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When it comes to laptop repair, few things are worse than a dead laptop. Once a laptop does not turn on or respond in any way, it is difficult to even diagnose any kind of problem. Here, we will explore some common issues that can lead to a dead laptop if not addressed ahead of time, in the hopes that you can avoid a costly repair or replacement in the future.

The most common cause of a “dead” laptop is the laptop systemboard or motherboard. Because the systemboard controls input and output of data to and from each component, and also controls the power to each component, a problem with the systemboard often means a laptop will not respond when turned on. Many problems are caused by overheating, which can often be avoided by periodically cleaning dust from all fans and vents, and keeping good ventilation to the laptop at all times.

Many dead laptops are caused by a bad battery or a faulty AC adapter. If the laptop is not receiving power, or is receiving the wrong voltage, for example, it may not even turn on or respond. Check the AC adapter periodically for damage to cables or the transformer, and test your battery with battery monitoring software to avoid these problems in the future.

Less frequently, a dead laptop can be cause by a failing laptop CPU. This can also be caused by overheating, as the CPU creates a high amount of heat inside the laptop. Most often, however, a CPU problem manifests as a laptop that crashes or gives errors, rather than one that is dead. If you suspect that you may have a CPU issue, its best to take the machine into a repair center for diagnosis, as they will have the tools and parts to address the problem you are having with minimal investment on your part.

Defective laptop memory is not often directly a cause of a dead laptop, but memory that fails or is inserted incorrectly can sometimes result in damage to the systemboard, which can cause the laptop to cease functioning properly. Always be sure you are inserting memory correctly by lining up the notch and pins, and ensure that the memory is compatible with your specific model.

By keeping these common problems in mind and keeping an eye out for them, you can often avoid a major problem before it begins, saving yourself the time and money of a costly repair. Spending just a few minutes on prevention can help your laptop to have a much longer and more stable life.

Everyone who has used a computer for an extended amount of time has likely notice that it tends to slow down over time, especially computers running the Windows operating system. There are many causes that can make a computer slow down. Let us look at a few of the main culprits, and what you can do about them.

Software Build-up

The longer you use a computer, the more software that gets installed on it. After a while, this software can begin to build up and slow down the computer. This is especially true of programs that run automatically when the computer is first booted, such as antivirus programs or instant messaging clients. Each of these programs may only use a small percentage of the available RAM and CPU processing power, but add many of them together and it can add up to a lot. They may also eat up hard drive space which will ultimately slow down the PC also. Uninstall as many unnecessary programs as possible in the Control Panel using the Add/Remove Programs utility.

Lack of Memory

A computer or laptop with too little RAM is prone to slow down, especially when too many programs are running at once. When RAM gets full, the computer must use the page file on a hard drive to store open programs. Since transferring data to and from the hard drive is much slower than RAM, this will cause the computer to slow down. Consider adding the maximum amount of RAM your laptop can support for a speed boost. You can check with your laptop manufacturer or a spare parts supplier to see if your machine has room to add more RAM to help improve its overall performance. Also consider disabling or uninstalling programs that run in the background, this can help regardless of any upgrades you do to your machine.

Lack of Free Space

In some cases, lack of free hard disk space can cause a computer to become slower. Try freeing up space by uninstalling unnecessary programs and deleting unnecessary files. Most hard drives operate best with 20% of their storage space free. This allows room for the drive to temporarily swap files when moving and for other necessary tasks. If you cannot delete enough files to free up space, consider upgrading to a larger hard drive. They are available from most online part suppliers at very affordable prices.

Hardware failure

Some pieces of hardware that may be failing or beginning to fail may slow down your machine also. Laptop cooling fans are a common issue, for example the Toshiba laptop fan on the Satellite A15 has a pretty thorough history of failure due to outside contaminates getting into the fan and causing it to spin too slowly or not at all. This type of problem will often cause unresponsiveness from the machine, Windows errors, shutdowns, and often times the dreaded blue screen. The fan is pretty easily replaced by a qualified repair center and is not very labor intensive.

