Month: August 2017

1

Start by turning your machine off. Unplug it, disconnect it and remove any USB wires or memory sticks.

2

For simple cleaning, tilt your laptop forward. Bang the back and hopefully anything lodged between the keys will fall out!

3

Take the end of a teaspoon and wrap it in a wet-wipe. Drag the teaspoon along all the edges of the keys and keyboard. This will pick up any dust and dirt.

4

Take a vacuum cleaner and run it over the keys. This will rid your laptop of any more dirt. Alternatively, you can use a hair-dryer to blow it away but ensure you repeat step 2.

5

If you are still having problems, remove your laptop keys. So far, we have avoided doing this because it is time-consuming, annoying and easy to get wrong.

• Research your laptops brand name and see if you do have keys that can actually be taken off
• Be careful, because the keys are often held on by fragile plastic tabs. Gently pop them off and store them somewhere safe.
• Run your wet-wipes over the bare key-board. Q-tips also work well with this, after soaking them in anything that evaporates (rubbing alcohol and hydrogen peroxide) so that you do not get moisture under the keyboard.
• Pop the keys back on. There will occasionally be keys with metal “stands” on the back – these are easy to slide back into their rails. Other keys will simply require you to depress the corners.
• You can also wash the keys, but this makes losing keys easier.

6

Finished.

 

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Choosing the best laptop car charger is a matter of examining a few simple options and selecting the one that best suits a person’s needs. Some chargers are made for a specific brand of computer and plug directly from the car’s cigarette lighter into the back of the machine. Power adapters that convert the 12-volt direct current (DC) coming out of the cigarette lighter into 110-volt alternating current (AC) are also available. Two- or three-pronged plugs can be plugged directly into these adapters.

One option for a laptop car charger is to purchase a power cord that plugs directly from the cigarette lighter of the car into the laptop computer. Each brand of computer uses a power cord with different specifications, so it is important to select an adapter that is made to be used with the computer. This type of laptop car charger it a good option for a person looking to charge one computer or a couple computers of the same brand. These chargers will only supply one computer with power at a time.

Universal adapters that come with a set of attachments that accommodate most brands of computers are also available. Though they can charge many types of computers, they can still only power one computer at a time. A universal laptop charger or a brand-specific laptop car charger are both relatively inexpensive options.

A power adapter is another way to charge a laptop from a car’s cigarette lighter. These devises are designed to convert 12-volt DC power into 110-volt AC power. The computer’s usual charger can then be plugged directly into the adapter, eliminating the need for a laptop car charger. This is a good choice for someone who wishes to charge more than one type of electronic device from the road.

Some power adapters are made to accommodate one or more plugs at the same time. Charging two computers at once or a computer and a phone at the same time will require an adapter with at least two plugs. Computers, phones, cameras and other electronics can all be charged from a power adapter.

There are power adapters with a variety of different output levels. Reading the power requirements of the laptop is the first step in choosing the right charger. It is very important that the output of the adapter fall within the computer’s acceptable range because a lower or higher output could damage the computer. The price for power adapters ranges significantly. While price is not always indicative of quality, it’s a good idea to check product reviews to determine if a bargain adapter is worth the initial savings.

 

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Finding the correct laptop charger is not a difficult or overly inconvenient process. All it takes is a little research. The information you need to make the right choice can be easily found on your laptop, your old charger, or on the charger to be purchased. The best part about finding the right product is that manufacturers make the choice easy. The information is usually on the charger’s case or in the description, if shopping online.

The best option in finding the correct charger for your laptop is to go to the source. Go to the manufacturer that made the computer and find the charger there. Online stores may be the best option in this case because they usually carry a greater selection than physical stores. Once at the store, look for the charger that came with your computer. This way, you will be sure to find the correct one.

If, for some reason, you are unable to go to the manufacturer’s store or are unable or unwilling to get the charger shipped to you through online stores, you can go to a computer or electronics store. When looking at the laptop chargers available, take the time to look at the computer models the charger you are looking at is compatible with. This information should be listed on the packaging. If your specific computer model is on the list, then the charger will work for you computer. If it is not, find another charger.

You can also find out what type of charger your laptop takes by looking on the bottom of the laptop. In order to ensure that you get the correct replacement parts for your computer, the manufacturer stamps product specifications (specs) on different laptop parts. There are several stamps, but you should look for the one that says “AC adaptor” or something similar. Find the model number and write it down — that is what you should be looking when buying a replacement. This information can also be found by looking at your old charger and in the documentation that came with your laptop.

You can also buy a universal charger. Again, to ensure you are getting one that is compatible for your laptop, check the product specs on the charger’s packaging. You can also be sure the charger will match your computer by making sure the specs for the charger and those for the laptop are the same. This includes making sure the voltage, input, and output are identical. Don’t forget to make sure the charger’s connections will fit your laptop.

