Month: August 2017

Sooner or later many users find that their laptop’s hard drive is full, and they begin to wonder if it is possible to upgrade it to a larger drive for more storage space. Not only is replacing your laptop hard drive possible, it is usually quite easy to do. Here are the steps required to replace your laptop’s hard drive with a larger one.

1. Find a replacement drive using an online parts locator

Before you start, you will need to find a compatible drive for your laptop with more storage space. Use an online parts locator tool to see which drives are compatible with your laptop model, as different models require different drive form factors. You will probably also want an external drive enclosure for the cloning process.

2. Clone your drive or Reinstall?

The easiest way to upgrade a laptop hard drive is to clone it with cloning software. This copies all files and partitions from the original drive to the new drive and you can simply boot up the laptop and pick up where you left off. Programs such as Acronis True Image or Norton Ghost can handle the cloning process, and will also expand the partition for the larger drive, allowing you to utilize all of the extra space.

If you choose not to clone the drive, you can simply backup all your important data, install the new drive, install the operating system, then move your files onto the new drive.

3. Find Instructions

The process of replacing the drive is somewhat different for each model, so it is a good idea to find specific instructions for your laptop’s model. Try searching for the term “service manual” along with your laptop’s model for instructions. You may also try a search such as “How to replace hard drive” and you laptop’s make and model.

4. Reuse your old drive

If you have purchased an external enclosure for the cloning process, you can place your old hard drive in this enclosure to use it for extra storage. Once you are sure your old files are backed up, you can delete the files on this drive or reformat to regain space.

Laptop hard drive technology continues to improve. Faster hard drives with more capacity are arriving every year, and it can be difficult to know the difference between different standards. Here is a rundown of the different laptop hard drive technologies used today.

While most desktop hard drives are in the standard 3.5” form factor, nearly all laptop hard drives use the 2.5” form factor. While other standards are sometimes used in the smallest laptops, the vast majority of laptops use the 2.5” hard drive standard.

There a few factors related to the speed of laptop hard drives. The first is the spin speed of the platters in the hard drive which store the data. The most common speed for laptop hard drives is 5400 rpm (revolutions per minute), but 4200 rpm and 7200 rpm drives are also common. Generally, the faster the rotation speed, the faster the access time for the hard drive, but a drive with a faster rotational speed will consume more power and will be noisier during operation. These are reasons why many laptops have 5400 rpm drives instead of the faster 7200 rpm drives. The actual speed of the drive is usually measured in “access time” or data transfer rate. These ratings give buyers a comparison for which drive may perform better.

Most modern hard drives connect through either SATA or PATA (IDE) connections. PATA uses a large ribbon cable for connecting to the motherboard, and was the most common drive connection technology for many years. SATA, or Serial ATA, is a faster connection method, which also uses a smaller port and cable than PATA, making it ideal for the tight spaces of a laptop. SATA offers better access speeds than most other technologies.

A new laptop hard drive technology is emerging, called solid state, which uses flash memory instead of platters. The lack of moving parts results in lower power usage and often faster access times, but the cost of solid state drives is very expensive. As prices come down in the future, it is likely that solid state drives will become the most common technology for laptop hard drives.

There is a lot of talk about solid-state drives or SSD’s in the technology world, but the advantages and disadvantages of this technology are not always clear. Here we will look at how SSD’s are different from traditional hard disk drives, and the advantages and disadvantages that they provide.

A solid-state drive is one that uses solid-state memory instead of a hard disk platters to store and retrieve data. These drives are sometimes referred to as RAM drives, but more often they are simply referred to as SSD’s. SSD’s have no moving parts, unlike hard disk drives, which can encounter a number of problems related to their moving parts, especially when jolted or dropped.

Advantages:

The main advantage of SSD’s are the lack of moving parts, which reduces the chance of failures, as most problems with hard disk drives relate to mechanical failure of one or more moving parts. SSD’s do not need to “seek” data, but instead, can read multiple areas of the drive at once, virtually eliminating seek time. The lack of moving parts also makes the drives much quieter, and start-up time is much faster, as there is no need to wait for platters to spin up to speed.