It may seem that computer slowdowns are a necessary fact of life, but following these few tips can help you get your computer running much faster. With the few upgrades and troubleshooting methods mentioned above, you may even find your laptop performs faster than it did out of the box.

 

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Tablets have been around for a number of years, but only in recent years have they become a viable replacement for a laptop computer. With the release of the iPad and similar competing models, many users are ditching their laptops in favor of the portability and simplicity of a tablet. But what are the advantages and disadvantages of making the switch? Let us take a look at some of the most important tradeoffs.

Portability

The main benefit of tablets is their portability. Compared to a laptop, which may weigh from 4 to even a hefty 12 pounds, a typical tablet weighs around 1.5 to 3 pounds, depending on the model. This is a significant savings in weight, especially for a frequent traveler. The slim profile and lack of a keyboard also makes most tablets much more compact and easier to use in tight spaces, like an airplane seat.

Keyboard and Mouse

Tablets generally lack a keyboard and mouse. Depending on user preference, this can be a blessing or a curse. Models such as the iPad and Android tablets are designed with a touch-screen interface in mind, so a lack of a mouse is not a huge problem, but Windows tablets sometimes suffer, as the interface was initially designed with smaller icons and elements that don’t always translate well to a touch-screen device. Users can usually add a mouse and keyboard to a Windows tablet, but this adds extra bulk, negating some of the advantage of portability.

Hardware and Connectivity

Laptops have an advantage in that they usually offer more storage and devices such as a CD/DVD burner built right in. Many tablets, such as the iPad, don’t have any easy way to connect or use many external devices. Windows tablets usually offer more connectivity, allowing users to connect external devices, but this comes at the cost of more bulk, which might make a laptop a more efficient choice.

Summary

Overall, the choice between a laptop and a tablet has a lot to do with user preference and the aspects that are most important. Those who prefer a more streamlined interface and want extra portability should probably choose a tablet. Those who find tablet interfaces to be too simplistic, or need a physical keyboard and other devices, such as an optical drive, should probably choose a laptop.

 

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When shopping for a new computer, you are faced with a number of options, but none is more important than the form factor, or the type of computer. The choice of a laptop, desktop, or other styles is largely based on your specific needs. Here we will look at the most common types of computer, and the type of user that is most likely to prefer each type.

Desktops

The traditional desktop computer is declining in popularity as most users are gravitating toward the portability of laptop computers. The benefits of a desktop machine are still valid, however. Those who need the most powerful computer possible, or those who need to be able to easily add or remove hardware components, will generally prefer a desktop computer. Desktops are also preferred for users who wish to power multiple displays and those who are heavy gamers.

Laptops

The laptop computer has been growing in popularity in the past few years largely because it has nearly caught up in performance to desktop machines. Instead of having to choose between a powerful desktop machine or a slower laptop, users can now have both. Laptops will appeal most to users who desire portability but also solid performance.

Netbooks

As one of the most portable form factors available, small netbooks provide greater portability than laptops but at the cost of providing less performance. They are well-suited for users who value portability and don’t mind trading it for reduced speed, less multi-tasking ability, and less storage.

All-in-one machines

All-in-one computers are those that include the CPU and LCD display in one self-contained unit. They will appeal most to users who want a slim design that is easy to connect and to use. Many all-in-one machines are also very affordable, making them a good choice for smaller budgets.

 

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A computer that is having trouble booting will often emit a series of beeps through the internal speaker. These beeps are meant to relay information to the user about what type of problem is preventing the computer from booting. Here are a few of the most common beep codes and the type of problem they indicate.

1 Short Beep

A single beep is normal for most BIOS versions and means that the computer is booting properly. This beep is intended as an indication that everything is working correctly.

1 Long Beep, then 2 or 3 Short Beeps

These beep codes indicate a problem with the video card. Turn off the computer and check that the video card is seated properly in its slot, or replace the card if necessary.

1 High-Pitched Beep, then a Low-Pitched Beep

This error often repeats and indicates a problem with the CPU. Turn off the computer and make sure the CPU is properly installed and that the heat sink is working properly.

