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--- tablet_care_guide [2013/01/03 14:28] – wording change: clarify what menu I'm talking about abrashear
+++ tablet_care_guide [2021/09/21 12:10] (current) – [Troubleshooting] Add bit about resetting power. abrashear
@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+====== Tablet Care Guide ======
 ====== Handling ======
-Sudden forces such as dropping or swinging a laptop while it is running can damage the hard drive. To help protect against this, put the computer to sleep and wait until the hard disk activity light stops flashing before carrying the laptop. You can put the computer to sleep by closing the lid or hitting Fn+F3 on the keyboard. The computer is sleeping when the power light pulses slowly.
+Never carry or lift your tablet by its screen. When you move the tablet, you should always bear most of the weight with the machine's base. Handling the device by the screen can cause the hinge(s) to break or can damage the connection between the tablet and screen.
-When your laptop is running, try to keep the area around the sides and rear clear in order to improve air flow and keep the laptop cool.
+The proper way to turn off your computer is to use the "Shut Down" button in the Start Menu. This method is known as a "graceful shutdown". The Start Menu is accessed by clicking the Windows logo at the bottom left of the screen. Turning off your computer by removing the battery or holding the power button (known as a hard shutdown) can damage the the operating system.
-The proper way to turn off your computer is to use the "Shut Down" button in the Start Menu. This method is known as a "graceful shutdown". The Start Menu is accessed by clicking the Windows orb at the bottom left of the screen. Turning off your computer by removing the battery or holding the power button (known as a hard shutdown) can damage the hard drive and the operating system.
+===== Storage =====
+When you store your computer in its case. Do not put your power adapter or anything else on the top of your computer. The case is only large enough for the laptop, and putting items in with it can damage the screen. If your case has a pocket for the charger, put your charger in there.
 ====== Cleaning ======
-A lint-free cloth or a paper towel is the best way to clean your laptop’s screen. When a more thorough cleaning is required, a rubbing alcohol solution will do the job. Using Windex (or other ammonia-based cleaners) is not recommended because the ammonia may yellow the screen over time.
+A microfiber cloth or a paper towel is the best way to clean your laptop’s screen. When a more thorough cleaning is required, a rubbing alcohol solution will do the job. Using Windex (or other ammonia-based cleaners) is not recommended because the ammonia may yellow the screen over time.
-To clean your laptop’s keyboard or touchpad, a soft cloth or paper towel with a small amount of rubbing alcohol will get rid of any oils that have accumulated. Do not attempt to remove your keys in order to clean under them, they are broken very easily. An air duster can be used to remove dust from under the keys by spraying in between them.
+To clean your laptop’s keyboard or touchpad, a microfiber cloth with a small amount of rubbing alcohol will get rid of any oils that have accumulated. Do not attempt to remove your keys in order to clean under them, they are broken very easily. An air duster can be used to remove dust from under the keys by spraying in between them.
 ====== Battery Health ======
 Over time, your battery’s maximum capacity will decrease. There are three things you can do to minimize this:
-  - Always store your battery in a cool dry place. High temperatures can drastically reduce a battery’s maximum capacity, and extreme temperatures may cause it to explode.
+  - Always store your laptop and battery in a cool dry place. High temperatures can drastically reduce a battery’s maximum capacity, and extreme temperatures may cause it to explode.
-  - When storing your battery, it is best to do so at about 40% capacity. If you intend to keep your laptop on A/C power for a long time, you can disconnect the battery and run the laptop completely on A/C power. This has the added benefit of keeping your battery and your laptop cooler, helping them both last longer.
   - When charging your battery, many small discharges with frequent recharges are better than one large discharge. For example, it is better to drain your battery down by 10% and then fully charge it often than it is to completely drain it and then completely charge it.
 ===== Prolonging Battery Life =====
-Running your tablet at maximum brightness can increase load on the battery. You can lower the screen brightness by launching the Windows Mobility Center with the shortcut Windows+X and adjusting the brightness slider as desired. You can also have the tablet automatically adjust the screen brightness depending on your environment by hitting Fn+F11.
+Two easy ways to improve battery life are to lower the screen brightness or to put the system into power save mode. You can do either of these by clicking the battery icon in the system tray. Brightness is adjusted by clicking the brightness tile. You adjust power saving using the slider.
+{{::adjust_brightness_and_power_saving.gif?nolink|}}
-To greatly extend your battery life, you can force your computer to limit its resource use. To do this, open the Windows Mobility Center (Windows+X) and under the battery gauge, change the power mode to Power Saver. Note that this will reduce overall system performance in order to increase battery life.
+You can also improve your battery life by closing applications you are not using. Generally speaking, running fewer applications results in longer battery life. This is not true in all cases, but may help.
-When you are not using your wireless internet connection, you can reduce the load on your battery by turning off your wireless adapter. This can be done by flipping the switch on the left side of your laptop. When the switch’s light is blue, the wireless adapter is on. When the light is orange, the wireless adapter is off.
+===== Battery Calibration =====
+If you are having issues with battery longevity or inaccurate battery life estimates, calibrating your battery may resolve the issue. When you calibrate the battery you completely drain and then completely charge it. Calibrating the battery requires three basic steps:
-You can also improve your battery life by closing applications you are not using. Generally speaking, running fewer applications results in longer battery life.
+  - Charge the battery.
+    - Plug in the power cord.
+    - Charge the battery to a full charge.
+    - When the battery is fully charged, proceed.
+  - Discharge the battery
+    - Disconnect the power cord.
+    - Use the computer until the battery completely dies.
+    - Turn the computer back on, wait at the boot screen for the machine to power off. Repeat if necessary.
+  - Recharge the battery.
+    - Plug in the power cord to charge the battery. Do not turn on the computer.
+    - Charge the battery to a full charge, 99%-100%.
+    - After reaching a full charge, keep the computer attached to the power cord for (at least) 2.5 hours.
 ====== Troubleshooting ======
-The first step to take when you are having trouble with your tablet is to power it off and then power it on. If you are still having the issue, bring it to the Help Desk or email the Help Desk at [email protected].
+The first step to take when you are having trouble with your computer is to restart it via the power menu. If you are still having the issue, bring it to the Help Desk or email the Help Desk at [email protected]. //Before// you bring your tablet to the Help Desk, you should make sure your data is [[file_history|backed up]] properly.
-If your computer is frozen, the first thing you should do is be patient. Give it at least five to ten minutes (perhaps more depending on what you are doing). If the system continues to be unresponsive and you cannot shut it down gracefully, a hard shutdown may be necessary. Be aware that a hard shutdown is harmful to your hard drive and operating system. To perform a hard shutdown, hold down the power button for a few seconds until the power light turns off.
+If your computer is frozen, the first thing you should do is be patient. Give it at least five to ten minutes—perhaps more. If the system continues to be unresponsive and you cannot shut it down gracefully, a hard shutdown may be necessary. Be aware that a hard shutdown is harmful. It is best to avoid it. To perform a hard shutdown, hold down the power button for a few seconds until the power light turns off. If that still does not work, [[https://help.lasallehs.net/doku.php?id=reset_laptop_power|reset the Laptop's power following this guide]].
-If your computer is physically damaged it should be brought to the Help Desk for repair as soon as possible. The Help Desk will not repair a computer during the summer unless it is damaged to the point it cannot be reimaged.
+If your computer is physically damaged it should be brought to the Help Desk for repair as soon as possible. The Help Desk will not repair a computer during the summer unless it is damaged to the point it cannot be serviced.