Disadvantages:

The main disadvantage of SSD’s is that the flash memory used in the drives have a shorter lifetime than hard disk platters. This means that the drive’s memory will fail earlier in its lifetime. This problem has been reduced by the fact that modern drives spread out the read and write tasks across the entire memory of the drive, reducing wear on any one section. With this technology, the drives are capable of the same lifetime as a hard disk drive.

The other main disadvantage of solid-state drives is their high price. Since the drives use a much newer technology and flash memory is expensive, SSD’s are currently much more expensive than equivalent HDD’s. This is already beginning to change, however, and prices are continuing to come down as the process is refined.

While SSD’s are a niche market for those seeking better performance, they are expected to become the norm within a few years. Soon, the majority of computer users will be able to benefit from solid-state drives, without the high prices currently associated with them.

When you are comparing displays for a laptop, desktop computer, or even a flat-screen television, you will often see them referred to as either LCD or LED. You may wonder what the differences between the two technologies are, and which one is better for your needs.

Truthfully, the comparison between LCD and LED displays is a bit tricky, as they can be the same thing. In fact, the terms may be somewhat interchangeable for some models. Confused? You should be.

LCD stands for liquid crystal display, which refers to tiny crystals that make up the pixels of an LCD display. The crystals don’t create light themselves, but instead they filter the light to create colors that combine to make the image on the screen. The light for the picture is actually supplied by the backlight located behind the crystals and the inverter board.

Originally, LCD displays used fluorescent lamps as backlights, which provide a fairly bright light but are prone to uneven lighting and generally use a lot of power. In many cases when someone refers to an LCD display, they are referring to a display that uses fluorescent backlighting. These displays are becoming less common.

LED displays are those that use LED (light emitting diodes) lights as a backlight. LEDs use less power than fluorescent bulbs and usually provide a brighter and more even light for the display. However, LED backlights still shine through LCDs to create the color for the display. This is where much of the confusion between the two technologies happens.

In summary; a display that is referred to as LCD could mean one that uses fluorescent OR LED backlighting, though it generally refers to those with fluorescent backlights. LED refers to a display with LED backlighting, but it is worth knowing that LED displays are still technically LCD displays as well.

While touch screen display laptops are more expensive than their non-interactive counterparts, they are still becoming increasingly popular in today’s market. What makes these machines so much more popular lately? It’s actually a combination of a number of things that add up to a more convenient, intuitive, and easier to use machine.

For one thing, touch screen displays are a lot easier to navigate than even using a traditional mouse. With a touch screen, you simply have to touch what you want to select or interact with, and it’s done. This also allows users to do more delicate tasks than they could with a mouse, as the touch of a finger is easier to coordinate than moving an external mouse to influence the graphical cursor. Eliminating the accommodation for a mouse also frees up hardware space on your laptop, allowing for the keyboard to expand to a fuller size, making it easier to type than on a regular machine.

In fact, the exclusion of a mouse and therefore mouse accessories (such as room for a mouse pad, or a touch pad, or extra USB, serial ports and other parts), actually has the potential to lower the production costs of these machines, which in turn makes them more affordable for consumers. Indeed, as more and more touch screen laptops make their way onto the market, prices are continually dropping and becoming even more accessible for users.

Touch screen laptops also add the convenience of features that traditional laptops cannot. For example, students can use a stylus with their touch screen computers and physically write down their notes on their computers, which can be run through text-recognition software and converted to type, or manipulated by a note taking program that can allow them to manipulate and organize their notes in ways traditional pen and paper nor traditional laptops could. It’s also worth noting that many touch screen laptops also include the functionality of having the LCD screen swivel around to essentially make the machine a convertible Tablet PC, which is an added bonus and makes the machine even more portable and easier to work with.

