1. Purchase a luggage tag to attach to the carrying case with your name in it (no flap that covers the name).
2. Attach something unique to the carrying case (to prevent someone else from mistaking your case for theirs).
3. Label all parts of the laptop with your name and put a sticky address label on the top of the laptop, inside, under the keyboard, both parts of the power cord, DVD-ROM and a USB drive.
4. Safety and Care:
*Be cautious about leaving the laptop unattended anywhere that there is a chance it could easily be knocked onto the floor, sat on, or stepped on.
*Know that dropping, jostling, or bumping will cause damage to the hard drive (if the computer is turned on).
*Do not place drinks next to the computer. One accidental spill onto the keyboard will damage it, probably beyond repair.
*Always hold the laptop by the bottom (keyboard half), never the screen. Use two hands.
*Correctly remove the wireless card (if applicable) before transporting.
*Do not store the laptop where very cold or very hot.
*Do not place the laptop close to any electrical appliance, because it generates a magnetic field.
5. Screen/Body of Laptop:
*Never twist the screen on its hinges (it could crack the screen.)
*Do not ever scratch or push on the screen.
*Never close the lid when a pencil or pen is left on the keyboard (it could crack the screen.)
*Don't slam the lid down (it might damage screen or hinges).
*Always transport the laptop in a padded carry case, and never stack items on the lid of the laptop.
*Stickers leave a residue that can cause permanent damage.
*Clean the screen with a lint-free cloth; Do not use Window Cleaner the ammonia will dull the screen. Use a screen cleaner from a computer supply store.
6. Electrical Cord:
*Be careful when removing the power cord. Yanking it out of the laptop from a distance will cause damage.
*Do not wrap the cord tightly around itself. Instead, loosely wrap it in a figure eight pattern.
*Never turn the laptop over when it is plugged in. This could break the adapter plug at the back of the laptop.
7. Disks:
*Be careful when removing disks from drives. Small pieces are easy to snap off if you are not careful.
*Remove disks from DVD-ROM drive before carrying.
8. Software related:
*Uptime. Unix-like operating systems such as BSD and Linux have the longest uptime. Research and compare uptime records yourself.
*Downloaded software and screensavers often cause conflicts and use valuable memory. Remember that the laptop is a tool for learning and keeping it free of extras will keep it working quicker with less freezing.
*Always back up all files in at least two places.
*Virus protection is very important.
*Beware of Spyware. It is the latest computer security problem. Spyware is software designed to collect computer users' personal data without their knowledge. Spyware is secretly installed with many downloaded Internet software programs, and transmits information about computer usage and generates pop-up advertisements. Microsoft estimates that spyware is responsible for half of all PC crashes.
9. Routine Laptop Maintenance:
*Run Disk Cleanup and Defragmenter at least monthly. You can find this under "Accessories," listed with Programs. Start > Programs > Accessories. Be sure to turn off screen saver before performing maintenance.
*Check for disk errors at least monthly. Open "My Computer." Right click on drive C, then select Properties. Click on the Tools tab. Where you see Error Checking, click on "Check now." Select "automatically fix file system errors," and then Start. You may be prompted to restart the machine.
*Set virus protection software to download and install updates automatically and enable virus realtime protection.
*Perform weekly virus scans.
*Set your computer to automatically download any newly released Windows updates. To do this: Open the Control Panel (Start > Settings > Control Panel) and double-click “System.†Click on the Automatic Updates tab and make your selections. Most people prefer the option “Download updates for me, but let me choose when to install them.â€
*Printing Settings (this feature sets printers to work fast, using the least amount of ink)
1.Start > Settings > Printers.
2.All printers that have been installed are shown.
3.Click on a printer to select it.
4.Right-click, and then choose Properties.
5.Click on the Setup tab, and under print quality, select draft.
6.Click on the Advanced tab, and put a check in the box by "print in grayscale." At school, we request you print in grayscale for most assignments. For special projects when you need something printed in color, you can remove the checkmark.
*Power Settings
7.Start > Settings > Control Panel.
8.Select the Power Management folder by double-clicking on it.
9.Select Portable/Laptop from the drop-down menu.
10.Click on the Alarms tab, and set the alarm to ring at 5%, and to shutdown at 1%.
11.Click on the Alarm Action button, and put a check mark next to Sound Alarm and Display Message.
12.Underclock it for the ultimate in longevity.
