The specialist warned about the risks of turning on the laptop after frost

In winter, laptops are often subjected to severe stress due to sudden temperature changes, especially if the device has been outdoors or in a cold car for a long time. Artem Pishchulin, brand communications manager for the Russian computer manufacturer iRU, told Izvestia on January 31 about what happens to equipment in the cold and how to reduce the risk of breakdowns.

According to him, the cold primarily affects materials and electronic components.

"Electronic components and printed circuit boards are designed to operate in a certain temperature range, and with strong cooling, the resistance of the circuits changes, the grease in the fans thickens, and the battery loses its ability to efficiently discharge charge," the expert explained.

A particular danger is the abrupt return of the device to heat. When a cooled laptop enters the room, condensation may form on the internal parts. Moisture settles on the board and connectors, increasing the risk of a short circuit or unstable operation of the power supply. If you try to turn on the laptop immediately, the protection system may block the launch, or the electronics will temporarily malfunction, Pishchulin explained.

Most often, according to him, the motherboard, controllers and power connectors located closer to the edges of the board suffer from temperature fluctuations. The keyboard and touchpad remain vulnerable, as moisture can accumulate under them. Over time, this can lead to microcorrosion and failures that will only appear after a few weeks or months.

One of the most sensitive elements remains the battery. At low temperatures, lithium-ion batteries dramatically lose their capacity and ability to produce current, which can cause the laptop to unexpectedly shut down or not start at all. Regular storage or use of the battery in the cold accelerates its degradation and shortens its service life, the expert emphasized.

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After staying outside, the specialist recommends that you take your time to turn on the equipment.

"It's better to wait at least one to two hours for the laptop to warm up naturally. If it has been in sub—zero temperatures for a long time, for example in a car, it is important to leave it off, not connect it to the power supply and not open the lid until possible condensation inside the case has evaporated," said the specialist.

Among the typical mistakes of users in winter, he called turning on the laptop immediately after the cold, carrying it without a waterproof case, storing it in an unheated car and working in the cold with a charger connected, which creates an additional load on the power system.

According to the expert, it is possible to use a laptop outdoors in winter only for a short time and at temperatures acceptable by the manufacturer. It is advisable to protect the device from wind and moisture and remember that the battery runs out faster in the cold. For continuous operation in such conditions, specialized models designed for operation at low temperatures are better suited.

To reduce the risk of breakdowns and extend the service life of equipment in the cold season, Pishchulin advises carrying laptops in insulated bags, always giving them time to adapt to room temperature and, if used regularly in the cold, undergo preventive diagnostics in the service to identify possible traces of moisture or corrosion at an early stage.

On August 28, Pishchulin told Izvestia how to upgrade home computers for educational tasks. The expert calls replacing the HDD with an SSD one of the most effective updates — many users can perform this upgrade on their own. It is also relatively easy to install additional RAM if there is a free slot. However, with compact systems such as nettops and monoblocks, you should be careful: in some models, access to the components is difficult and disassembly requires professional skills. In such cases, it is better to contact the service to avoid damage to fragile parts.

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