All The Laptop Repairs Solutions You need

Free Laptop Repair Video-How to Clean a Laptop Fan

2010-09-08T06:15:00.000-07:00

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Free Laptop Videos- How to Repair a Laptop Keyboard

2010-09-03T07:55:00.000-07:00

Click Here To get 18 Easy Laptop Repairs Worth $60,000 A Year!

Laptop Repair Video- How to Revive A Dead Laptop Battery!

2010-08-31T05:53:00.000-07:00

Click here to Get your Laptop repair manual.

Laptop Repair Video- How to Change a Laptop Video Card

2010-08-31T05:40:00.000-07:00

Click Here to Get the LaptopRepair Workbook.

How to Add Wireless to Your Old Laptop

2010-08-02T08:35:00.000-07:00

Almost all new laptops already come complete with a wireless transmitter and receiver built into the motherboard, or installed in a special port in the casing. If you wish to add wireless to an old laptop, you can quickly and easily upgrade without having to splash out on a brand new machine.

1. Step 1
Check your laptop manual or visit a computer store or web site to find out if your laptop has a compartment for a wireless card. The good news is that this compartment offers you a really easy solution to installing wireless. However, the bad news is that the wireless card is nearly always a 'proprietary part' which means that you will have to buy the card from the same company who manufactured your laptop, and pay whatever price they charge for the card. Some manufacturers discourage people installing these cards themselves, and so you may have to end up paying for an engineer to install the card for you.

2. Step 2
Another way to add wireless to an old laptop is by purchasing a plug and play wireless transceiver PC Card. The main problem with this is that your laptop may only have one or two PC Card slots, so obviously you would be limited to how many other cards you could have installed. To overcome this, some companies combine a wireless transceiver with a network interface card (NIC) which gives your laptop access to connect to either a wireless network or a wired Ethernet in one unit. Something else to bear in mind is that the card will probably have a small antenna that protrudes from the side of your laptop. It's a good idea to remove the card before you put your laptop away after each use to ensure that the antenna does not get damaged during transit or storage.

3. Step 3
A second plug and play solution is to use a USB wireless adapter, which simply plugs into one of the spare USB ports on your laptop. As with PC Cards, they are available from a wide variety of computer and IT stores, which helps to keep competition healthy, and prices relatively low. A USB wireless adapter will also stick out from the side of the computer as well, but is a much more robust solution. Unlike the PC Card antenna, the USB unit will be able to stand the majority of knocks it receives, however it is still advisable that you get into the habit of removing the unit when shutting down your computer after each use.

Conclusion
As you can see it is incredibly easy to turn your old laptop into a wireless laptop. It is also a much cheaper option when compared to the cost of buying a brand new laptop. By adding wireless to an old laptop, not only are you saving yourself money, but you are saving yourself the time of having to back up and transfer all your files and programs to a new machine.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gary_Hendricks

5 Easy Steps on How to Fix Wet Damaged Laptops

2010-08-02T07:23:00.000-07:00

Laptops are one of our most precious electronic devices that allow you to work, play and whole lot of things. Cheap Laptops should be handled with utmost care. Sometimes, water damaged laptop may still switch on without showing any issues of malfunction; however, you should not start your laptop if you are sure that the internal parts have not dried yet. If you try to start a wet laptop, the internal components of the system will be damaged considerably when electric current passes through them. Water damaged laptop can be hazardous as there is a huge risk of shorting of the battery. Here are the steps you need to take if your laptop has been damaged by water or any other liquid:

1. Most people use their Cheap laptops by connecting to the wall socket. If the laptop is water damaged, you must immediately unplug the laptop from the wall socket and remove the internal battery as quickly as possible. You can remove the battery by releasing the battery lock and then remove the battery as per the directions shown on the back of your laptop. Make sure you unplug the connection to the wall socket before you remove the battery.

2. Unplug all the devices that are connected to the system. Get a cloth and start carefully wiping all the wet parts of the laptop. Soak up all the remaining liquid.

