Category: NEWS

One of the most frustrating problems many users face is that random seeming event when your computer simply will not connect to the internet. You can’t tell why, there doesn’t seem to be anything wrong, but no matter what you do, your computer just cannot seem to get online. There are however, a few common culprits that can get between you and the great wide world of web, and luckily they’re pretty easy to remedy as well.

First, do a quick cable check. If you are using a desktop computer, check the cable connections from the back of your tower, to your router (if you have one), to your modem, and finally to your wall. All connections should be tight and secure. If you’re using a laptop on a wireless connection, you should still check the cables from your router, to the modem, and finally to the wall. Also, while you’re checking your modem, check its status lights. Is it sending and receiving information? If it isn’t, you may need to contact your internet service provider.

Another simple cause of connectivity issues that happens more frequently than you’d think is actually having the wireless card enabled. Most laptops will have either a button or switch right near the keyboard to toggle the wireless card on and off. Check that this is in the “on” position. If this doesn’t fix the problem, go into your computer’s device manager and check the status of the wireless card. It may not be functioning properly, or may have been disabled manually while your wireless switch remained in the “on” position.

When in doubt, restart your modem and your router. Sometimes, they just get stuck. Routers are notoriously sensitive machines, and the tiniest thing can throw them off. Usually, unplugging either of these devices for about 10 seconds and then plugging them back in gets them to refresh themselves, which in itself can sometimes fix whatever problem you may be having.

If none of these things work, contact your internet service provider. Many times their technicians will be glad to assist you in checking everything over, and they can double check and confirm the status of your internet service as well.

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.

Laptop computers, like their desktop counterparts, typically contain a CMOS, or complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor, battery. This battery is mounted on the mother board, and retains the BIOS information of your machine when it is completely powered down, as well as maintains the date and time information, and backs up what is on your RAM in the case of a power interruption.

A CMOS battery typically lasts between four and seven years in a computer before it begins to die, however system trauma or a defective battery can, rarely, cause a battery to malfunction well before its time. You’ll know when your CMOS battery has gone bad when you see messages that mention something like “CMOS checksum error” or a similarly described problem. Oftentimes, you will see this error reporting infrequently on boot up, indicating that the battery is dying but not yet completely gone. This is the ideal time to replace the battery. However, if you get the error every time you boot, the battery is likely completely dead, and you may have lost your BIOS settings along with some other system information.

Before removing a CMOS battery for replacement, be sure to enter set up mode on your computer, and copy down all of the settings in your BIOS menus. This is what is stored on that battery, and when you remove that battery, that data will be erased. After replacing with a new battery however, you can go into BIOS and restore those settings from your copy. Also, some programs will back up your BIOS settings to an external disk of some sort, allowing you to reload them at any time.

In laptops, CMOS batteries are typically found beneath the keyboard. This can pose a challenge, as the keyboard on a laptop can be difficult and delicate to remove. It is also important to note that on some models, the CMOS battery is actually soldered to the mother board, in which case you will not be able to remove the battery without professional assistance, either through a repair company or the manufacturer. In laptops with removable batteries, there will typically be a tension clip holding it in place. Simply open the clip, remove the battery, and replace it with a new one. Make sure however that the new battery matches the replaced battery. Consult your computer’s hardware manual or a local or online retailer to be sure you get a direct replacement that will function with your mother board.

An overheating laptop can not only damage the laptop and its internal components, leading to costly repairs, but in extreme cases, it can even cause burns and other safety concerns. For these reasons, it is a good idea to take a few precautions to keep your laptop or notebook running as cool as possible. Here are a few of the top causes of overheating in laptop computers, and a few ways to prevent or resolve them.

Dust

When a laptop overheats, it is most likely caused by dust or other obstructions preventing air from flowing in and out of the laptop. Laptops generally have a cooling system that relies on a fan circulating air into and out of the laptop, and taking heat with it. When there is dust, dirt, or another obstruction blocking the vents, the heat can collect and cause the machine to overheat. Use a can of compressed air to gently blow the dust out of any vents you have access to, or have a repair shop clean out your laptop professionally to resolve this issue.

