Little Dog Tech Logo
CALL US
515-422-1995
5946 Ashworth Rd.
West Des Moines, IA 50266
  • Home
  • Remote Support
  • Services
    • Residential Services
    • Business Services
  • Pricing
  • About
  • Reviews
  • Contact Us
  • Blog
  • Partners

How to Know if a Laptop Screen Is Damaged

August 30, 2022 by Paul Schwegler

You may not see broken glass, but you can know the laptop screen is damaged because you experience:

  • distorted images;
  • pixelization;
  • resolution lines
  • backlighting issues;
  • a blank screen.

You might want to turn that laptop into a piece of art. The screen, after all, is now showing very psychedelic, colorful images. If you have an LCD screen, the liquid inside might have spread, which can make deciphering your text or graphics like reading a Rorschach test.

Whether you want to get artistic with that laptop or not, replacing the entire laptop is one way to go, but it’s also the most expensive response. Ideally, you can avoid this approach. So, what’s left to do?

What to do with a damaged screen

If the laptop is under warranty, and the screen wasn’t dropped or damaged by you, you may be able to send it back to the manufacturer for repair.

Otherwise, you may be able to replace just the screen. The difficulty in replacing a screen depends on the manufacturer and laptop model. There are many screws and very fine cables that are easily snapped, and it’s going to be safer to go to a professional. Of course, you will also need to determine whether anything else was damaged.

Screen replacement is still a costly option. In fact, it may be more expensive than a new laptop. Plus, you might be without your laptop for several days while it is in for repair or even longer if you take it to a big-box store, where they will send it away for attention. That’s one reason to prefer a local repair shop.

Another option is to attach your laptop to an external monitor. This method has its own pros and cons.

It’s a more affordable option and can see you through finishing that report that’s due tomorrow.

The problem? This undermines the mobility of a laptop unless you want to walk around carting a monitor and its cords. Also, you may find the original, broken screen gets in the way.

Avoid damaging your laptop

Of course, we’re also going to share strategies to help avoid breaking the screen in the first place. Try these tips:

  • Never open or close the lid by one corner. Instead, use one hand to close the lid from the center, or hold the keyboard as the other hand opens the lid.
  • Don’t leave a laptop attached to cords that someone can trip over and bring the computer crashing down.
  • Avoid overheating your computer, as it can burn the laptop’s screen.

The price you’ll pay to deal with a broken screen will vary based on brand and model, as well as what’s gone wrong. Check with a local computer repair shop for an estimate and get back up and running. Call us now at (515)422-1995.

Filed Under: Maintenance, Residential, Tips Tagged With: Damage, Laptop, repair, residential

Share:

5 Tips to Protect Your Laptop from Physical Damage

April 13, 2021 by Paul Schwegler

A laptop can hold your life. If you’re working from home, it’s essential to your income. For students, it’s where you keep all your notes and essays. Plus, there are personal photos and videos. And you sometimes use it to stream your TV shows, or to video chat with friends and family. You may even make music, create art, or be writing the next bestselling novel on your laptop. So, you want to keep it in great shape. Here are five tips to protect your laptop.

#1 Don’t drop it

Or throw it, or stand on it, or expect it to withstand any serious impact. OK, that’s pretty obvious. You also don’t want to use your laptop in the bathtub or at the pool. Even a simple water spill on a laptop can damage the circuitry. If you do get your laptop wet, immediately turn it off and unplug everything attached to it.

#2 Open carefully

Laptops are getting thinner in every iteration. Some now even have foldable screens. The thinner and more flexible screen may look sleek and cool, but it’s also less rigid, which makes it more prone to damage. Especially on lower-cost laptops, the screen can flex if you open the computer up from just one side.

Yet, many of us hold a laptop in one hand and open the lid with the other. This can cause the screen to twist. Use both hands to open the laptop. Or get into the habit of opening your laptop from the center to avoid flex.

#3 Don’t bedazzle your keyboard or screen

Alright, maybe you weren’t planning on putting faux rhinestones on the screen or keyboard. Still, reconsider any decorations you have thought of adding. Even a keyboard protector (to prevent dust or spills from getting into the circuitry) or camera privacy sticker could damage some of the new super-thin laptops. It’s just that there is now so little clearance between the keyboard and the screen.

If you really must have your stickers, put them on the protective sleeve that you get for your laptop.

#4 Disconnect carefully

Your laptop needs a consistent power source. If you damage the power cord connection, you’re done. So, make sure you pull the power cord out straight. Yanking it out sideways could damage the port.

Also be aware of where your power cord is connecting to the wall outlet. If you leave the cord trailing along the floor, someone could trip over it, or it could get caught on a rolling chair. This could not only damage the charging port but even pull the entire laptop onto the floor. That brings us back to #1, don’t drop the laptop!

#5 Keep it cool

No, you don’t have to store it into a refrigerator (please don’t!), but heat isn’t good for your laptop. You’ll want to keep your computer away from external sources of heat.

Again, as the laptops get thinner, they are more vulnerable to internal overheating. Ensure that the laptop’s intake ports are unblocked so that air can flow through and cool the circuitry. You might also blow dust out of the vents using canned air.

Also, avoid placing your laptop on very soft surfaces. A soft, uneven surface is more likely to block the internal fans. This leaves your device unable to regulate its temperature. You could even buy a laptop cooling stand, which provides extra fans to improve air circulation.

The average laptop lifespan will vary between two to five years. Keep your laptop on the longer side of that by taking these tips to heart.

If something does happen to your laptop, give us a call at (515)422-1995. Our IT experts are here to help you find the best laptop for you, upgrade and secure your laptop, or fix your laptop when you need it.

Filed Under: Residential, Tips Tagged With: Damage, hardware, Laptop, residential

Share:

Contact Form

Before submitting your question, you must review and agree to the Little Dog Tech Terms of Service.

Search for Something!

Click to see our BBB Report

FOLLOW US

VISIT US

Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2023 · Little Dog Tech · 5946 Ashworth Rd. , West Des Moines, IA 50266