Laptop Care and Use

Care, Use, and Safety Information

Cleaning Your Laptop
Follow these general rules when cleaning the outside of your computer and its components:

• Shut down your laptop, disconnect the power adapter and modem cable, and remove the battery.
• Use a damp, soft, lint-free cloth to clean the computer’s exterior. Avoid getting moisture in any openings. Do not spray liquid directly on the computer.
• Don’t use aerosol sprays, solvents, or abrasives.

Cleaning Your laptop Display
To clean your laptop screen, do the following:

• Shut down your laptop, disconnect the power adapter and modem cable, and remove the battery.
• Dampen a clean, soft, lint-free cloth or paper with water only and wipe the screen. Do not spray liquid directly on the screen.

Carrying Your Laptop
If you carry your laptop in a bag or briefcase, make sure that there are no loose items (such as paper clips or coins) that could accidentally get inside the computer through an opening such as the optical drive slot.
 
Storing Your Laptop
If you are going to store your laptop for an extended period of time, do one of the following to prevent your laptop battery from becoming completely depleted:

• Keep the power adapter connected.
• Fully charge your laptop battery before storing the computer.
• Fully charge and then remove your laptop battery when storing your computer (especially important when storing your computer for longer than 5 months).

Safety Instructions for Setting up and Using Your Computer

Plugging In the Power Adapter
Always leave space around your power adapter. Do not use this equipment in a location where airflow around the power adapter or computer is confined. Always disconnect the power adapter and remove the battery before opening the computer to perform procedures such as installing memory or removing the hard disk.

• Warning: Use only the power adapter that came with your laptop computer. Adapters for other electronic devices (including other laptop models and other portable computers) may look similar, but they may affect your computer’s performance or damage it.

Using Your laptop
When using your laptop or when charging the battery, it is normal for the bottom of the case to get warm. For prolonged use, place your laptop on a flat, stable surface. The bottom of the laptop case functions as a cooling surface that transfers heat from inside the computer to the cooler air outside. The bottom of the case is raised slightly to allow airflow that keeps the unit within normal operating temperatures. In addition, the computer vents warm air from the back of the case.

• Warning: Do not place your laptop on a pillow or other soft material when it is on, as the material may block the airflow vents, in particular the rear vents, and cause the computer to overheat. Never place anything over your keyboard before closing the display. This can cause your computer to cycle on and off which may create excessive heat and drain your battery. Never turn on your computer unless all of its internal and external parts are in place. Operating the computer when it is open or missing parts can be dangerous and can damage your computer.

Connectors and Ports
Never force a connector into a port. If the connector and port don’t join with reasonable ease, they probably don’t match. Make sure that the connector matches the port and that you have positioned the connector correctly in relation to the port.

When removing the connector from the port remove it by pulling on the connector, not the cable. Some types of connectors have a release clip that releases the connection. It’s important to release these types of latches before removing the connector from the port. Failure to release this retention latch or abruptly pulling on the cord, could cause damage to the connector or the computer.