Month: August 2017

Netbooks are becoming increasingly popular of late, due to their incredibly portable size and convenience. However, as a result of their size, many netbooks don’t have the kind of powerhouse hardware you’d expect to find in a laptop or desktop machine. One way to offset this and cheaply improve the performance of your machine is simply to upgrade your RAM.

RAM, or random access memory, is the storage your computer has for data that can be accessed immediately without searching or pulling it from the hard disk. You can think of it like your hard drive being the books in a library, and RAM is how many you can check out and reference at a time. The more RAM you have, the more easily accessible data your computer can pull from, which reduces the amount of time it spends polling the entire hard drive for your machine.

There are different types of RAM, each one progressing and becoming more and more efficient and effective. When purchasing your RAM, you’ll need to check it against your computer’s specifications. The newest form is DDR3, which means it allows data transfer rates of 3 times the original form. Some newer netbooks like the Toshiba NB305 support the higher speed DDR3 RAM, which makes it an attractive machine for users seeking a little more power.

When looking into purchasing RAM, you’ll want to check your machine’s configuration to see how it’s set up. Some are set up in banks, which is built for pairs of RAM. Others allow them to be placed individually. Your computer will handle any size listed in its specifications, but make sure that if they are in sets, that all sticks in that bank are the same size.

As far as pricing goes, you can get 2 GB sticks of memory for around $55 to $60 at many memory suppliers. Most Netbooks like the HP Mini 5100 have 1GB memory standard, and can be upgraded to a maximum of 2GB due to mainboard chipset limitations. Generally speaking, and upgrade to 2GB will do plenty to improve the speed and performance of any netbook, making it an even more useful and convenient machine.

PCMCIA, Cardbus and ExpressCards are similar technologies that are very easy to confuse with one another. In fact, many experienced computer users still get the standards confused. Let us try to shed some light on the differences between these three standards, and eliminate some of the confusion.

PCMCIA

PCMCIA stands for Personal Computer Memory Card International Association, the organization which standardized the format. It is an interface for connecting external memory cards, modems, and other devices to a laptop as a means of expansion. It later began to be referred to as “PC Card” instead of its long acronym.

The first cards were Type I cards, which had a 16-bit interface and were 3.3 mm thick. These Type I cards were prevalent on many of the early Compaq laptop systemboards. Type II cards are somewhat thicker, at 5.5 mm, and use either a 16-bit or 32-bit interface. Common Type II devices are modems and network cards, which often have to use a dongle, as their height does not support a full-size jack. Type III cards and devices are even thicker, at 10.5 mm thick, and can support full-size connectors without dongles and even hard disk drive cards. Type II Cards were the standard size of PCMCIA Card for some time before they were replaced by CardBus.

CardBus

CardBus is the successor to PCMCIA. In fact, it is the name used for cards and devices that supported the PCMCIA 5.0 or later specification. It has much in common with the PCI bus on a desktop computer, as it provides a 32-bit, 33 MHz PCI bus with a smaller form factor designed for laptops and notebooks. Most CardBus slots support earlier PCMCIA devices, but CardBus devices can not be inserted into older slots, as they are notched differently. If these newer cards are forced into the older PCMCIA slots, it can cause damage to the card slots and a relatively expensive laptop repair.

ExpressCard

ExpressCard is the latest successor to be developed by the PCMCIA organization. It was introduced in 2003 to replace earlier form factors. There are two form factors included in the specification that are used on laptop systemboards; Expresscard/34, which is 34 mm wide, and ExpressCard/54, which is 54 mm wide. ExpressCard/54 cards can be rectangular or L-shaped, supporting either 26 pins or 68 pins. ExpressCard/54 slots are often used on HP laptop systemboards to support a remote that conveniently hides away in the slot. The ExpressCard interface allows for much more bandwidth than previous technologies, up to 2Gbit/s. This allows users to connect high-speed disk drives and other devices that need more bandwidth to operate effectively.

Understanding the progression of these three technologies will hopefully clarify their differences and applications. Currently, ExpressCard slots offer the best performance for external devices, but it will likely be replaced by a faster technology in the future as well.

Laptops can sometimes be troublesome devices, and anyone who has had either a hardware or software problem with a laptop may have wondered if there was anything they could have done to prevent it. While some problems are unavoidable, there are a few steps that any user can take to help prolong the life of a computer and prevent problems from occurring.

1. Cleaning

Dust and dirt are two of the biggest enemies of a laptop computer. Since dust buildup can sometimes cause overheating, it is important to ensure that it doesn’t affect the function of laptop fans or block air circulation. Turn off the laptop, remove the battery, and gently spray compressed air into any vents in the laptop to dislodge any dust buildup every few months.

2. Repairs

If you suspect you may be in need of a laptop repair, don’t put it off. In many cases, you may be able to perform the repair yourself. Do a search for Toshiba laptop parts or HP laptop parts, for example, and you may find the replacement parts you need to solve the problem yourself. Putting off a necessary repair could cause more damage to your laptop and lead to more problems down the road.

3. System Maintenance

Not all laptop problems stem from hardware issues. In many cases, users purchase a laptop because their old one has become very slow. This is often caused by software problems. Every few months, uninstall any unnecessary software on your machine, defragment the hard drive, empty the recycle bin, and clean up temporary files. If the system still seems slow, you could consider backing up necessary files, formatting the hard drive, and reinstalling the operating system.

4. Upgrades

As a laptop computer ages, it may not have the performance to handle newer software. This can be a good time to make upgrades to your machine. For most laptops, upgrading the memory to the maximum amount supported is the most cost-effective upgrade. Upgrading the hard drive is also a great way to gain more storage space for files.

At some point every laptop becomes obsolete and will need to be replaced, but if you follow these steps, it will be less likely to be due to hardware or software failure of some kind. With a little extra care, you may find your laptop outlives its expected life.

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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