3. If cheap laptops are out of warranty, you can disassemble parts like the RAM, the display screen, the hard drive, etc after checking out the information about disassembling the components through the manufacturer's website. Dry each and every part that you have removed by means of a dry cloth gently or you can keep them under the fan.
Do not dry any of the parts of the system under the sunlight. You can also make use of a blow dryer (low setting) to dry the parts. After all the parts have dried, you can reassemble it. If you are not sure about disassembling and reassembling the parts of the laptop, you can keep the laptop in a big container containing uncooked rice because rice has the affinity of soaking water efficiently. If you are still unsure about these steps, you can skip this step and go to the next one.

4. You need to keep the laptop turned off for at least 72 hours with the battery removed from the battery socket. During this time, you can keep the system under the fan for drying. If you have a blow dryer on a low setting, make use of it to dry the wet areas of the laptop.

5. After you have found that the laptop has dried completely, you can try booting up your laptop after placing the battery back into the system.

If your computer does not start even after performing the above steps, you may wait for more days to give it a chance to dry and then try again to boot up. If this fails, you need to contact your computer's technical support for further assistance.

Quick action is very important if you have spilt water or any other liquid on the laptop because the internal components of the system may corrode. Although laptops come with service warranty, most manufacturers do not cover against spills. Whilst buying laptops, you may go for spill proof ones, they might cost you a few pounds more but it is better to go with such laptops rather than buying non-spill proof and get all sorts of problems when it becomes wet.

If you want to read more tips on how to care for your laptops, visit http://www.saveonlaptops.co.uk.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Luke_Wildman

Can You Trust Laptop Computer Ratings?

2010-07-28T07:29:00.000-07:00

Buying a laptop computer is an investment. This is one reason most people are looking for the best deal they can get on a laptop whether it is new or refurbished. There are so many high quality brands of laptops on the market today; it is hard to determine which one will suit your needs. Finding the best rated laptops to suit your needs is one of the most important elements when buying a computer. You need to know what your needs are before you commit to such an investment. Weeding through laptops that are designed for gaming, business or general home use can get confusing when you are not well versed in this area.

The best way to get educated on technology and laptop computers is to read laptop computer reviews. You can find expert laptop reviews online that will give you the information you need on laptop ratings and the pros and cons of various brands. You can even get technical information on the best rated laptops like how to make laptop computer wireless, laptop computer temperature monitor options, laptop wireless internet access and a breakdown of what they cost so you can find out how to get a top rated lap top computer cheap. Finding the best rated laptops is all about the knowledge you gather from experts and users.

If you prefer to check out information on a refurbished laptop computer, you are likely to find even more ratings and reviews on them since they are not so new. Something to consider when you are shopping for refurbished laptops is the brand name and where you decide to purchase it. Make sure you are getting the best deals by checking out the manufacturer's information before you buy. Most all the top brands like Apple, Dell, Gateway, HP, Toshiba, Sony and Acer offer top quality refurbished laptops. Finding the best rated laptops doesn't mean you have to buy new.

Most of today's laptops have integrated wireless internet already, so you won't need to buy an adaptor to make it work on your home or office wireless internet connection. It should pick it right up for you. Even if you are not going to use wireless internet at home, it can come in handy when you are traveling.

If you are looking for a laptop that can has a full keyboard for easier use, the Toshiba Satellite P505-S8980 is a model that provides that option. If you are looking for more portability, Apple MacBook is one of the best laptops for mobility. No matter what you are looking for in a laptop, finding the best rated laptops by reading reviews and learning as much as you can about them will be beneficial to you.

Jason Whitney writes about how to find the best rated laptops at http://www.squidoo.com/wirlelesslaptopexpert

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jason_Whitney

15 ways to increase your laptop battery!

