Some Important Laptop Reminders

It's that time of year when you'll be leaving campus for the summer months and taking your laptop home with you. Here are a few items to check before you leave, and some helpful hints to keep in mind both while you're traveling and once you get home.

A Few Gentle Reminders

These might seem a bit obvious, but we find they always bear repeating. At no time should you ever:

• Use or store your laptop at temperatures above 95° F or below 41° F.

• Keep your laptop in your car, especially when the outside temperature starts to warm up. It doesn't take long for the internal temperature of your car to rise to levels that can damage your machine.

• Use your laptop in or near water.

• Carry your laptop in a tightly packed bag.

Before You Leave Campus...

• Make sure your laptop is in good working condition.

• Run Windows Update by clicking on the Start button and scrolling up to select the Windows Update menu option. When the MS Windows Update appears, click on Product Updates; a list of components should appear on the screen, and you can then decide which components you wish to download. Be sure to download any Critical Updates recommended for your system.

• Make sure your Virus Scan software is up-to-date with the latest .dat files.

• Scan your system for viruses.

• Run the System File Checker and Registry Checker. To do this, click on the Start button, select the Programs option, scroll up to Accessories, click on System Tools, and select the System Information option. Next, click on Tools on the System Information menu bar, and select System File Checker and/or Registry Checker.

Before You Leave the Country...

If you plan to be traveling with your laptop outside of the United States, you must call IBM's domestic International Warranty Service number at 1-800-497-7426 for a registered warranty certificate. If you're calling from outside of the United States, contact IBM at (248) 740-1215.

Keep in mind that, upon registration, IBM will issue a certificate which is recognized worldwide by IBM resellers. This certificate will authorize warranty service by IBM resellers in whatever country you, the customer, are located at the time.

If You'll be Going through an Airport...

• Before you depart, check your laptop computer's battery and make sure it's fully charged. The airport security checkpoint personnel may ask you to turn on the computer to prove it isn't a suspicious device.

• Never let your laptop case out of your sight, especially when talking on the phone. Keep your hands on it or keep it over your shoulder at all times. Thieves are just watching and waiting for an opportunity to steal your laptop.

• Whenever possible, avoid lines when entering an airport's X-ray check point metal detector. And when you absolutely cannot avoid lines, delay placing your luggage and laptop on the conveyor belt until you know you will be the next person passing through the detector. As you move through, keep your eyes on the conveyor belt and watch for your luggage and laptop to come through. In addition, watch to see what the other people in front of you pick up off the conveyor belt.

  Alternatively, hand your laptop carrying case to the airport security guard, rather than put it on the conveyor belt. Thieves, working in teams, have been known to create distractions to potentially delay you from getting to your case after it passes through the X-ray machine. This type of scam involves two or three suspects who look for an unsuspecting traveler carrying a laptop who is approaching a security checkpoint. The first suspect stalls until the victim places his or her laptop on the conveyor belt, then quickly moves through the metal detector as the second suspect sets off the detector alarm. As the second suspect begins the slow process of emptying their pockets, the first suspect is taking your laptop as it appears at the far end of the conveyor belt, and can be well out of the area before you even know what has happened.

So, remember....never let your laptop out of your sight!

Once You're Home...

• Make sure the battery is fully charged before you store your laptop, if you don't plan to use it for an extended length of time.

• Treat the screen with extreme care. The replacement cost of a screen is over $1,000.00.

If You Need to Get Repairs While Off-Campus...

If you find that your laptop does require service while you're off-campus, you have several options:

• You can call IBM for assistance. For domestic calls, call 1-800-497-7426; from outside the US, call (248) 740-1215.

• You can return your machine to:

  	Rensselaer Computer Repair
          Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
          VCC 115
          110 Eighth Street
          Troy, NY  12180-3590
  

  RCR will repair your machine under warranty, but you will be responsible for paying all shipping, customs fees, insurance, and other handling charges. NOTE: If you do return your machine, you should insure it at its suggested retail replacement cost; please refer to the URL http://www.rpi.edu/dept/computer_store to access the Campus Computer Store's price information.

• And if you're off-campus but within the United States, you may choose to take your machine to a local IBM reseller for service.

We hope that our laptop users will find these reminders and tips useful...have a great summer! And if you'll be traveling...bon voyage!

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