We hope you're not wondering how to destroy a laptop and that's not what you came to this article for. But it's a good idea to know the most common reasons why it can get damaged so you can keep yours as safe as possible.
Because laptops are portable, they are more prone to accidents and damage to their hardware. Luck is part of the equation, but let's look at how to avoid damaging a laptop over time. Below you will see five common mistakes that could be fatal if misused.
1. How to Destroy a Laptop with Excessive Heat
Laptops produce a lot of heat. Over time and with the advancement of technology, laptop processors have become more efficient, but their average temperature has decreased. However, many laptops still overheat.
A fan (or other cooling source) must remove this internal heat, and it's your responsibility to keep the fan vent clean and open. If it's blocked, the heat has nowhere to go. Instead, it will stay around your laptop's critical components. Eventually, your laptop will reach a dangerous temperature and overheat.
Some laptops react to this and will automatically shut down. But others will suffer from the heat as they slowly bake themselves to death.
Furniture, carpets, and rugs are common surfaces that can wreak havoc. Wherever you place your laptop, first make sure the ventilation has a clear path to do its job. Even a pile of books that are too close to your laptop can cause problems.
This isn't the only source of heat. Over time, dust that settles inside your machine will clog the fan and internal air vents. If you've had your computer for years, you should clean it to remove all the accumulated dust.
Be suspicious and pay attention to the sound of your laptop's fan. If it sounds like a jet engine and your computer isn't currently running a demanding task (like gaming or video encoding), consider it a cry for help.
2. How to Damage Your Laptop Hard Drive
Many laptops now include an SSD (Solid State Drive). Since SSDs have no moving parts inside, they are more resistant to movement. However, many older or even cheaper laptops still have a mechanical hard drive (HDD). These drives can be damaged if shaken too much.
This problem with a spinning hard drive is due to the use of moving parts. Hard drives have a read/write head that must move to interact with the disk, which is spinning. These parts have their own inertia, so if you move the laptop while it is working, they will try to move in their original direction. This can cause contact between the internal components of the hard drive, which in turn could cost you your data.
You can reduce the risk by gently shaking your laptop and not moving it when you are running a program that frequently accesses the hard drive. Move your laptop gently, without any sudden movements. Even if your computer has an SSD, you should know the signs of SSD failure to detect problems early.
3. How to Damage Your Laptop by Misusing It
If you're wondering how to quickly ruin a good laptop, try picking up your laptop by the screen. Holding it by an angle, especially loosely with one hand, is a bad idea. Even high-quality laptops can sometimes succumb to this seemingly innocent abuse.
When a laptop is closed, the best way to pick it up is to grab the front or back of the device. It's a smart move to pick it up with both hands, for safety. When your laptop is open, you should pick it up with both hands (one on each side).
Don't pick up a laptop by the screen. If your laptop has an optical CD drive, don't just hold it by that side. You should also keep the laptop on a stable, flat surface whenever possible. This will prevent it from bending.
Some laptops will break down immediately, and others may experience issues over a short period of time. In particular, picking up a laptop by the screen puts a lot of stress on the hinges. They are not designed to be handled this way. This can damage the hinges or surrounding materials, causing the hinge to break or the screen to stop working.
4. How to Destroy a Laptop by Twisting the Cables
If you want to trash your computer, treat its cables like garbage. Bend them sharply, squeeze them at corners, twist them at weird angles, and wait for them to break. It will happen sooner than you think.
You might think that power cables can absorb a lot of twisting and bending, but they often can't. Laptops are primarily mobile devices, so there's a good reason to make their cables thin, light, and easy to move around.
A common damage occurs when someone folds the cable over another object to keep it bundled. Sometimes the object has sharp edges, which cut the cable. And it doesn't need an obvious object like a knife. A hard plastic end is all that's needed. In some cases, the transformers built into the cable will even damage the cable if you wrap it around that plastic brick.
Avoid this problem by wrapping a cable in large, smooth strands of twine. Most cables come packaged this way, and some include a small piece of Velcro that you can use to hold the cable together. If your cable doesn't have Velcro, you can buy some. They're pretty cheap.
You should also make sure that you are not putting too much strain on your computer cables. Avoid hanging your AC adapter in the air. This will put stress on the plug that goes into your laptop. Over time, this will weaken the plug and could even damage the outlet, preventing your computer from charging. It is important to have a little slack in the cables.
5. How to Destroy a Laptop with Improper Transportation
As we discussed above, laptops don't like to be moved. Regardless of what you mean by "moved," you can't have it on the back of a motorcycle, or in an empty car trunk, while you're fighting with your friends. At least not without additional protection.
Many people buy a laptop bag to protect their laptop from everyday bumps and knocks. This is a great first step, but you need to make sure that the bag actually provides protection and is not just for carrying convenience. Cheap laptop bags include a laptop-sized compartment, but usually lack protection.
Others have some kind of foam on the sides of the bag, but completely neglect to protect the top or bottom. Of course, the bottom is what hits the floor when you drop a bag you're holding.
The right carry-on bag is a must-have item when you want to travel by plane, motorcycle or even car. The same bag is also essential when you simply go to visit your friend with your laptop.
Have you ever damaged a laptop?
In short, it's important to pay attention to the little details. Otherwise, your laptop could die a slow death due to damage to the hinges, hard drive, outer casing, or other components. Even seemingly small actions, like bread crumbs falling onto the keyboard, can cause serious damage over time.
You'll read stories of people dropping their laptop in a pool or spilling a drink on it or having it fall from a fourth-story building. Mistakes like that happen. But most accidents don't happen in a dramatic way. Laptops often fail because of a combination of small mistakes, some of which may not seem like a big deal at first.
