Last Updated on October 11, 2019 by Dave Farquhar
I always burn in my computers. But how do you burn-in an Android?
Here’s what burn-in means, if you’re unaware. When you first buy a computer, the very best thing you can do for it is leave it on for 24 hours nonstop, preferably doing something that’s reasonably hard work. That practice is called burning in a computer. If there’s anything at all wrong with it, there’s a very good chance it will come up in that initial 24 hour period. I’ve been doing that for more than 20 years, and of all the computers I’ve owned in that timeframe–and it’s an army of them, believe me–I’ve only had one machine fail prematurely. One.
The practice works.
So what about a tablet or a smartphone?
They don’t look like a traditional computers, but they have a CPU, RAM, and solid-state storage just like an expensive laptop. They benefit from the same treatment.
So, the very best thing you can do for that new phone or tablet once you get it home is to plug it in, download Stability Test, and run its classic stress test any time you’re not actively using it. Make sure the phone or tablet is doing something for 24 continuous hours very early in its life. If it doesn’t hang or crash at all during this period, then you know you have a good device. It improves reliability and at the very least increases your confidence when you buy an unfamiliar brand, like Blu, or Digiland.
What if it does hang or crash? Well, assuming you haven’t modified it at all, take it back for an exchange. Tell customer service that it freezes up when it’s working hard, like during a long Angry Birds session.
I don’t just do this on tablets. Like I’ve mentioned, I’ve been doing this on my computers since 1991. I also burn in game consoles before giving them as gifts. It saves me a lot of hassle and heartache in the long run. And it’s cheaper than buying extended warranties.
David Farquhar is a computer security professional, entrepreneur, and author. He started his career as a part-time computer technician in 1994, worked his way up to system administrator by 1997, and has specialized in vulnerability management since 2013. He invests in real estate on the side and his hobbies include O gauge trains, baseball cards, and retro computers and video games. A University of Missouri graduate, he holds CISSP and Security+ certifications. He lives in St. Louis with his family.