Got a computer issue that you think you can fix? Try it! Just be careful you don’t mess up your computer worse than it already is. There are many reasons that you may want to try to fix your computer issue yourself. Computer repair can be expensive and time consuming and it really depends on how much you value your computer. If you just don’t see the value in putting any money into an old computer, then you should probably try to repair the computer yourself to save you money. If the computer is valuable to you and you cannot afford to be without your computer, then you should probably take it to a computer repair store in your area to do the job for you.

If you feel comfortable troubleshooting computer issues, then by all means attempt to fix your computer. However if you are not the computer guru type, and think you will cause more harm than good, then you are probably right.

What is the worst thing that could happen to my computer if I try to fix it myself?

This is a variable answer to this question because it depends on what is most important to you about your computer. It could be your pictures or iTunes collection, or it could be those super important excel spreadsheets you have for work. What I am getting at is the most common worst case scenario is data loss. Losing your pictures, music, and documents can be very aggravating and costly, not to mention having a broken computer on top of that.

Do I have the tools to fix my computer?

If it is a hardware issue that requires you to get inside your computer, you may or may not have the necessary tools. Apple computers oftentimes have special screws that require special screwdrivers to disassemble them. Other computers could have similar requirements for tools to work on them. If you don’t have the necessary tools, then you might not be able to fix your computer. Unless you want to invest in these tools, you will probably will be better off taking it to a computer repair store.

What should I do if I mess up my computer worse by trying to fix it?

You should probably stop attempting to be a computer guru at this point. Shut the computer down, and bring it to a computer repair specialist in your area. A computer repair technician should be able to figure out what is the issue with your computer, and possibly come up with possible solutions to your computer issue. The computer repair technician may also be able to salvage your important data.

Why would a computer technician be better at fixing my computer issue than me?

Our computer technicians are certified experts at computer repair. Many have degrees in computer science and computer IT. They have a vast understanding of computers from the software layer to the hardware layer. If you are not knowledgeable about computers and their many different components you may want to leave it to a computer repair specialist. However if you think you can handle it, then you may be the perfect candidate to fix your own computer.

Imagine a laptop battery that lasted for days or weeks instead of just hours. Over the past few years, scientists have been working on a Lithium sulphur graphene battery that could last more than twice as long as a Lithium Ion “Li-ion” battery (the type of battery in most modern day laptops and cell phones). Most Li-ion batteries have between 300 and 500 discharge/charge cycles. The Lithium sulphur graphene batteries are able to go through over 1500 charge cycles without deterioration. Improved battery technology is at an ever increasing demand by car companies like Tesla, as the electric car is becoming closer to an everyday reality of modern life. Experts claim these batteries could enable electric vehicles to travel with a range of more than 300 miles on a single charge. These batteries are still at an early stage in development, and the cost and use of these batteries is still unknown. So for now we are stuck with the Li-ion battery.

Probably everyone would like to have a laptop battery that lasts forever. Unfortunately this is not currently possible with modern day Li-ion battery technology. However with some simple care and maitenance you can buy some extra time out of your laptop battery.

NOTICE: These are only recommendations, you should always use the manufacturers recommended care and use for your Li-ion battery.

KEEP IT COOL

Temperature plays a huge role in the lifetime of a laptop batter. Always keep the battery at a normal moderate room temperature. Never allow the battery get too cold. Do not ever charge a laptop battery if the computer reaches a temperature below freezing. Only charge at moderate temperatures. Some batteries accept charge below freezing but at a much-reduced charge current. The battery performance decreases with cold temperature and increases with heat, however shortens life by a factor of two for every 10°C increase above 25–30°C (18°F above 77–86°F). So while the battery will perform better when warm, a battery lives longer when kept at a moderate room temperature.

TURN IT OFF

If possible turn off your laptop while charging. This allows the battery to reach the threshold voltage unhindered and reflects the correct saturation current responsible to terminate the charge. Running the laptop while charging can confuse the charger and the battery will never actually reach the recommended maximum charge.

PULL IT OUT

If you are going to have the laptop plugged into the wall for extended periods of time remove the fully or partially charged battery from the computer and put it into storage. Never remove the battery from the computer if it is not at least partially charged. Be sure to store the battery in a cool dry place. Never store a laptop battery in a refrigerator since this can cause condensation and ruin the battery.

SLIM IT DOWN

Be sure to dim the screen. The screen is the largest drain of the battery in most laptop computers.

Slim-down the processes on the computer. Avoid extraneous programs from running, and stop updates from running. Also avoid processor intensive processes such as movies and games.

Shutoff or remove any hardware that is not being used. Also disconnect any USB hard drives and USB peripherals such as wireless mouse, or a wifi antenna.

PARTIAL CHARGE AND DISCHARGE

Lithium-ion batteries do not actually need to be fully charged. It is actually better to only do a partial charge. It is better not to fully charge the laptop battery, because high voltages stress the battery. Choosing a lower voltage threshold, or eliminating the saturation charge altogether, prolongs battery life however this reduces the runtime. However since most people want maximum runtime, most chargers go for maximum capacity rather than extended service life.

Li-ion should never be discharged too low, and there are several safeguards to prevent this from happening in most laptops. Most laptops cut off when the battery discharges to about 3.0V/cell, stopping the current flow. If the discharge continues to about 2.70V/cell or lower, the laptop battery’s protection circuit puts the battery into a sleep mode. This renders the pack unserviceable and a recharge with most chargers will no longer be possible. To prevent a battery from falling asleep, apply a partial charge before a long storage period.

Battery manufacturers ship batteries with about 40 percent charge. The low charge state reduces aging-related stress while allowing some self-discharge during storage. To minimize the current flow for the protection circuit before the battery is sold, advanced Li-ion packs feature a sleep mode that disables the protection circuit until activated by a brief charge or discharge. Once engaged, the battery remains operational and the on state can no longer be switched back to the standby mode.

Do not recharge lithium-ion if a cell has stayed at or below 1.5V for more than a week. Copper shunts may have formed inside the cells that can lead to a partial or total electrical short. If recharged, the cells might become unstable, causing excessive heat or showing other anomalies. Li-ion packs that have been under stress are more sensitive to mechanical abuse, such as vibration, dropping and exposure to heat.

These are just a few helpful tips you can use to try to extend your laptop battery lifetime. Always follow the manufactures recommended care and use for your Li-ion battery. If you are experiencing issues with your laptop battery or cell phone battery, it may be time to have it checked by a computer repair and laptop repair store. Bring it to South City Computer to have an expert computer service technician diagnose your laptop or cell battery today.