My laptops keep dying!

sn000zy
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Posts: 281

My laptops keep dying! Jan 20, 2015 9:15:11 GMT -5

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Post by sn000zy on Jan 20, 2015 9:15:11 GMT -5

I had a desktop computer that lasted me for YEARS. It was fantastic and I think it only cost me around 300 dollars. It finally crapped out on me but I wasn't too upset since it lasted me for many years. After that, I have just had bad luck.

The laptop I had was a "gift" from my ex when we were still together. It was supposedly "brand new" but it was actually his old laptop that he cleaned up and put in a box for me. It was defective. The battery would only last two hours but I could not run it with it hooked up to the charger because it would overheat and shut down. HP wouldn't honor my warranty as it was a couple years old (that's how I found out it was a re-gift.)

My fiance had an extra laptop kicking around, so I was using that for a while and then something happened and he had to do a full reformat (must have been a virus, but I don't know.)

For the past few months I have been using his dad's laptop and last night it just died. It is stuck on the "windows is loading files" thing.

I am really upset because this isn't even MY laptop. The fiance thinks I did something to it but the truth is I don't even download music on it because I did not want to wreck it. Hopefully it is just a matter of pulling the hard drive so it can be up and running again, but I am really not sure why this keeps happening to me.

Any tech-y girls who have some insight?

a_muppet Global Moderator Posts: 35,019 Member is Online	My laptops keep dying! Jan 20, 2015 9:40:51 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by a_muppet on Jan 20, 2015 9:40:51 GMT -5 Which servicing progs do you use regularly? Spybot, registry defrag, cleaners etc
	Last Edit: Jan 20, 2015 9:41:06 GMT -5 by a_muppet Caution, I am feral.

heatherly
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My laptops keep dying! Jan 20, 2015 13:32:34 GMT -5

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Post by heatherly on Jan 20, 2015 13:32:34 GMT -5

It can really be anything. Most likely it's how you care for laptops in general if you end up having similar issues.

Here are good tips for caring for your laptop battery:

smallbusiness.chron.com/care-laptop-battery-53535.html

You want to avoid overheating, and it's easy to overheat a laptop if you are using it for hours at a time. Get something to keep the laptop cool. There are cooling pads, external fans, etc... if you don't already!

I prefer desktops. I have both, and my laptop is mostly for convenience. I like being able to upgrade and replace parts on my own when I need to.

sn000zy
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Posts: 281

My laptops keep dying! Jan 22, 2015 11:14:22 GMT -5

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Post by sn000zy on Jan 22, 2015 11:14:22 GMT -5

Oh wow Heatherly! Thanks for that article. I had no idea that leaving my battery plugged in when it is charged is a bad idea. I do that all the time.

As for my laptop (which isn't even mine, it's my father-in-laws,) the fiance had to replace the hard drive. The hard drive fried which means it is something physical which I probably caused by doing EVERYTHING on that list I shouldn't do.

I thought about going back to desktop, but I would have to buy a monitor and a desk and it would be bulky.

Now that I know what not to do, I am going to keep it up so hopefully I don't fry my laptop again.

I am so thankful that I am paranoid about losing data. As some of you may know, I have been writing a book. Periodically I email myself copies of my book. It already saved me once, and I just saved myself again. This book would never get written otherwise.

heatherly
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My laptops keep dying! Jan 22, 2015 11:34:07 GMT -5

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Post by heatherly on Jan 22, 2015 11:34:07 GMT -5

Yep, it's good to have backup regardless. Even if you take the best care of your equipment, something can still go wrong with it.

But yeah, fried HD, that sounds like from overheating =p It's very sensitive parts, and they cannot withstand going over certain temps for prolonged periods without frying.

You can install software for free that will show you the temperatures, you should look into something like that!

Post by sn000zy on Jan 20, 2015 9:15:11 GMT -5

Post by a_muppet on Jan 20, 2015 9:40:51 GMT -5

Post by heatherly on Jan 20, 2015 13:32:34 GMT -5

Post by sn000zy on Jan 22, 2015 11:14:22 GMT -5

Post by heatherly on Jan 22, 2015 11:34:07 GMT -5

Shoutbox