2010-07-26T07:20:00.001-07:00

Laptops tend to lose their charm quickly when you’re constantly looking for the nearest power outlet to charge up. How do you keep your battery going for as long as possible? Here are 15 easy ways to do so.
1. Defrag regularly - The faster your hard drive does its work – less demand you are going to put on the hard drive and your battery. Make your hard drive as efficient as possible by defragging it regularly. (but not while it’s on battery of course!) Mac OSX is better built to handle fragmentation so it may not be very applicable for Apple systems.
2. Dim your screen – Most laptops come with the ability to dim your laptop screen. Some even come with ways to modify CPU and cooling performance. Cut them down to the lowest level you can tolerate to squeeze out some extra battery juice.
3. Cut down on programs running in the background. Itunes, Desktop Search, etc. All these add to the CPU load and cut down battery life. Shut down everything that isn’t crucial when you’re on battery.
4. Cut down external devices – USB devices (including your mouse) & WiFi drain down your laptop battery. Remove or shut them down when not in use. It goes without saying that charging other devices (like your iPod) with your laptop when on battery is a surefire way of quickly wiping out the charge on your laptop battery.
5. Add more RAM - This will allow you to process more with the memory your laptop has, rather than relying on virtual memory. Virtual memory results in hard drive use, and is much less power efficient. Note that adding more RAM will consume more energy, so this is most applicable if you do need to run memory intensive programs which actually require heavy usage of virtual memory.

6. Run off a hard drive rather than CD/DVD - As power consuming as hard drives are, CD and DVD drives are worse. Even having one in the drive can be power consuming. They spin, taking power, even when they?re not actively being used. Wherever possible, try to run on virtual drives using programs like Alcohol 120% rather than optical ones.
7. Keep the battery contacts clean: Clean your battery’s metal contacts every couple of months with a cloth moistened with rubbing alcohol. This keeps the transfer of power from your battery more efficient.
8. Take care of your battery – Exercise the Battery. Do not leave a charged battery dormant for long periods of time. Once charged, you should at least use the battery at least once every two to three weeks. Also, do not let a Li-On battery completely discharge. (Discharing is only for older batteries with memory effects)
9. Hibernate not standby – Although placing a laptop in standby mode saves some power and you can instantly resume where you left off, it doesn’t save anywhere as much power as the hibernate function does. Hibernating a PC will actually save your PC’s state as it is, and completely shut itself down.

10. Keep operating temperature down - Your laptop operates more efficiently when it’s cooler. Clean out your air vents with a cloth or keyboard cleaner, or refer to some extra tips by LapTopMag.com.
11. Set up and optimize your power options – Go to ‘Power Options’ in your windows control panel and set it up so that power usage is optimized (Select the ‘max battery’ for maximum effect).
12. Don’t multitask – Do one thing at a time when you’re on battery. Rather than working on a spreadsheet, letting your email client run in the background and listening to your latest set of MP3’s, set your mind to one thing only. If you don’t you’ll only drain out your batteries before anything gets completed!
13. Go easy on the PC demands – The more you demand from your PC. Passive activities like email and word processing consume much less power than gaming or playing a DVD. If you’ve got a single battery charge – pick your priorities wisely.
14. Get yourself a more efficient laptop - Laptops are getting more and more efficient in nature to the point where some manufacturers are talking about all day long batteries. Picking up a newer more efficient laptop to replace an aging one is usually a quick fix.
15. Prevent the Memory Effect - If you’re using a very old laptop, you’ll want to prevent the ‘memory effect’ – Keep the battery healthy by fully charging and then fully discharging it at least once every two to three weeks. Exceptions to the rule are Li-Ion batteries (which most laptops have) which do not suffer from the memory effect.
Bonus Tip #1: Turn off the autosave function. MS-Word’s and Excel’s autosave functions are great but because they keep saving regular intervals, they work your hard driver harder than it may have to. If you plan to do this, you may want to turn it back on as the battery runs low. While it saves battery life in the beginning, you will want to make sure your work is saved when your battery dies.
Bonus Tip #2: Lower the graphics use. You can do this by changing the screen resolution and shutting off fancy graphic drivers. Graphics cards (video cards) use as much or more power today as hard disks – Thanks Andrew

How to Maintain and Charge Your Laptop Battery

2010-07-26T07:20:00.000-07:00

Laptops are becoming popular as technology expands into the future, and it seems that most households have at LEAST one laptop these days. ( Please try your hardest to forgive me if you have no laptop at all!

Laptops are extremely convenient and handy, BUT - due to the proprietary parts that are used, and the relatively high cost of replacement parts, care must be taken in operating and maintaining these kind of computers.

One overlooked laptop accessory that can equal the difference between your computer working and your computer NOT working is: the BATTERY ! I recently experienced laptop battery failure, only 6 months after purchasing my shiny new HP laptop. Can you believe that my battery died in only SIX months while still under warranty? Exactly.....I can't believe it either!!

