Hewlett-Packard Routine Care Hardware maintenance

Routine Care

Document Part Number: 383058-002

October 2005

Contents

1 Hardware maintenance

Battery pack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

TouchPad and keyboard. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Drives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Using Disk Defragmenter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Using Disk Cleanup. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

2 Regular tune-ups

3 Traveling and shipping

Routine Care ii

1

Hardware maintenance

Your computer is designed for durability and long operating life.
Follow the routine care guidelines described in this guide to
extend the life of your computer and maintain at its peak
performance.

■ Carry and store the computer in a portable carrying case.

To reduce the risk of damage to your display, do not place

Ä

anything on top of the computer, even when it is in the
carrying case.

■ Avoid exposing the computer to direct sunlight, extreme

temperatures, or ultraviolet light for extended periods.

Do not expose the computer or drives to temperature or

Ä

humidity extremes.

■ Keep your computer clean. Dust buildup can raise the

temperature of internal components.

Routine Care 1

Hardware maintenance

CAUTION: To reduce the risk of electric shock or damage to your

Ä

computer:

■ Always disconnect the computer from the AC outlet and disconnect

peripherals from the computer before attempting to clean the
computer or any of its components.

■ Do not spray liquids on the computer keyboard, display, or drives,

or allow liquids to drip onto them.

WARNING: To avoid potential discomfort or burns, do not block the

Å

air vents or use the computer on your lap for extended periods. The
computer is designed to run demanding applications at full power. As a
result of increased power consumption, it is normal for the computer to
feel warm or hot when used continuously. The computer complies with
the user-accessible surface temperature limits defined by the
International Standard for Safety of Information Technology Equipment
(IEC 60950).

CAUTION: To prevent overheating, do not obstruct vents. Use the

Ä

computer only on a hard, flat surface. Do not allow another hard
surface, such as a printer, or a soft surface, such as pillows, thick rugs,
or clothing, to block the airflow.

2 Routine Care

Battery pack

If the computer will be unused for a week or more, turn off the
power. If the computer will be unused and disconnected from
external power for more than 2 weeks, remove the battery pack
and store it separately. To prolong the charge of a stored battery
pack, place it in a cool, dry place.

WARNING: To avoid potential safety issues, use only the battery pack

Å

provided with the computer, a replacement battery pack provided by
HP, or a compatible battery pack purchased as an accessory from HP.

Use the following table to estimate how long you can safely store
a battery pack. The storage times provided are based on a battery
pack that contains 50 percent of a full charge.

A battery pack that has been fully charged can be safely stored for
a longer time. If a battery pack has been stored for one month or
more, calibrate the battery pack before using it.

Hardware maintenance

Temperature
Range °F

115° to 140° 46° to 60° Less than 1 month

79° to 113° 26° to 45° No more than 3 months

32° to 77° 0° to 25° 1 year

WARNING: To reduce the risk of fire or burns, do not disassemble,

Å

crush, or puncture a battery pack; short the external contacts on a
battery pack; or dispose of a battery pack in fire or water. Do not
expose a battery pack to temperatures above 60°C (140°F).

Routine Care 3

Temperature
Range °C Safe Storage Time

Hardware maintenance

TouchPad and keyboard

Dirt and grease on the TouchPad can cause the pointer to jump
around on the screen. To avoid this, clean the TouchPad with a
damp cloth, and wash your hands frequently when using the
computer.

WARNING: To reduce the risk of electric shock or damage to internal

Å

components, do not use a vacuum cleaner attachment to clean the
keyboard. A vacuum cleaner could deposit household debris on the
keyboard surface.

Clean the keyboard regularly to prevent keys from sticking and to
remove dust, lint, and particles that can become trapped beneath
the keys. A can of compressed air with a straw extension can be
used to blow air around and under the keys to loosen and remove
debris.

If your computer keyboard includes a pointing stick, you may
need to periodically clean or change the replacement cap.
(Replacement caps are included with select models.)

4 Routine Care

Display

To remove smudges and lint, frequently clean your display with
a soft, damp, lint-free cloth. If the screen requires additional
cleaning, use premoistened antistatic wipes or an antistatic screen
cleaner.

CAUTION: To prevent permanent damage to the computer, never

Ä

spray water, cleaning fluids, or chemicals on the display.

Drives

Drives are fragile components that must be handled carefully.
Follow the guidelines in this section to protect your drives.

CAUTION: To reduce the risk of damage to the computer, damage to a

Ä

drive, or loss of information, observe these precautions:

■ Before handling a drive, discharge static electricity by touching an

unpainted metal surface of the drive.

■ Do not touch the connector pins on a removable drive or on the

computer.

■ Handle a drive carefully; do not drop or compress the drive.

■ Do not use excessive force when inserting a drive into a drive bay.

