’s ability to regulate heat and perform normally.
Letting Dust, Liquids, and Grime Accumulate
We often see people having a sandwich at their cubicle or eating granola bars in bed while they use their computers. More often than not, crumbs end up entering crevices and openings, such as your keyboard. Dust and grime collecting under your keys aren’t just disgusting, but they can also jam up your keyboard. That’s not to mention what happens when your PC or laptop is continually sucking in dust from the intakes. Dust will collect on your fans and will cause them to slow down, often resulting in your PC overheating. If it has been a while since you gave your computer a good cleaning, you should get down to it right away. These helpful tips will help you understand how to clean your PC safely.
Roughly Handling PC or Laptop
Desktop computers usually escape this problem, since they aren’t very portable. Laptop PCs, on the other hand, often suffer a lot of abuse at the hands of careless owners. People often treat their laptops very roughly, tossing them on couches, opening the hinges too hard, or simply not bothering to pick it up properly. A laptop may seem very durable, but it is still a sophisticated piece of technology that can be damaged by rough handling. For example, if your laptop does not have an SSD drive, it most likely comes with a conventional hard disk drive. This drive has moving parts that can be damaged by jolts or bumps. If this happens too many times, you could damage the HDD and lose valuable data.
Damaged Ports and Cables
People might be careless about their laptops or PCs, but they are even more careless when it comes to cables and ports. Cables are often put through a lot of stress, such as bending or stretching, which can damage the wires inside them. A damaged charging cable could destroy your laptop’s battery or other critical components. Similarly, roughly handling your PC or laptop can damage the ports, which means you will constantly be trying to position the cable correctly in the right port to work. A great workaround is to go for wireless connections. Things like wireless protected setup on your router or Bluetooth on your portable speakers can help you reduce the number of cables. The fewer cables there are, the less likely they are to get damaged to damage ports.
Poor Charging Habits
If you’re in the habit of completely draining your laptop’s battery before you charge it, you’re setting it up to develop problems. Unlike Cox Gigablast, laptops aren’t meant to be used all the time, certainly not on battery mode. Excessively using your laptop till the battery is completely drained reduces battery health and life. Over time, your battery can stop holding its charge altogether, destroying its portability until you get a new battery. Batteries that are swollen because of misuse may even explode, which can pose a serious health and safety hazard, not to mention the risk of electrical fires.
Power Outages and Surges
It is hard to imagine a power outage or surge in modern-day urban America, but they still happen. It is not uncommon for internet providers to face problems during bad weather, such as blizzards or hurricanes. We’ve all made urgent calls to Cox customer service when the service is down. But the power outages and surges aren’t just limited to your internet or TV service. When connected to a power outlet, your laptop can be damaged by a sudden surge or drop in power. Laptops and PCs are designed to work on stable power supplies. That means you should invest in a surge protector to ensure electrical fluctuations don’t damage your machine. A power strip is not the answer, as it simply adds more outlets without surge protection. An outlet with a fuse will help protect sudden surges or drops in power from impacting your PC or laptop.
Unsafe Internet Browsing Habits
There is a great deal of information on safely browsing the internet. Wireless internet providers and tech companies, and employers encourage subscribers to use strong alphanumeric passwords, avoid unsecured websites, and download content from legal sources. Cybercriminals exist everywhere on the internet, and they aren’t just interested in targeting businesses. They’re more than happy to target people like you and steal your information, identity, and even funds. They may even use your devices to spy on you or carry out further cyberattacks on your contacts. Even the less harmful attacks consist of malware that can slow down your PC or even delete important data. Safe browsing habits, such as using a VPN, are usually a good way to ensure this doesn’t happen.
