Laptops can sometimes be troublesome devices, and anyone who has had either a hardware or software problem with a laptop may have wondered if there was anything they could have done to prevent it. While some problems are unavoidable, there are a few steps that any user can take to help prolong the life of a computer and prevent problems from occurring.

1. Cleaning

Dust and dirt are two of the biggest enemies of a laptop computer. Since dust buildup can sometimes cause overheating, it is important to ensure that it doesn't affect the function of laptop fans or block air circulation. Turn off the laptop, remove the battery, and gently spray compressed air into any vents in the laptop to dislodge any dust buildup every few months.

2. Repairs

If you suspect you may be in need of a laptop repair, don't put it off. In many cases, you may be able to perform the repair yourself. Do a search for Toshiba laptop parts or HP laptop parts, for example, and you may find the replacement parts you need to solve the problem yourself. Putting off a necessary repair could cause more damage to your laptop and lead to more problems down the road.

3. System Maintenance

Not all laptop problems stem from hardware issues. In many cases, users purchase a laptop because their old one has become very slow. This is often caused by software problems. Every few months, uninstall any unnecessary software on your machine, defragment the hard drive, empty the recycle bin, and clean up temporary files. If the system still seems slow, you could consider backing up necessary files, formatting the hard drive, and reinstalling the operating system.

4. Upgrades

As a laptop computer ages, it may not have the performance to handle newer software. This can be a good time to make upgrades to your machine. For most laptops, upgrading the memory to the maximum amount supported is the most cost-effective upgrade. Upgrading the hard drive is also a great way to gain more storage space for files.

At some point every laptop becomes obsolete and will need to be replaced, but if you follow these steps, it will be less likely to be due to hardware or software failure of some kind. With a little extra care, you may find your laptop outlives its expected life.