Tip of the week: How to extend the life of a laptop

Provide shelter. Don’t carry the machine around in just a briefcase or suitcase. A laptop case is a necessity. “Even a basic case will provide a good level of protection.”

Store with care. Make sure your laptop is turned off or at least asleep before storing. If you close a computer with a program still running, “a system can get hung up.”

Unplug before moving. Even if you’re just moving across a room, unplug any devices, such as iPods or cameras, that are plugged into the USB ports. “Tugging at a USB port” could do “damage internally.”

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Check the temperature. “High and low temperatures are a computer’s enemy.” Never leave one exposed on a “100-degree day in Houston or a 5-degree day in New England,” because those extremes can do serious damage to a hard drive.

Source: Chicago Tribune