Your desktop computer’s motherboard probably has one or more expansion card slots which you can use to add new functions, special connection ports, or powerful graphics capabilities to your computer. These expansion cards will increase the performance of your existing system.

Best Expansion Cards for PC:

Video graphics cards:

In order to play advanced PC games, run high-definition movies, or use sophisticated image-editing software on your computer, you’ll most likely need to boost the graphics processing power with a video card. Video cards take over processing 3D graphics and other video tasks, so your computer’s CPU can focus on other functions.

SCSI controller:

Your computer may not have the correct connection ports for connecting devices using the small computer system interface (SCSI), such as hard drives or certain high-speed scanners. An SCSI controller expansion card allows you to add a port for those devices.

RAID controller:

A collection of hard drives connected in a RAID configuration can share or back up data in various ways, giving you options for backing up data or increasing storage over several drives. A RAID controller expansion card gives your computer ports for multiple hard drives through high-speed connections, usually SATA cables.

USB port card:

Most desktops do have USB ports, but the version of USB they use may be too slow. You may also have more USB devices than you have ports. A multi-port USB expansion card adds high-speed ports to your computer that works faster than simple port-splitters. The latest version of USB is version 3.0, so any USB 3.0 card you install will be backwards compatible with your old USB devices and operate much faster than older ports.

TV tuner card:

If you’re setting up a home theater PC, you may want to be able to watch and record live TV broadcasts with a tuner card. Most tuner cards will include a coaxial cable connection to which you can attach an antenna or other video source. Some tuner cards will also be able to make recordings in multiple digital video formats.

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You don’t need a desktop computer to use a printer. Even the most basic laptop will connect to a PC printer in a simple and easy way. The process is as simple as connecting both devices together using the right cable. By following just a few simple steps, you can have your printer up and running in no time.

1.Locate your printer cable.

Most printers will come with a cable packaged into the box, though sometimes they won’t.

2.Make sure you buy the right cable.

Certain printer cables will allow you to connect the printer to your laptop via a USB port, while others will use a parallel port. Check your laptop for the proper connections. USB ports are small, rectangular ports while parallel ports are generally larger and have holes for several small pins to plug into.

3.Plug one end of the cable into your printer.

This end is typically square in shape and plugs into the appropriately labeled hole on the back of the device. If you have problems locating this port on the back of your printer, consult the diagram in the printer’s manual.

4.Plug the other end of the cable into your laptop.

If it is a USB cable, then it plugs directly into a USB port. If it is a parallel port cable, then you need to plug the cable into a free parallel port on the back of your laptop and secure it into place using the two tiny screws on each side of the cable.

5.Install any software that came with the printer.

Certain printers will work as soon as they are plugged in, while others come with a CD with the necessary software and drivers needed to make it work. If your printer came with a CD, then put it into your laptop’s CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive on your laptop and install the necessary software.

6.Make sure your printer is plugged into a power source.

While some printers can be powered over the USB interface, others will need external power. Plug your printer’s power cord into a wall outlet or power strip.

 

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Some of the most powerful and interactive video games are available exclusively to PC gamers with the powerful graphics and control of gaming PCs. When you’re ready to build your own gaming computer, the computer hardware must be up to the task. This gaming PC buying guide will describe some of the options available and help you decide how to buy or build a gaming computer that will let you get in on the action.

Buying a Gaming PC:

Get into the gaming culture.

Along with the highly detailed graphics and virtual worlds, PC gamers develop interactive communities and cultures around their favorite games. This creativity spills over into the appearance of their gaming PCs as well. For fun, you can construct your machine with an elaborate PC case, exciting shapes, lights and decals. Get creative with your hardware.

Start with a motherboard.

Your gaming computer’s motherboard will host your video card and processor, as well as connections to all the other components. When choosing the motherboard, consider the type of memory (RAM) you’ll be using, as well as the type of expansion slots it has available. Your video card and sound card will require specific slots, such as PCI-Express, in order to connect to your computer. Check all of your components to make sure they’re compatible.

Add a fast processor.

Your CPU, central processing unit, must match your motherboard’s processor socket. The speed of the processor, or each individual processor core, will be measured in gigahertz (GHz). Check system requirements for games you want to play on your gaming PC, using the minimum processor speed as a buying guide.

Pick the proper PC case.

When building a gaming PC, the computer case can limit your other hardware choices. The case is really just a box to hold your motherboard and other components. The case may or may not include a power supply, fans or a liquid cooling-system. Cases are constructed to fit certain motherboards, so you may want to make sure they match before buying. Alternately, you can purchase a “barebones system” that has basic components already installed, like a processor, video controller network card and a hard drive. You can add additional hardware to a barebones system to create your ideal gaming PC. No matter what you choose, make sure to get a power supply that will amply support your hardware.

Include a video card to handle graphics.