■ Do not type on the keyboard or move the computer while the drive

is writing to a medium. The write process is sensitive to vibration.

■ When the battery pack is the only source of power, ensure that the

battery pack is sufficiently charged before writing to a medium.

Hardware maintenance

Routine Care 5

Hardware maintenance

Using Disk Defragmenter

As you use the computer, the hard disk data becomes fragmented.
Disk Defragmenter consolidates the fragmented files and folders
on the hard disk so that it can run more efficiently.

To run Disk Defragmenter:

1. Select Start > All Programs > Accessories >
System Tools > Disk Defragmenter.

2. Click a volume to defragment, and then click Defragment.

For additional information, access the Disk Defragmenter
online Help.

Using Disk Cleanup

Disk Cleanup searches the hard disk for unnecessary files that
you can safely delete to free up disk space and help the computer
run more efficiently.

To run Disk Cleanup:

» Select Start > All Programs > Accessories >

System Tools > Disk Cleanup, and then follow the
instructions on the screen.

6 Routine Care

2

Regular tune-ups

To keep your computer hardware and software running like new,
perform these simple tasks periodically. For more information,
select Start > Help and Support.

■ Install and/or update your antivirus software. Protect

against current security threats to your computer by installing
antivirus software. Keep the antivirus software up to date to
protect against the ongoing threat of new viruses.

■ Install and update software that detects and removes

spyware. Spyware tools allow you to detect and prevent
electronic encroachment into your computer system by
outside parties.

■ Enable service reminders. Subscriber’s Choice is a free

service that allows you to receive instant e-mail notification
about product updates, software drivers, and creative ideas to
help you get more out of your computer.

■ Create a backup strategy. A virus or an electrical outage

could damage or destroy your important data. Back up your
files onto a CD-RW, DVD+RW, or USB drive to protect the
security of your files.

■ Create a restore point. In the event of a computer problem,

these benchmarks allow you to go back in time to a point
before your computer encountered a problem.

■ Create a PC tune-up schedule. Create weekly and monthly

reminders to back up files, update virus software, and
perform hardware and software maintenance.

Routine Care 7

3

Traveling and shipping

The computer is built to go with you for work and play. For best
results, follow the traveling and shipping tips described here.

■ To prepare the computer for traveling or shipping:

1. Back up your work.

2. Remove all optical discs and external media cards,

such as PC Cards, Secure Digital (SD) Memory Cards,
ExpressCards, and so on.

To reduce the risk of damage to the computer, damage to a

Ä

drive, or loss of information, remove the medium from a drive
before removing the drive from a drive bay, and before
shipping, storing, or traveling with a drive.

3. Turn off and then disconnect all external devices.

4. Shut down the computer.

■ Take along a backup of your work. Keep the backup separate

from the computer.

■ When traveling by air, carry your computer as hand luggage,

and do not check it in with the rest of your bags.

Avoid exposing a drive to magnetic fields. Security devices

Ä

with magnetic fields include airport walk-through devices
and security wands. The airport security devices that check
carry-on luggage, such as conveyor belts, use x-rays instead
of magnetism and will not damage a drive.

■ If you plan to use the computer during a flight, check with

the airline in advance. In-flight computer use is at the
discretion of the airline.

Routine Care 9

Traveling and shipping

■ If the computer will be unused and disconnected from

external power for more than 2 weeks, remove the battery
pack and store it separately.

■ If you are shipping the computer or a drive, place it in a

bubble-pack mailer or other suitable protective packaging and
label the package “FRAGILE.”

■ If the computer has a wireless device or a cell phone device

installed, such as an 802.11 b/g, a Global System for Mobile
Communications (GSM), or a General Packet Radio Service
(GPRS) device, the use of these devices may be restricted in
some environments. Such restrictions may apply aboard
airplanes, in hospitals, near explosives, in hazardous
locations, and so on. If you are uncertain of the policy that
applies to the use of a particular device, ask for authorization
to use it before you turn it on.

■ If you are traveling internationally:

❏ Check the computer-related customs regulations for

each country on your itinerary.

❏ Consult with Customer Care about power cord and

adapter requirements for each location in which you
plan to use the computer. Voltage, frequency, and plug
configurations vary.

To reduce the risk of electric shock, fire, or damage to the

Å

equipment, do not attempt to power the computer with a
voltage converter kit sold for appliances.

Access contact information for Customer Care by selecting

✎

Start > Help and Support.

10 Routine Care

© Copyright 2005 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.

SD Logo is a trademark of its proprietor.

The information contained herein is subject to change without notice. The
only warranties for HP products and services are set forth in the express
warranty statements accompanying such products and services. Nothing
herein should be construed as constituting an additional warranty. HP shall
not be liable for technical or editorial errors or omissions contained herein.

Routine Care
Second Edition October 2005
First Edition April 2005
Document Part Number: 383058-002