How to make our laptop last more than 5 years?
By scheng1
@scheng1 (24650)
Singapore
December 6, 2011 9:32pm CST
My laptop has lasted more than 5 years already.
However, i still hope to use it for another few years.
Is it possible to make it last a long time?
When I purchased the laptop, I topped up the warranty period by purchasing four years extended warranty.
It had spoilt only once, and fortunately that was covered under extended warranty, so the repair was free.
Please share tips to make the laptop last very long.
8 responses
@br3ndy (468)
• Indonesia
7 Dec 11
There is a possibility you laptop could last longer. Just make sure you didn't use it for too long time since it could make your laptop overheating and it could be bad for your laptop.
You should keep your laptop away from dust as you can as possible since the dust also can disturbing the laptop's internal. Also you should make sure not to turn on your laptop at a dusty place since the dust could be sucked to your laptop.
Other than that. just make sure you handle your laptop with care like other electronic gadget. This way, will make your laptop last longer.
@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
8 Dec 11
Hi br3ndy, good advice about the dust part.
My house faces the industrial estates, and dust is a common enemy.
I try to keep my laptop as clean as possible.
Once i spilled coffee onto the laptop, and fortunately the extended warranty allowed me to repair it for free.
Since then, I have been very careful about keeping it in good condition.
I cannot use the laptop for long hours, as I reach home rather late, and have just a few hours at night for online activities.
Weekend is a bit different, but even then I do not use it for too long a stretch.
I think I have to pay more attention to the dust that seems to creep into the room at all hours.
@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
11 Dec 11
Hi Br3ndy, I clean my laptop regularly too.
I do not want the dust to go into the laptop.
It is extremely hard to get rid of dust since I live near the shipyard and other heavy industries.
Just hope that the manufacturer can build a laptop that does not generate heat, requires less electricity, and have a protective layer to prevent dust from entering it.
@br3ndy (468)
• Indonesia
9 Dec 11
Yes, dust could be a big problem for computers and laptops. Beside my laptop, i also have a computer. I must clean my computer's internal from dust each two months or sometimes less than one month. Everytime i open my CPU cassing, there are alot of dust inside it and it is a quite tiresome activity to cleam them all. Well, for laptop the problem is we can't open it easily to clean all that dust. That's why we only can help by prevent our laptop from sucking too many dust.
@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
8 Dec 11
Hi Mantis, thanks for the practical advice.
I only have a mouse attached to it as I am very used to it.
I will get a desktop keyboard.
I think I have used the keyboard in my laptop too much. Now I cannot see E and A an S.
I wonder how cheap is the aluminum fan cooler.
I put my laptop at 45 degree, with a stack of book as support, so that it will not get overheated.
The air circulation cools the laptop to a certain level.
@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
9 Dec 11
Hi Mantis, just too bad that your laptop gives such problem more than a year later, or else you can make use of the warranty to fix the problem free of charge.
I think the extended warranty is worthwhile when it was at a low rate.
At the time when I bought my laptop more than five years ago, the extended warranty was very cheap.
One single repair is enough to recoup the cost.
@mantis36 (4219)
• Philippines
8 Dec 11
I brought my laptop since February 2, 2010 up to this morning without having any problem...
I am very happy but....
but 4 hours already passed up to now, i am now the one in turn to have a problem regarding my laptop's DVD-Drive, i know some technical problems regarding how to fix desktop computer problems but i can't fix my laptop DVD-Rom...
oh my God, i forgot,
i have no External DVD-Drive attach to my laptop yet, ever since before...
but why is it of all the errors my laptop suffers, why my internal DVD-Drive?
My DVD laptop internal Drive detects that it has an attached DVD-Drive and drivers having no problem,
but can't read all of my CD's and DVD's files...
i feel sad...
@jpso138 (7851)
• Philippines
7 Dec 11
I think one of the things to consider about making the laptop last long is to use it like a laptop. Now, I may sound funny on my answer but actually, I am not joking. Many people used the laptop
And treat it like a desktop. They use it for quite a time without turning off. From my point of view, laptops have smaller fans to cool itself thus it not designed to be turned on 24 hours. Doing so may cause so much heat and eventually damage the hardware. The cooling system should be cleaned and not blocked upon use otherwise it could result to overheat. Well, we should also consider viruses as another factor that causes damage and so, maintaining a good anti virus is also essential.