Malfunctioning Fan

As mentioned above, the fan is responsible for circulating cool air into the laptop, and blowing hot air out. If the fan starts to malfunction, heat can collect and cause the laptop to overheat. If you suspect your fan is malfunctioning, search for a replacement part and instructions online, or take it to a professional repair shop to have the fan replaced before it causes more damage to your laptop.

Poor Heat Sink

In many cases, the heat sink for the CPU of the laptop can become dislodged, no longer providing adequate cooling. In other cases, poor design provides inadequate cooling for the laptop. If you suspect your CPU is overheating, check with the manufacturer as many have implemented recalls of laptops due to design defects which caused overheating. You may be eligible for a free repair or replacement.

Taking a few moments to prevent overheating in your laptop can save you costly repairs and downtime in the future. By following the suggestions above, you can help your laptop to run cooler and more efficient for many years to come.

Your laptop, like all computers, is likely to become a little slower the longer it is in operation. Many users think the best solution to this problem is to get a new laptop, but there are some things you can do to reclaim some lost performance and speed. Here are a few simple steps to speed up your laptop.

1. Uninstall Unnecessary Software

Over time, you will likely install many different programs on your laptop, some of which you use on a regular basis, and some of which you no longer need. Go to your Control Panel and the Programs tool to uninstall any programs you no longer use, which not only frees up more hard drive space, but can cut down on the number of programs running in the background.

2. Disable Background Programs

Many applications, such as instant messaging clients, are set to run automatically when your system starts up. A few of these programs running in the background is not much of a problem, but more than that can cause a significant decrease in performance. Remove unnecessary programs from the Startup folder in your Start Menu as a first step. If there are still programs running in your taskbar, right-click and find Options or Settings to see if you can keep them from starting up automatically. Remember that you can always start these programs manually from your Start Menu.

3. Check for Viruses

Another culprit in lost speed and performance is the presence of a virus or malware. Use a good antivirus program to scan for and clean any viruses or malware on your system, which often run in the background and degrade your laptop’s performance. This can also save you on costly repairs.

4. Upgrade Your RAM

Although this step is a little more involved that the above steps, it is usually very easy to upgrade the RAM in your laptop and it can have a significant effect on performance. Upgrade to the maximum amount of memory your system can support in order to get the most effect.

If you follow these simple steps, you will likely see a dramatic improvement in system performance. For best results, repeat the first three steps every month or so to keep your system running as fast as possible.

Power consumption is a leading concern of laptop users everywhere and proper use of the power utilities can lessen the load place upon the battery of the laptop. A few simple steps can be taken to preserve and conserve energy. First, if your laptop is capable of it, and it probably is, set the sleep or stand by settings to be turned on. These usually have a time set before which they will turn on. Depending upon your usage, this could be set to 5 minutes or to an hour; most average users set it to around 1/2 hour. If buying a new system choose a model with an LCD as they use less power and often have specific voltage and brightness controls to help in energy conservation.

The power utility in your laptop is the best place to start in power conservation. In Windows the path to the power utility looks something like this: Start  Settings  Control Panel  Power Options. This is the area that will allow you to set the time for the monitor to turn off as well as your hard driveand the amount of time it takes to switch to stand by. Power schemes are also available that have preset parameters like “Home/Desktop” or “Portable/Laptop.” These settings will automatically set the times for the typical laptop or home user. The provided “time” fields will be automatically filled in with the appropriate numbers and settings.

You can freely change any of these preset numbers in the selection made. For instance, if the setting shows 45 minutes to turn off the monitor you could change it to 30 minutes, an hour or whatever value you deem necessary. The average laptop can consume up to $50.00 a year in energy costs but using these simple utilities can help reduce this by half.