Bringing a laptop back to life

I’m going to be really Green this month and impart a little knowledge that might be of some assistance.
It’s been ten years or so now since I got me first laptop computer and boy did it impress! To be anyone you had to have a laptop. You could be sitting in a bus station or on a train twiddling thumbs with strangers not passing you a second glance but as soon as the laptop was whipped out it was clear you were no Johnny six pack. To passersby you could have been a Nuclear Scientist, Chief State Solicitor or Head of Complicated Surgery at some centre for complicated surgery. Today it’s all different. For a start, there is probably more memory capacity in my daughter’s IPod thingy than was in my then state-of-the-art IBM laptop. Laptops are so commonplace they are even giving them away to county councillors. Well, Clare County Council gave me one - a Dell with about ten times the RAM, twenty times quicker with broadband and wireless connectivity capacity and half the size and weight of my old IBM. Ok, I am not impressing any one with that kind of talk but my old laptop was put to one side and was gathering dust. That was until the other day.
As an IBM it’s a solid machine that never let me down but, as is the way with computers, they get bogged down and slow for a number of reasons. Here are the four things I did and, you know, my old laptop is running like a top.

1. Reinstall the operating System
   If you have the CDs reinstall the Windows Operating System it came with (newer versions of Windows will run badly on old hardware) If you don’t have the CDs, download a version of the Linux OS. Linux is a free operating system that is less susceptible to spyware and viruses. Try www.knoppix.org.
2. Boost Memory
   Make sure that Windows Virtual Memory is on and that the hard drive isn’t full.
3. Clean the Hard Drive
   Run Windows’ built in hard drive utilities such as Scandisk, Disk Defragmenter, System File checker and Disk Clean Up. This is found under Start – Programs – Accessories – System – Tools. If you are reinstalling the OS reformat the drive first.
4. Save the Battery
   Remove the Battery and clean all the electrical contacts with a dry swab. Then try completely draining it and recharging it four or five times in a row. If that doesn’t help place it in a plastic bag for 12 hours. Remove it, wipe off any condensation, and let it sit for 12 to 24 hours before performing more charge/ discharge cycles.

Now I need to warn people that I am not a computer expert but the above four steps has added extra life to what is still a handy bit of kit . Also note that if the motherboard or screen is damaged, don’t bother doing anything. Replacing either one is more hassle than buying a new system.