If I had known then what I know now, I would have avoided the frustration of waiting nearly two months from the time I shipped my old (dead) battery to HP; to actually receive the new item! Luckily, my computer was still under the factory warranty, or I would have spent a whopping $119.00 on a new battery! VERY BAD.

If your laptop is used for business, work or school; I am sure you cannot afford to go without your computer for suchs long periods of time, as I did. The old adage an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, holds as true as ever - so lets explore a few tips to prevent your laptop battery from dying prematurely:

1.) When at home or near a power outlet, plug in your laptop and REMOVE your battery!

Many people (including myself until last year), have the habit of plugging their laptop into the wall, and keeping the battery attached to the laptop. A laptop battery is rechargeable, and rechargeable batteries have a limit to the amount of times or hours, that they can be charged. When your battery remains in your laptop while it is plugged in, it continues to charge and thus the life of the battery is lowered significantly. Since your laptop will work with the power supply attached, without the battery; this method is the best way to extend the life of your laptops battery.

2.) Before you charge your laptop battery, make sure the battery is VERY LOW!

Rechargeable batteries have cell memory, which basically means that your laptops battery remembersï how much power it had prior to the last charge or use. For example: you keep your laptop plugged in, and your battery attached and only unplug the power adaptor when you decide to take your laptop with you, outside of the home. You notice that within 8 months, your laptop battery gives you the: recharge now warning, but in half of the time that it took 8 months ago. Instead of your battery dying in an hour and a half, it dies in just 45 minutes. Three months later your battery lasts a mere 30 minutes before the battery is dead, and so on.

You must allow your battery to cycle; in other words when you are using the battery in your laptop, keep the adapter unplugged UNTIL the battery power is nearly drained (your computer should have an icon or software that monitors and notifies you when your battery is low). I would recommend that you keep an eye on your battery while using your computer, save all of your important data when the battery gets very low, and allow the battery to die completely; and the PC to power itself off. Then, charge the battery.

(this method is not convenient at all, but the closer that you can get to practicing this, the longer your battery will last! )

3.When charging your battery, stop the charging process when the battery reaches 100%!

I know its extremely boring monitoring your laptops battery status when it is charging and no one loves doing this; BUT, if you would like your battery to work in peak condition, you will put this method into practice. For example: I used to plug in my laptops battery and allow it to charge for hours. I started to notice within several months, that after using my computer for 30 minutes the battery extremely low shutting down now warning would pop up; when months ago, I could use my computer for an hour and a half at least, until the battery extremely low warning popped up! I decided to let the computer shut itself off every time; and one day, I decided to plug the adapter in, turn the PC back on, and when it booted successfully I removed the adapter.

I continued this procedure for a day or two, then I finally noticed that the more I continue this cycling of the battery, the longer my battery lasted until it eventually supplied me with the full 1 hour of power. (I hope I didn't confuse you on that, if so, please feel free to email me).

I had inadvertently cycled my battery, or manipulated the memory cells by forcing the cells to re-learn their maximum charge level. To avoid needing to cycle YOUR battery, it is highly recommended that you monitor your battery is charging, and stop charging it once it reaches 100%. Just as important as unplugging it at 100%, is draining your battery completely prior to charging it.

I hope that you find this information helpful, and hopefully this article will help to save you from spending unnecessary money replacing your laptop battery. A penny saved is indeed, a penny earned. Happy Computing!

Jarvis Edwards is a Senior Technician at TekTime, a mobile computer consulting and repair company located in the Inland Empire area of Southern California. In his spare time, he likes to "hang out" with family, work on computers, play PC games and write articles!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jarvis_Edwards

How To Receive Live Satellite Feed On PC or Laptop

2010-07-22T07:29:00.001-07:00

Looking for ways to watch live satellite feed on your PC or laptop? Traditionally, people make use of hardware known as PCTV cards. However, there is a revolutionary alternative to that now. It comes in the form of software that enables PC or laptops to stream live satellite feed with the use of broadband network.

