laptop: Should one plug the AC first or to the laptop first [closed]

Solution 1:

Most circuits in modern laptops should be able to handle both situations.

However, looking at the situation, plugging into the laptop first and then plugging into the wall is no different than plugging any piece of eqt. in that doesn't have an adapter. The brick/adapter will handle the contact/make/break as the plug slides in.

In a poorly design system if you connect the adaptor after the fact, there will be contact make/break and the DC supply will bounce around. This causes false starts and resets.

But like I started out with, this shouldn't be an issue with modern designs because they are designed to handle it. Years ago it would have been an issue, perhaps that is why people still think it's important.

Solution 2:

It must be safest to plug or unplug leads into the laptop when no power is present. This makes it potentially less harmful to the laptop if you somehow manage to misalign or short conductors when pushing the connector in. However, connectors are designed to prevent this sort of problem - so it should be rare unless you use an inordinate amount of force.

Turning on

plug power lead into laptop
plug power lead into electrical outlet
switch on at electrical outlet (if applicable in your locale)
switch on at laptop

Turning off

switch off laptop
switch off at outlet (if applicable)
remove plug from laptop
remove plug from outlet

In reality I expect unplugging is rarely a cause of any problems. You might theoretically draw a small spark from a live conductor which could cause problems.

Solution 3:

As someone who has worked on systems for over a decade, I have yet to see a situation where either order matters. Even on really old laptops I've never seen or heard of issues regarding order of connectivity.