Perhaps the most difficult part of performing a laptop memory upgrade is finding the proper type of memory for your specific laptop. Since this can be a complicated subject and often requires some research up front, let us look at a few of the most important aspects of laptop memory modules so you can better understand the key points of selecting your laptop memory.

Form Factor

Laptop memory comes in different form factors. The most common are SO-DIMM (small outline DIMM), others like SIMM (single inline memory module), DIMM (double inline memory module) were used in first generation laptops, but have not been used in years. SO-DIMMs are most often used in laptops as they are smaller than standard DIMM modules used in desktop computers. SO-DIMMs are usually 2.6 inches long and 1.25 inches in height. The smallest module available is the Micro-DIMM; these are very small modules only measuring about an inch wide and are used in high end ultra portable laptops.

Memory Type

In addition to the different form factors, memory is categorized into standards. The most common are DDR, DDR2, and DDR3. All DDR Memory operates in a similar manner as it transfers data on the rise and fall of each clock cycle; effectively doubling the transfer speed of older SDRAM technologies. Each increment represents an improvement in transfer speeds and latency. In some cases these standards are backwards-compatible, but not always. DDR is the first generation of Double Data Rate memory, and is the slowest of the DDR Standards; it is usually packaged in a 200 pin SO-DIMM form factor and runs at speeds of 266 MHz – 400 MHz. DDR2 memory is the second generation of DDR memory, it increases speeds to between 400 MHz and 800 MHz and are packaged in a 200 pin SO-DIMM form factor. The latest and greatest in laptop memory is DDR3; it is available in speeds of 800 MHz – 1600 MHz and comes in a 204 pin SO-DIMM package. DDR3 memory further reduces the operating voltage of DDR2 to a lower 1.5 Volts, offering a slight improvement in battery life.

Transfer Speeds

The speed rating for memory refers to the “clock speed” which is the rate at which the memory can send and receive data. As mentioned previously, DDR modules have clock speeds from 266 MHz to 400 MHz, DDR2 ranges between 400 MHz and 800 MHz, and DDR3 runs between 800 MHz and 1600 MHz. While a higher clock speed is usually better, one important rule to remember is that if you are adding memory alongside existing memory, no matter how fast the transfer speed is on the new memory, it will only run as fast as the old memory since all the RAM in the system has to operate at the same speed.

Pin Configuration

The number of pins and their configuration vary between types. It is important to match the memory type specifically to your laptop. The pin configuration is typically a product of the type of memory being utilized. DDR and DDR2 memory both use a 200 pin configuration for the modules, where DDR2 has a slightly different keying on the module, this helps avoid users trying to install memory into the wrong type of memory slot. Still care must be taken because the difference is very minor and to the naked eye may look the same. DDR3 use a 204 pin module which is the same physical size as DDR and DDR2, but has the key notch further towards the middle of the module.

Latency

Latency is the delay in time from when a memory controller tells the RAM module to access an explicit memory column. This delay is measured in clock cycles for most types of modules. The lower the number the better, but as with memory speed, all modules installed will run at the same latency no matter what their specific rating, so buying ultra low latency RAM and installing it with higher latency RAM will not take full advantage of the low latency RAM.

Voltages

Different standards also run on different voltages. First generation DDR memory runs at 2.5 Volts however DDR2 memory operates at a lower voltage of 1.8 Volts and thus improves on laptop battery life in most instances. The latest DDR3 memory runs at 1.5 Volts offering improved battery life over DDR and DDR2 memory. In general if you get the right memory type, be it DDR, DDR2 or DDR3, it will be the right voltage as the voltage is part of the standard for the module. As the memory types evolved, they began to use lower and lower voltages to operate the RAM memory which has helped curb the energy appetite of laptop computers.

As you can see, there is a lot to consider when selecting the correct memory for your laptop. If you are adding memory to your machine, you will need to know the specifications of the memory that is already installed in your machine, in order to get the correct memory. If you are replacing the memory, you only need to be concerned about what memory is compatible with the machine. Luckily, Spare Parts Warehouse has a wide selection of memory and easy to use tools to help you find the right memory upgrade for your laptop.

