Dear Geek,
The inevitable is coming, winter. With the cold weather, should I be worried about leaving my laptop in my car or having my computer in a room that’s cold?
Signed,
Mr. Freeze
Dear Mr. Freeze,
The cold itself won’t damage your computer, however, drastic temperature changes from cold to warm can cause condensation in the computer, which can. For example, accidentally leaving a laptop in your car overnight during winter, bringing it inside, and immediately turning on to see if anyone has read the new chapter of your Star Wars fan-fiction isn’t a good idea. Immediately turning the computer on once you bring it inside, can cause damage by condensation.
It’s best to avoid situations like this. If it happens, it’s a good idea to leave your computer off for several minutes (at least 30 minutes, longer if it’s below zero) before turning it on. If the computer is a laptop, it’s a good idea to keep it in a laptop carrying case, so it has an extra insulating layer.
If you are really worried about the temperature, you can check with the computer manufacturer for their recommended operating temperatures.
If you have a question for our Resident Geek, send it to: geek@tbyd.ca. We’ll translate it from Geek-lish to English, so it actually helps!
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