@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
9 Dec 11
Hi Jpso, yes, I agree about the heat problem of laptop.
I do not let my laptop on all the time, since I am very cost conscious, and laptop tends to generate heat.
I think laptop uses a lot of electricity as well.
When I know that I will be away for more than half an hour, I will definitely switch off the laptop.
I am not too worried about virus, since I do not have important documents in the laptop.
I keep the anti virus updated as well.
It is the hardware part that is worrying.
So far there is no indicaton of any problem, and I really hope it can last another five years.
@portisray (503)
• Philippines
8 Dec 11
HHHmmnn... I haven't use my laptop since early this year... It always hang up and shuts down automatically...For almost two years that I have been using my laptop.. I think don't use the battery if you only use it in your home...so that the battery won't used up...
Secondly, you have to always use a cooling fan... That's my own opinion...
Anyway, here's the link on how take good care of your laptop....
http://www.wikihow.com/Take-Good-Care-of-Your-Laptop-Computer
@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
9 Dec 11
Hi Portiray, I do not use battery since I used the laptop at home.
The battery is still as good as new.
I do not use a cooling fan at all.
I just stack a pile of books, and angle my laptop at 45 degree, so that air can pass through.
I think that is a great help to cool down the laptop naturally.
@Xansus (946)
• Bulgaria
8 Dec 11
Well as every thing to last longer you need to take good care of it . The main things are to never hit it or throw it . Just take care of it as a baby :D
Otherwise if you keep your software clean , and protect your operating system i think you should have no problem . Only issue is if something wore out , because nothing is forever . A hard drive can break from being too old or the processor might start doing strange things and break too . But lets hope that dont happen . Normally with computer after the first 1-2 years its already old , and need an upgrade , but for work it can last for more up to 5 or more years , but it might get old and start doing bad things , it have been working for whole 5 years , maybe it have more to go , but still a new one will have a better performance .
but well i'm with second hand pc from like 2 years but its like the pc is over 7 years old itself :)
So its not that of problem , just take care of it and it will be alright i think :)
@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
9 Dec 11
Hi Xansus, if it is a desktop, I would expect it to last for a very long time.
When it has performance issue, I can just replace the hardware bit by bit.
But leptop is different, I cannot simply ask the technician to replace part of it, and still expect it to work well.
I have been taking very good care of my laptop, that is why it can last more than five years, despite the fact that I used it to earn a few thousand dollars already.
Hopefully it can last for another five years.
@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
8 Dec 11
Hi Drambits, I seldom get to use it more than five hours a day!
After a whole day at work, I have only a few hours at night to use the laptop.
As for viruses, I do not think they can harm the hardware of the laptop.
I have saved most of the important things, so even if the virus wipes out everything, I am not that lost.
I wonder why laptop are not for heavy duty work, since many companies are buying and using laptops.
if the office workers can use it for more than 8 hours a day, why can't we do so at night?
@cearn25 (3456)
• Philippines
7 Dec 11
You could make it happen. It is very possible to last your laptop up to five years. Like for example, don't just put your laptop anywhere because if you just put it anywhere, the tendency is that it would fall, scratched and break. Laptop parts are very sensitive. That is one way. Take care where you put your laptop.
@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
7 Dec 11
Hi Cearn, my laptop is already more than five years old.
I just hope that I can make it last another five years!
My friend told me that the laptop will automatically break down after five years, but I hope not!
This one has served me really well for the past five years, and since there is no such thing as exchange policy for laptop, it will really cost me a lot to buy a new one.
I think my laptop has more than paid for its value, since I have made more than a thousand dollars in the past three years.
i just hope that with another five years, I could make another three thousand dollars!
@mjmarcha (11)
• Philippines
7 Dec 11
Just maintain the hardware aspects of your laptop in top shape.That is the best thing to do.Search on tips on how to take care of your laptop and you must also watch the software aspects,keep it free from viruses and don't install too many programs because it will eat up much resources.
@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
7 Dec 11
Hi mjmarcha, I do not install many unnecessary programs, since i use it mainly for online activities.
As for hardware, that is really a problem.
I heard that most laptop do not even last longer than three years, yet mine is more than five years already.
i just hope that I can keep it in good working condition.