Most laptops with built-in Wi-Fi utilize a mini-PCI slot to support this type of card, making it fairly easy to install. In some cases, you can install an external wireless card into a PCMCIA or ExpressCard slot, but this requires an extra component sticking out of the laptop and is not ideal for most users. If you have a laptop with a failing Wi-Fi card it may be time to purchase a new network card. Although these are general steps for installing an internal laptop wireless LAN card, they should apply to most notebooks.

1. Remove the battery and disconnect AC Adapter

Before doing any repair work on a laptop, be sure to shut down the computer, unplug it from the wall, and remove the battery. This will help prevent static discharge while working on the machine.

2. Find the access panel and remove

Most laptops with a wireless card slot have an access panel that provides easy access. In most cases it will be a square panel on the bottom of the laptop. Remove screws and remove the panel. In some laptops the Wireless LAN card is located underneath the keyboard. There will be two metal clips on either side of the card edges holding the card down in place, release these and the card will pop up and can be removed.

3. Remove old Card / Insert the new card

Remove the old card from the Mini-PCI slot on the mainboard and compare it to the replacement, be sure they look very similar in shape and that the connections are the same. Line up the pins and insert it at a slight angle, press it into the slot and then slowly lower it until it locks into place.

4. Connect the antenna(s)

If your laptop has one or more antenna cables inside the access panel, you can connect these to the wireless card for better reception. Most cards have an antenna connector labeled “Main” and another labeled “Aux”. Again, the connections should match your original card or you may have compatibility issues later.

5. Reassemble

Replace the access panel and screws and replace the keyboard if it was removed and secure all screws removed during disassembly. Replace the battery and reconnect the power cable.

6. Configure Wi-Fi Settings

If you replaced the defective card with the exact model that was originally in the machine, there will likely be no configuration needed. If it was a different model, you may need to reconfigure your Wi-Fi settings in Windows to allow you to connect to your wireless network.

Test to ensure the card is working properly and that you are able to connect to a wireless network. If you are sending and receiving correctly then you are finished with the installation, otherwise you may have to revisit the settings in Windows to confirm they are correct for your wireless network. If the card is not recognized by Windows, that may point towards the card not being installed correctly or a defective card. Retrace the installation steps to confirm the card is seated properly and all antenna wires are connected firmly.

A laptop motherboard is the life line of a laptop. It controls virtually every component and handles the input and output of data to and from each part. When a motherboard begins to fail it can be a serious problem that can be expensive to fix and severely affect the usability of the machine. Here, we will look at some common causes of laptop motherboard failure.

The number one culprit for almost any failing component in a laptop is heat. Excessive heat is usually caused by poor ventilation, which could be blocked vents on the laptop or even a fan which is failing to cool the laptop correctly. Excessive heat can cause the motherboard to warp, which can make components on the board fail. It can also loosen solder points on the board, causing components to lose contact or short, causing mainboard failure. In nearly all of these cases, a replacement of the mainboard is the required fix.

Another common cause of laptop motherboard failure is an electrical problem such as a short or a static discharge. Computer components are very sensitive to over-voltage or under-voltage problems. They are also very sensitive to static electricity. Either of these issues can cause an electrical problem with the motherboard that may lead to failure.

In many cases, a mainboard failure is actually the result of some type of physical damage. For example, the laptop DC-in jack being damaged from stress being put on the connection, this is sometimes repairable by simply replacing the jack, but can also damage a board beyond repair. Other components or connections on the motherboard can be damaged from improper disassembly/reassembly during repairs. Some integrated components are not supplied as spare parts from the manufacturer and may leave motherboard replacement as the only option.

When a laptop mainboard failure occurs, it is a very labor-intensive task to replace or repair it. One should also weigh the cost of replacement/repair against the cost of a new laptop, as replacing a motherboard is often one of the most costly repairs you can make.