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How to Care for Computer Plugs

“Perhaps,” spoke Chaya, “working on the computer is not the best thing for you.” I had just told her that I had broken another computer, and I am sure she is beginning to identify a pattern: technology has a habit of breaking down when in my hands. I am not particularly rough with my possessions, [...]

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“Perhaps,” spoke Chaya, “working on the computer is not the best thing for you.”

I had just told her that I had broken another computer, and I am sure she is beginning to identify a pattern: technology has a habit of breaking down when in my hands.

I am not particularly rough with my possessions, and I treat my computers as if they are delicate little babies, but, for some reason, my computers and cameras continuously break.

The new incident:

The plug insert at the back of my laptop kicked the bucket.

I noticed this occurring for the past month. Sometimes when I plugged the computer into an electrical outlet it would not take any juice. Then, a couple of days ago, I ran into my room and grabbed my laptop. I picked it up and withdrew the cord from its rear and heard a slight “crack.”

I plugged it back in, it did not work. I tried a different electrical jack, it did not work.

I called up my brother in law, Rory the sedentary office hero, the next day. I went over to his house and took the computer apart. I looked in horror an the dismembered parts of one of my main companions and gently stroked its pieces. It was pure horror to see the insides of my laptop on the outside. I am sure that this feeling would be akin to stumbling upon the remains of a destroyed human: innards simply do not belong on the outside.

But I sucked up my freight and acted like I was under composure.



The insides – the guts – of my fallen Asus Eee PC. The problem is small and can be fixed, it will just take a little time.

After his initial analysis, Rory determined that the problem was the plug insert and that I would need to replace it.

“It can be done,” he said, “but it will take some time.”

I do not have any time. I am leaving for the far side of the planet on Wednesday.

Travel tip: be careful with the plug insert on laptops when traveling.

A trip of the cord, a drop, or a careless unplugging can leave your laptop unusable.

I will have this computer fixed, but in the meantime, I will have to rig up a spare laptop for the initial stages of this next round of traveling.

How to remove plug from a laptop computer:

Be sure to always slowly remove the plug from a laptop computer and pull it out straight. Try not to yang the cord from side to side when removing it – this will loosen and eventually ruin the plug insert.

Travel tip: be careful removing the electric cord on laptops when traveling.

The faltering of a simple and cheap part of the computer can leave it unusable and, in many parts of the world, unfixable.

As always, take this travel tip and use it, or call me a fool and never visit Vagabondjourney.com again.

Walk Slow,

Wade

Filed under: Travel Gear, Travel Tips

About the Author:

I am the founder and editor of Vagabond Journey. I’ve been traveling the world since 1999, through 91 countries. I am the author of the book, Ghost Cities of China and have written for The Guardian, Forbes, Bloomberg, The Diplomat, the South China Morning Post, and other publications. has written 3699 posts on Vagabond Journey. Contact the author.

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VBJ is currently in: New York City

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