Building Skills: Laptop Service Workshop by Automotive Society 

Review by Cheruka Rajanayake & Mr Subash Dhanasekara (Automotive Society) 
 
A workshop was organized by the Automotive Society, to raise awareness on basic procedures to follow in using and maintaining laptops. This workshop was primarily for students and academic staff.  

Since laptops have become the main type of computers in use today among both students and  teachers, and considering the fact that the cost of new laptops has risen above the financial scope of many of us, we thought that it would be very useful if we could educate them on good practices of laptop usage, which will essentially elongate their usable life, and increase their MTTF (Mean Time To Failure).  

The workshop was planned as a two-day session, but many opted for the session on Friday which was held on 11^th of October, from 2.00 p.m. to 4.30 p.m. at the Napier Hall. It was conducted as a practical demonstration  targeting an audience of about 20 heads.  
 
Master Cheruka Rajanayake, the President of the Automotive Society conducted the practical demonstration of dismantling a laptop and servicing it, while imparting valuable practical knowledge on the process, while Mr. Subash Dhanasekara, MIC of the Automotive Society added the necessary theoretical components. 

Three laptops were serviced on-site, a Dell Vostro, HP and a modern era Dell Laptop from one of the attending masters. Participants were educated on the following aspects: 

1. Cleaning processes of a laptop.  
2. Disassembling techniques and methods.  
3. Servicing the internal components (Fans, motherboards etc).  
4. Upgrading a laptop.  
5. Power management and battery maintenance.  
6. Re-assembling and testing.  
7. Tools and equipment.  

Session concluded with all the three laptops being re-assembled and releasing for use.