2014 has brought with it historically freezing cold weather. Thankfully our computers are keeping us warm, otherwise we may have to rename ourselves to Shiver Net Computers…or maybe even Blizzard Net Computers?
Cold Weather Tips for Laptops
Regular laptops have been designed to work within a safe temperature range – normally 50 to 95 degrees F (10 – 35 degrees C). This range refers both to optimal usage temperature of the outside environment and the temperature the laptop should be warmed to before using. Protecting your laptop from cold weather is important and you should know how to protect your laptop from cold weather. Protect yourself and your laptop from the damage cold weather can cause.
Ruggedized Laptops
If your budget allows, purchase or lease a ruggedized laptop if you will be outside in cold temperatures for extended periods of time. Ruggedized laptops have been designed to work under extreme weather conditions. When you rely on your laptop and can’t count on the weather to co-operate – a ruggedized laptop is worth considering. Most ruggedized laptops have been tested according to MIL-STD-810F standards.
Careful Storage
Never leave a laptop, even in a well-padded and insulated laptop case in the trunk of vehicle in cold weather. The laptop could freeze and you lose all data contained in it.
Let It Warm Up
Once you bring a laptop in from the cold – allow it to warm up to room temperature before booting. The same is true when you go outdoors – allow the laptop to acclimatize to the outside temperature before booting up.
Incorrect Warming Methods
Do not use devices such as mug warmers, pocket warmers or hair dryers to heat or keep a laptop warm. They are not designed for this purpose and can create problems as they will not heat or keep a laptop warm in the right way. They could heat the wrong parts of a laptop or cause it to generate too much heat and melt internal components.Stay Out of the Cold
Whenever possible stay out of direct exposure to cold weather conditions by staying in a vehicle, inside a building or other type of shelter. Protecting your laptop from excessive dampness or wet from snow will keep your keyboard from freezing and other problems from developing.
Change Power Settings
By changing the power settings from power save mode will help keep the laptop warm as it continues to run. Instead of having the hard drive shut down, keep it spinning. The longer the laptop can be kept left running, the warmer it will stay as it generates its own heat.
Stay Out of the Cold
Whenever possible stay out of direct exposure to cold weather conditions by staying in a vehicle, inside a building or other type of shelter. Protecting your laptop from excessive dampness or wet from snow will keep your keyboard from freezing and other problems from developing.
So what should you if your laptop is left in the cold?
The first step is simply to let the computer thaw. The laptop should be at room temperature before you power it on. If the laptop is in sleep mode, you should avoid even opening the laptop, since that may automatically wake the computer. Even once the computer gets to room temperature, it may have condensation on it because of the change in temperature. If your computer looks wet, you can either dry it using a hair dryer at low power, place a dehumidifier by the laptop, or simply let it dry naturally. If you turn on your computer when it is wet, it may short one or more electrical connections, which could cause the laptop to stop functioning.
Laptops don’t like being left in the cold, but fortunately, most portable computers are built to withstand freezing temperatures. Still, it’s important to remember that laptops can be damaged when they are used in extremely cold conditions. Letting your computer thaw allows the liquid in the LCD to work correctly and the hard drive to spin properly. Letting the moisture evaporate ensures that excess water will not affect the electronic connections. Therefore, a little patience can go a long way in helping your computer recover from the cold.
