CHAPTER 7: Maintaining Your Notebook
82
If you spill liquid on the keyboard, turn off your notebook and
turn the notebook upside down. Let the liquid drain, then let
the keyboard dry before trying to use it again. If the keyboard
does not work after it dries, you may need to replace it. A
replacement keyboard may not be covered by your warranty.
Cleaning the notebook screen
Use a soft cloth and water to clean the LCD screen. Squirt a
little water on the cloth (never directly on the screen), and
wipe the screen with the cloth.
Maintaining the battery(ies)
The life span of a notebook battery is about 1.5 to 3 years,
under normal conditions. As the battery begins to die, you will
have to recharge the battery more frequently because it
cannot hold a full charge.
Do not expose the battery to high heat or freezing
temperatures. Hot batteries discharge very quickly, and cold
ones cannot create as much power. Short battery life is more
likely to be caused by heat than by charge/discharge patterns.
Keep your lithium-ion battery cool. Avoid a hot car, for
example.
Charge often, but do not try to fully discharge the battery
frequently. This only adds strain. Several partial discharges
(regular use), with frequent recharges, are better for
lithium-ion than one total discharge. Recharging a partially
charged lithium-ion battery does not cause any harm because
it has no “memory.”
Batteries with fuel gauges (notebooks) should be calibrated by
applying a deliberate full discharge once every 30 charges.
Running the battery down in the equipment does this. If
ignored, the fuel gauge becomes increasingly less accurate
and in some cases will cut off the device prematurely.
Using the right charger is important. By now you probably
know that each kind of battery has its own technology, its own
rate of charge, and so on. Charging lithium batteries correctly
is one way to extend their life and to avoid damage.
Caution
A notebook LCD screen is made of specially coated glass and can be
scratched or damaged by abrasive or ammonia-based glass cleaners.
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