Ideapad Y470 Maintenance

Hey, so I recently ordered the y470 and I was wondering if I can get some tips on on how to maintain so that I don't do any damage to the hardware. In particular, I tend to put my [current] laptop in sleep mode at night before I go to sleep, and I rarely shut it off. Should I be shutting down instead of sleep? Whether I put it in sleep mode or I shut it down for the night, i should never leave the AC charger plugged in, correct?

Also, any tips on cleaning the laptop incase it gets dirty? I have a bunch of compressed air cans, but is there a laptop cleaning kit I should look into?

Thanks

 

If it's plugged all the time, fully charge the battery and remove the battery. Just make sure you check on the battery if it's not in use every month so to see if it needs recharging, try and not let the battery deplete pass 20%.

As for cleaning the fan blades, compressed air cans should work the best. Here's how I would do it:

- Turn off the laptop, remove the battery and unplug the power cable

- Remove the bottom cover (if you want to extra careful, remove all connect peripherals eg. WiFi card, memory hard drive and SSD if applicable)

- Get the thin tube like vacuum tip head and vacuum the blades

- Using a dry mouth (swallow all saliva) or compressed air can, blow hard on to the blades several times (compress air only needs 2 quick blows)

- Again using the same vacuum tip head and vacuum the blades

- Re-install all peripherals (optional if applicable), remount the bottom cover (if you want to repeat the procedure to not tighten the screws), reinsert the battery and connect the power cable

*- Boot the machine into Windows and put the fan control in to de-dusting mode, let run for 10 - 20 minutes

- Shutdown the machine and repeat the procedure if you want if not let machine stand (off) for 5 minutes


PS. You can also choose to run the fan control de-dusting mode before the first step and once again at *- if you want to be extra clean and dazzly, two runs of de-dusting should only be 10 minutes each time reduced from one run. Remember to turn the fan controller back to normal when the whole cleaning procedure is done in Windows.

 

I usually unplug when I'm not using the computer especially when going to bed. If you leave your computer on for that long you should clean it more often (3-6 months) since leaving your computer on attracts a lot of dust and really get those components inside heated, and that will either damage the components or shorten it's lifespam.

Frankly, I have never cleaned out a laptop before and I just ordered my first one ever and it should arrive next Wednesday. However, I am experienced with cleaning my desktop out every 6-12 months before it died.

I use an air compressor to force all the dust out from the heatsink fans and it should work the same as those compressed air cans, with the exception of not having to replace them. I would unplug the cord from the PSU on my desktop and turn off the switch before disassembling it. With a laptop I read that you should press the power button after disconnecting the cord from the wall socket and laptop to remove any charge left. I usually keep the fan held in place so it remains stationary when the compressed air is blown at it, and use a vaccuum to suck up the dust that comes out from it.

Personally, I wouldn't use my breath to blow out the dust on electronic components. It's either you spend a few dollars on compressed air or you get saliva on hundred dollar electronics.

For more details you can look up the cleaning thread on this forum. I'll edit my post with the link if I can find it.

GL!

P.S. I bought an air compressor just to clean out my computer.

 

thanks for the tips guys...so about putting the laptop in sleep as opposed to shutting it off, what do you guys recommend? Which is better for the life of the laptop?

 

I've always blown dust off things like my motherboard and other stuff, totally safe of you make sure your mouth is dry and let the component your cleaning sit for 5 minutes after your done thus my last step.

OP says he puts the laptop in sleep mode and even if doesn't I'm pretty sure Windows will do on it's own depending which Power Options is in use.

@ achieve1

Google up 'Windows 7 Hybrid Sleep' and enable on your laptop, this make sure that your Windows session is also temporarily saved onto your hard drive too thus if in case of accidental removal if power plug or power loss your data is not lost or gets corrupt.

 

oh ok..thanks