Waking up to a truck’s interior at 32°, with the outside temperature at 27° requires time for the interior to warm up before expecting my computers to function without issues and danger to the parts. I typically tell people three guidelines when using mobile notebook and Laptops:

• When coming from outside, where temperatures are extremely cold or hot, allow the computer to sit and reach the room temperature before turning it on to prevent condensation or lubricated parts to work properly.
• When not in use, always store in a case or pouch, especially sitting in an automobile, to prevent moisture from corroding the circuit boards.
• It is suggested to operate a computer in the temperature range of 50 and 90 degrees.

         There are three parts affected by extreme temperature, the battery, the cooling fan for the processor, and the processor itself. When operating a computer in the extreme cold the lithium battery may freeze, deterring it to provide its full potential power, and it will have problems charging properly. When in extreme heat, the processor (which normally runs hot will be running hotter than it was designed for, while the cooling fan will be constantly running at its fastest speed to constantly keep the processor cool. This wears or “ages” the motor and processor over time, which may lead to needing repairs sometime down the line.

        I just noticed that on certain models there are tell-tale signs to look for, such as the charging light, when you first plug in your laptop with a power pack. The charging light will blink, meaning that the sensor has noticed a charging issue to the battery. This may not be true for all computer models, but if you notice this, extreme cold may still be affecting the cells in the battery. Unplug the computer and bring the environment to the warmer temperature and wait about twenty minutes. If it continues to blink there simply might be problems with the battery, and it needs replacing.

        In short one last guideline I tell from time to time is if you feel cold or uncomfortably hot to just sit and work, it is most likely the laptop will feel the effects of the temperature as you do.