Need advice on my new notebook

So I've bought an asus n71Jq: Newegg.com - ASUS N71JQ-X1 NoteBook Intel Core i7 720QM(1.60GHz) 17.3" 4GB Memory DDR3 1066 500GB HDD 7200rpm DVD Super Multi ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5730

I'll be operating this thing in 30~42 C temperatures (summers in India) and in highly dusty and humid conditions.

In case I need to state it once again, I am going to be using this comp in India

I need some advice regarding some of my questions:

1. What can I and should I do with this laptop?

2. What can't I and shouldn't I do with this laptop?

3. How should I go about cleaning it up? (Cans of compressed air aren't available here so please no suggestions for that; Any non-static mini-vacs? Don't want to blow the dust back in.)

4. As far as I know there is only one major heat vent on the top left side of the laptop and it releases a lot of heat. Even while working on the desktop it will be warm and then occasionally all of a sudden it will release a large burst of heat. Any remedies for that?

(I'm considering a cooling pad with fans: Can you give me any model names or specifications for such a thing?)

5. How would I go about maintaining it to optimal performance?

6. What software should I install on it?

A list of the programs I am considering installing is:
Avast!
CCleaner
Free Download Manager
Malwarebytes' Anti-malware
Firefox
Spybot S&D
Hijackthis

Any advice on these?

7. Any suggestions for heat monitoring and battery saving programs?

8. Any suggestions for the power settings? I haven't tried it but I really don't think the battery will last more than 1 hour if I play games on it, even in the battery saving mode.

9. Is there some way for me to claim an OS cd if I present the key at a microsoft office? If not, are the recovery methods described in this .pdf equally as good:http://dlcdnet.asus.com/pub/ASUS/nb/...N71J_UM_EN.pdf

Will it still work properly because I've been modifying the programs list on the laptop quite a bit? Not in C:/ drive but still...

10. Also whenever I try to connect to any broadband connection (through LAN port) it keeps giving me Error 651. I honestly do not know what is the problem because I've tried it with a bunch of different modems including the modem at my home which works fine with my desktop. Can anyone offer any help with that? My desktop uses XP Pro and the laptop uses Windows 7 Home Basic.

 

hey dunno the answer to all your queries but here are a few..
3. compressed air cans are available in india either at staples or you can order online from primeabgb. very good for cleaning out fans. i suggest u use a pin to stop the fan before blowing the air otherwise you could ruin your fan's bearings.
cyberclean putty is also available at staples and some other stores, very good for cleaning the KB and some other nooks..

4. a cooling pad is a good idea, it kinda acts like a dust filter too..
aluminium pads which are usually the best are useless in india unless you sit in an A/C room all the time coz the aluminium needs to be cool to be effective. i suggest the Cooler master Ax, its a good pad with a large cooling area and high enough cfm

6. i find microsoft security essentials pretty good performance and memory consumption wise..

9. its legal to download an image of windows and use your key on it. there were links somewhere in the forum(search for it..). Although the manufacturer restore will restore with all the originally installed apps..

 

7. Get Hwinfo for monitoring heat and processor performance. Get AMD GPU clock tool if you want to manually downclock your GPU to make the battery last a little longer.

 

Staples?? I didn't realize such a store was present in India. Do you know if there is one in New Delhi? That's the only major city I have access to.

So how is the cooling pad a dust filter? Is the Cooler Master Ax the only one you would suggest as in it's pretty much the best for a good price? How much would I get it for here?

So does it matter which one I use or is there no difference? Also will the method described in the .pdf still work even though I have been using the computer for a while?

EDIT: How do I know the key isn't for an OEM? Call me stupid but I just need to ask. It didn't say OEM on the bottom with the label with the key but still....

For those who just took a look right now, my questions still stand for other suggestions.

Will do.

EDIT: Which versions of Windows 7 will my key work with and which languages? I bought the laptop with home basic Chinese version and had to use vistalizator to change the language. I'd like to avoid this if I could.

Also, @Kurt, is this the thread I was supposed to be searching for: http://forum.notebookreview.com/win...-7-download-links-just-like-vista-before.html
Or is there another one?

 

Bumping cause I am still a bit clueless about everything.

Also can I test whatever is mentioned in the link to the thread in my previous post without uninstalling OSes from my computers. I don't want to screw anything up.

 

1. Use it as one uses a computer
2. Hammer nails, make milkshakes, throw it off a balcony.

 

Staples in TGIP mall, Noida had them in stock..

the metal mesh traps some of the dust and larger particles

yup that's the thread..

and the link to the pdf is broken, but i'm pretty sure it uses the hidden partition method so you can use that whenever you want, as long as you don't del the partition or the hdd doesnt crash..
it must come with a AI recovery burner program( like on my g73) to burn the backup partition on DVDs, do that for extra security..

 

i don't know if this is staples staples new delhi - Google Maps

 

Look at the attachment for what it said in the .pdf. I still am not sure which method to rely on.
Especially considering that since I bought the laptop in China restore through this method would restore the laptop to factory settings including the Chinese language but would allow me to retain factory programs such as MS Office whereas Installing a clean one would allow me to have an English OS but none of the other programs I may need in the future such as MS Office.

EDIT: Also, I heard about undervolting the components to save battery. What are the things I should consider before going through with this? I don't want to accidentally fry my laptop components or something like that if go about it incorrectly or do something as an inexperienced user.

 

yes acc to the document it recovers through a hidden partition, it doesnt matter if you bought it in china, you can always change language.. it'll recover to exact same state you bought it in..

 

Any advice on the undervolting thing?

 

amd gpu clock tool. Theres also a vbios courtesy of ziddy in the forums.

 

Just a bit confused about the undervolting thing, I hear in some places that the mobile i7 series can't be undervolted, or at least the 720QM can't. Is that true?

Should I disable hyperthreading to reduce heat? I'm only using it for playing games and I am not aware of whether any games use more than four cores. Are there any??

Also should I consider overclocking anything, CPU, GPU, etc.?

 

Bumping for knowledge.

 

I wouldn't. Is the option even there? I don't imagine there would be much (if any) reduction in heat.