Why use software instead of PCTV cards? Well, one very obvious reason is that it will eliminate the need to open the computer and install the card inside. Although PCTV cards do come in the form of external USB device, you still have a hardware sitting on your desk. Also these cards will easily set you back by more than $50, not taking into consideration the time and effort in setting them up. The exciting thing about using this software is that since it is making use of the internet as the medium for live video feeds, a WIFI connection will work just fine with the software. What this means is that you can be sitting in a cafe watching live football or your favorite serials. You can get live satellite feed anywhere.

The software basically connects to the service provider and stream live satellite feed right to your desktop or laptop. This is not the typical episode downloads that you see online but the feeds are live. A good software like that will offer thousands of live channels in different languages for you to choose from. The best thing I like about this software is that you do not have to pay any monthly subscription to use it. Once the software is purchased, it entitles the user to live satellite feed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for as long as you like, free of charge, anywhere in the world.

Here are the summary of things to note before you buy satellite tv software:

1. It should come with a one-time fee. You only pay for the software and that's it.

2. A good software will offer more than 3000 channels worldwide for your viewing pleasure.

3. It should not cost more than $50.

4. Make sure that it supports your desktop or laptop's operation system (Windows XP, Vista, Mac, etc)

5. Read review about the software to have a better idea of what you are getting.

George Tho is a webmaster and a tv addict. Read his review on how to receive live satellite feed on pc or laptop and start enjoying thousands of satellite channels at http://www.clickbankproductreview.com/pcsatellitetvsoftware.php.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=George_Tho

A Guide to Laptop Printers

2010-07-20T07:47:00.003-07:00

Laptops are the most portable computers which are widely used among masses these days. If you are constantly on the run and always require hard copies of your work, research or presentations it is always a great idea to use laptop printers. The best feature about these is that they can be conveniently carried to anywhere at anytime. You can get your printouts even just minutes before a huge presentation without any kind of hassle. They are small in size and just as sleek as laptops themselves.

With such a printer in your access, you can simply print as many copies as needed in your office or any other business venue. Some people or business executives have a habit of proofreading letters and other official papers with a highlighter or a pen on a hard copy as compared to a computer screen. If you have one of these printers, you, your boss or associate can proof read on as many printouts as you want. There are a large number of computer companies who manufacture these. Most people like to purchase the printer of the same brand as that of their computer or laptop.

If you usually have a heavy load and need printing on a large scale then it is best to get a printer which can feed itself. Using this will save you time and also your work productivity will increase. The speed and the weight are two things which you should always think of while looking for laptop printers. It should be easy to carry and should also have a good speed. The printing quality is obviously a prerequisite so while purchasing don't forget to check out the quality of the prints.

A popular choice is the HP Officejet H470 mobile printer which can be purchased for $ 250 and is considered the fastest portable printers. It only weighs 2kg which makes it quite easy to carry everywhere with you. You can just keep it in your laptop bag and can enjoy unlimited printing. It also provides the advantage of printing pictures from phones, digital cameras and computers. It can be connected to another device by using Bluetooth or a cable and also using Wi-Fi technology to connect wirelessly which is helpful in producing laser prints. It is believed to be the best available these days. Do a thorough research before buying one as you can easily get confused with the vast range.

Visit laptop printers or compact printers for more information.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Amy_Everet

How to Fix Keyboard Keys

2010-05-15T11:23:00.000-07:00

Hello there! You probably came to this site wondering how to fix your keyboard keys. Well, I'm here to help you with just that! There are many great sites you can use to find good information on this topic, but since you're already here, I'll go ahead and explain the process to you.

The first thing you need to know is there are many different types of keyboard out there. Whether you are using a laptop or just a normal keyboard the key principles are still there. If you are using a laptop, you may find it helpful to completely remove your keyboard unit from your laptop before you begin, however this step may not be needed in some cases. Fixing your keyboard keys is not a complicated task, but if you have little tech knowledge, or this is your first time trying to fix or repair broken computer hardware than this may be a little overwhelming for you. The most important part of this process is making sure you know what you're doing before you begin. Be absolutely positive you have the knowledge needed to do the task you need to do before you start doing it in order to save money in computer part cost. That's why you're here right? So you don't have to buy a new keyboard? Step 1 is common sense, know what you're doing before you're doing it.