Repeating High-Pitched Beep

This beep code is usually a warning of a CPU that has overheated. Turn off the computer immediately and check that the heat sink is working properly. A CPU that continues to overheat could cause damage to itself and other components.

Other Beep Codes

Most other beep codes indicate some type of problem with the RAM. Turn off the computer and check that the RAM sticks are seated properly in their slots. Also make sure that the RAM sticks match, as some motherboards require matching sticks to work properly. Lastly, try replacing the RAM to see if it resolves the problem, as malfunctioning RAM sticks could be the culprit.

Once you have a better understanding of the beep codes your computer may emit, you will be better prepared to deal with any problems that arise. Bookmark this list for future reference so that you can refer to it when your computer is giving you a beep code.

 

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USB is a common type of connector and host controller for communicating between devices, mostly between computers or laptops and other devices, such as printers, mp3 players, thumb drives, keyboards, and mice. USB stands for Universal Serial Bus, and was designed as a replacement for earlier technologies such as serial and parallel ports. In recent years, there has been more of a distinction between USB 1.0, USB 2.0, and even USB 3.0, possibly causing confusion for those who don’t understand the difference.

USB 1.0 is the original iteration, which was frequently referred to as simply “USB”. The USB 1.0 technology was developed by seven companies: Nortel, DEC, Compaq, IBM, Intel, Microsoft, and NEC. It was first introduced in 1996, and was devised as a way to standardize a protocol for connecting multiple devices, getting rid of the need for multiple types of connectors and also allowing more bandwidth for devices, as USB cables were able to transfer up to 12 Mbps, which was much faster than any previous protocols. This made it a feasible way to connect hard disk drives and other devices that required high data transfer speeds to operate correctly.

USB 2.0 was released in 2000 as an improvement to the USB specification. It boasted speeds of up to 480 Mbps, which was a huge improvement over the original speeds of USB 1.0. USB 2.0 became very popular and is still the most popular connection type for peripherals in use today as of this writing. Most computers and laptops include at least two USB 2.0 ports, and some include even more, owing to the increasing need for more ports to connect users’ devices.

USB 3.0 was announced in November of 2008, and is yet another improvement on the original protocol. USB 3.0 products are only recently coming to the market, but it looks to be a big improvement in speed, as it can theoretically reach speeds up to 4 Gbps, which is faster than the limitation of most hard drives.

While USB has been around for many years, its continued improvement and refinement means it will likely be around for many more. The promise of very fast transfer rates for USB 3.0 mean that it could replace virtually every connection on a computer or laptop.

 

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Hard drives and other devices are connected to a computer motherboard through some type of cable. These cables use multiple smaller wires in parallel to transmit the proper signals for reading and writing to and from the drive. There are multiple types of cables, which transmit at different speeds and use different types of connectors. Here we will look at some of the most common device cables and the differences between them.

SCSI

SCSI stands for Small Computer System Interface and used a parallel cable to attach both internal and external devices. One of the benefits of SCSI interfaces is that multiple devices could be chained together to a single port. Another benefit is that the interface includes features like error checking and hand shake signals between devices.

IDE

IDE stands for Integrated Drive Electronics and refers more to the standard than the cable type itself. The technology is also often referred to as ATA or PATA. ATA cables can only be up to 18 inches in length and are fairly large and flat, which makes them a poor choice for external devices, so the interface is mainly used for internal devices. The cable uses a combination of 40 or 80 wires in parallel.

SATA

SATA stands for Serial ATA and is an evolution of the original ATA (or IDE) interface. The SATA interface is faster in speed, at up to 3GB/s. Another major benefit of the interface is that the cables and connectors are much smaller, taking up less space inside a computer case and not restricting air flow. There is an external version of SATA known as eSATA for connecting external hard drives and other devices.

Interface cables have improved quite a bit over the years, but the basic concept of input and output has remained mainly the same. New interfaces such as Thunderbolt have added even faster transfer speeds and taken some of the benefits from multiple technologies to make an improved connection.

 

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Over the past few years, IBM has been working on a technology they are calling RaceTrack memory. This technology could potentially offer much larger capacity than current storage technologies, and also faster speeds, but most of the details of how the process works have been known only to IBM. Recently, IBM released more information about the process to share with the technology community.