For the ordinary user’s computer monitor, the video processor on the motherboard is usually enough. Add-on video cards have their own processor and RAM, taking the load of your CPU. Games usually list the minimum video requirements your system will need:

Memory: Most games require a minimum of 2 GB RAM, and 4 GB to 8 GB of RAM are usually preferred.

Connectors: HDMI or DVI cables are needed for high-definition computer monitors and HDTVs. Some cards may include RBG, S-Video and other types of ports as well.

View those graphics on a widescreen monitor.

A widescreen, high-definition computer monitor gives your gaming PC a great display to show what it can do in great detail. Nearly any widescreen monitor will do. If your gaming PC can handle it, you can play your games on an even larger screens and higher resolutions. A frame rate of 60 fps is standard for most monitors.

Get great sound with a sound card.

Your headphones or speakers can deliver very realistic audio if you have a good sound card. Even the most basic sound card will give your gaming PC better sound than the integrated sound on you motherboard.

Configure one or more large hard drives.

The largest single hard drives have passed 3 TB, and get larger and larger every year. You’ll probably be storing music, movies and photos on your gaming PC, too, so a large hard drive is essential. For gaming, a hard drive that spins at 7,200 rpm or faster is best. It’s also worth considering buying a SSD (Solid State Drive) to put your operating system on; these cost more, but run much faster than traditional drives and can speed up the overall performance of your PC.

Connect your gaming PC to your network.

Interactive gaming on the Web requires a fast Internet connection. Connect your gaming PC to your home network router or directly to your modem. You can even go wireless with a USB wireless adapter and a wireless router.

Get an edge with gaming mice and keyboards.

Your keyboard and mouse are the main tools for interacting with your gaming PC and, therefore, your games. Gaming mice may include extra buttons, mouse wheels and even adjustable parts. Gaming keyboards may have a small LCD screen, programmable buttons and even glowing keys.

 

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Portable music, players, digital cameras and cell phones are typically powered by rechargeable batteries. You would normally charge these items through a USB cable connected to your computer or a wall adapter, but if you are on the road without your computer, you will need other methods to charge your USB devices. With the right accessories, you can charge your USB-capable devices right in your car.

Charging USB Devices:

1.USB to 12-Volt Adapter

This type of USB charger will plug into your car’s cigarette lighter slot. USB chargers have one or more USB interfaces on the other end. You can then connect your music player or other devices via the USB cable.

2.DC-to-AC Converter

Electronics are designed to use either alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC) power sources; plugging into the wrong source without a converter can damage your USB device. If your USB device requires a specific charger which requires an AC outlet, you can plug in through a DC-to-AC converter. This converter provides you with an AC outlet and converts the DC power from your car to AC power.

3.USB Interface Cable

Some USB devices require an interface cable which transfers data as well as power. An interface cable will usually have a USB adapter on one end, with the interface connector on the other. If your vehicle features a USB port on the car stereo or through the glove box, you may be able to plug in an MP3 player or other USB audio device. You can then listen to music on the device through your stereo.

4.USB Power Adapter

Laptops and other USB devices can also charge via a power adapter. One end can plug into your USB device charger – which is connected to your car – and the other end will fit the USB device’s power slot.

Device-Charging Tip

Avoid charging USB devices in your car while the engine is not running, as this will drain the battery. If possible, leave your USB device plugged in while you drive. You will be able to power your device without letting the car idle this way.

 

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Video entertainment should be just as portable as music, and a portable DVD player goes a long way toward making your movie library available almost anywhere. The ability to play DVDs frees you from the need to manage digital movie files, and the larger screen on a portable DVD player is a big improvement over smaller digital video players. These frequently asked questions about portable DVD players will give you a better idea of their features and your portable video options.

Portable DVD Player Questions:

What forms do portable DVD players come in?

Two major types of DVD players are commonly available: fold-up models and car DVD players. The difference between these two types is how your portable DVD player is connected to your vehicle. Regular portable DVD players are stand-alone devices with the player and folding screen in the same unit. Portable DVD players for cars may have one or more screens installed in car seats or the ceiling, with a separate player in the dash or beneath the seats. A normal portable DVD player has the advantage of going with you anywhere, while the portable car DVD player is easily integrated with your vehicle’s sound system. Another, less-common, portable DVD player type features a viewing screen built into a boombox or bookshelf stereo design.

Can I play Blu-ray discs on a portable player?

Some do. Portable Blu-ray players will play both Blu-ray and DVD. If the name of a product doesn’t clarify whether it plays Blu-ray, you can check the product description for the initials “BD” which stand for “Blu-ray Disc.”

How can I get better sound from my DVD player?

A separate set of speakers can really improve the sound you get from your player, usually plugging in through the headphone jack. Your portable DVD player may also come with adapter cables for your car stereo, allowing you to use car speakers for sound.

What if I want to use headphones?

Nearly every portable DVD player has at least one headphone jack; many have two. If you want to use two sets of headphones but don’t have two jacks, you can always use an adapter cable with a splitter.

 

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