RaceTrack memory stores digital data as a magnetic pattern on components known as “nanowires”. These nanowires are so small they are 1,000 times finer than a human hair, yet they are capable of storing large amounts of data. The combination of multiple nanowires in a single device would mean vast amounts of storage, and IBM claims it could be as much as 100 times greater than current technologies. In time, they claim it could allow a single portable device to store all the movies produced in a single year.

But large storage capacity isn’t the only benefit of RaceTrack memory. It is also more energy-efficient than existing technologies, making it particularly well-suited for portable devices such as mobile phones and laptops. It is also very fast, as the data stored in the nanowires can be moved and accessed very quickly.

The data is stored along the nanowires of the device, and when needed, electrical current applied to the nanowires causes the data bits to move to where they are needed at a very fast speed, up to hundreds of miles per hour. This is how the data is able to be accessed so quickly, as it doesn’t rely on the computer or the device to seek the data, but the RaceTrack technology moves the data to where it is needed much more quickly.

IBM has not given a timeline for when they expect RaceTrack memory to be available. It is certainly an exciting technology that could change the way we think of storage and the way we use our devices, so keep an eye on this emerging technology in the future.

Intel has recently announced their Intel Core i7 Mobile Processor, which takes their Core i-series technology and applies it to laptops. This is an exciting development that continues to bridge the gap between desktop and laptop performance, but what are the main benefits of a Core i7 processor? Let us take a look.

While processor speeds in the past were based mainly on MHz, this is becoming less of an issue with the introduction of multi-core processors. Now, multi-core processors provide the equivalent of 2 or more CPUs in a single chip, making the MHz rating less relevant and boosting performance at the same time. While the Core i7 Mobile processor is faster than previous chips, its speed is only one of its many improvements.

The Intel Turbo Boost Technology included in the chip essentially allows the cores to run faster than their base frequency, provided it can do so within power, current, and temperature limits. In many ways, this is equivalent to over clocking, but the chip will not do so in a situation that could potentially cause overheating or overvoltage, reducing the risk of damage.

The Core i7 also has video encoding speed boosts built in, and Intel claims it is up to 81% faster at encoding video. The chip can also improve artificial intelligence in games by up to 31%, according to Intel, for more realistic games.

The Core i7 can support up to four cores and also supports Intel’s Hyper-Threading Technology, allowing it to better utilize multiple cores and even process two threads per core. This simulates the equivalent of 8 cores of processing power in some situations. The chip can support up to 8 MB of cache for faster processing of data, and it supports two-channel DDR3 1333 MHz memory.

There is no doubt that laptops and notebooks are beginning to replace desktops as most user’s primary computer. The Intel Core i7 Mobile processor provides the power and benefits of Intel’s latest chip to these mobile platforms, making this an even easier transition for many users.

 

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One of the most common issues with laptop batteries is overheating. Not that the batteries are designed poorly or improperly but due to, in most cases, user wear and tear. While the laptop is using the AC adapter for power the battery acts as a backup in case of a loss of power or accidental unplugging. During this AC power use the battery becomes hotter than it would if being used independently. To lessen the chances of this overheating, which leads to a shorter life expectancy of the battery, keep the AC power adapter plugged in only if you need to charge the battery while using the device.

If the battery is consistently hot to the touch, remove it and allow it to cool down making sure it is close to room temperature before reinserting it. Should the battery continue to overheat or get too hot it will probably need to be replaced. Always replace a defective battery as soon as possible as it could cause irreparable damage to the laptop in question. In addition to overheating, failure to charge or hold a charge is another very common issue with laptop batteries.

First check to see if the AC adapter is securely plugged into the device; the tightness of the connection will vary from laptop to laptop but it should be held in place well. To check for a good connection look for the battery charging LED if one is present on your laptop.

If it is not on wiggle the cord to see if the connection makes and breaks contact. If you notice a flickering LED light then the solution is a new adapter which is far better than needed to purchase a new battery or a new DC power jack which can be repaired by a common user with a little instruction and help.