The second thing you need to know (If you are doing this on a laptop. if you aren't, you can skip this step) Is removing the keyboard unit from your laptop. Many times this can be done by removing a few screws holding the keyboard mount in place, but since there are so many different varieties of laptops nowadays, you may find it a lot easier just searching for a tutorial for your specific machine. When removing your keyboard in order to fix your keyboard keys, there will most likely be a ribbon connecting the keyboard to the machine. When removing the keyboard, please be careful not to damage the ribbon. Once you have this step completed, move on to the third step.

The second step is probably the hardest part, and if you're just using a normal keyboard you probably don't even need to do that step. So on to step 3. It is important you are careful with you're parts before proceeding with this step. Using a tool, such as a key remover, will be very helpful to you. If you do not have one of these, they can be purchased from many websites all over the internet. They make all purpose tools for jobs such as these, and fixing other small devices as well. Get the prongs of the tool under the selected key and push up gently. If the key doesn't give way, than it may not be a good idea to continue trying to pull the damaged key out. If it does, good, now just replace the key.

If you have found that replacing your key has not solved your problem than you may need a new keyboard. Many times with things such as water damage, people may not be able to fix them just by replacing the selected key. On the other hand, if you have only scratched a key, or there is a dent in one of the keys, this will be very helpful to you and you will be glad that you do not need to spend you're money on another keyboard. If you need more detail on this, there are many videos and websites out there dedicated to hardware repair out there. The site that I own goes into a little more detail on how to do this process.

You can visit it by clicking here: How to fix keyboard keys.

If the article was not helpful to you, I hope that my website will be of a little more use for you. Here is a simple summary of what we went over:

1. We went over the common sense rule: If you don't know what you're doing, don't do it!

2. We determined what kind of keyboard we were trying to fix. Either a laptop keyboard, or a desktop keyboard

3. We detailed how to fix keys, and the steps to successfully removing them

4. Finally, the last thing we did is we went over what to do if our plan of action didn't work.

Disclaimer: I take no responsibility in the damage or your property as a result of this article. You are responsible for everything you do after reading this. Please be careful and smart about removing keyboard keys. You can find more information by clicking Fix Keyboard keys.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jared_Hoernemann

How to Upgrade Your Laptop's Memory

2010-05-15T11:06:00.000-07:00

If you want to drastically improve the overall speed of your laptop computer then you will need to consider a ram memory upgrade. Before setting out to upgrade your current memory you will need to do some basic research beforehand to insure you make the right purchasing choice. With so many type of memory available it is crucial to purchase the right type and size for your laptops needs to gain the most benefit. By investigating your laptop manual or via the manufacturers website you will be able to find the type of memory your laptop accepts as well as upgrade possibilities.

Finding out how much memory your computer laptop currently has.

There are 2 ways to check the amount of memory you have installed on your laptop. The quickest way is to check through the bios of your laptop. This is usually accessed when the laptop boots up and requires to press the appropriate key to enter setup. Bios setup menus vary from laptop to laptop so just have a quick browse through the memory settings to get a clear idea on what your system currently has.

Another method to check your memory is via your system menu in the control panel. This can be accessed if you have windows xp or later by clicking on the control panel option in the start menu then locating the system icon. From there you will find other specifications such as processor speed and memory currently installed.

How much memory is needed?

This all depends on your speed requirements. If you find your computer is not running as smooth as you would like then its advised to essentially double the amount of memory by purchasing another of equal amount. This will usually suffice for many and it is often rare to go further than this unless you have an older model of laptop.

Checking if there are additional ram slots available for upgrade & installation.

Underneath your laptop you will find a panel labelled in many cases with a little engraving of a memory module. These panels are usually attached via 1 screw or clip function and can be removed to access the memory bay of your computer. If you are not sure where the ram panel is I advice you consult the manual of your laptop to find it's exact location.

Once you have access to the panel you will be able to tell if there are additional slots available to place your new ram or if you need to replace an existing module with your new memory stick. If there is a lot available then simply install your new memory by diagonally placing the connector side into the appropriate slot and lowering the rest of the ram module.

Choosing the right ram memory for your laptop

The important thing to remember when purchasing any sort of ram is that an upgrade can only be performed in pairs of equal amount or single for 1 slot. As an example if you find you have slot taken by a 1gb memory stick and still have 1 slot available you should install in that free slot a memory module of equal amount not greater or less equaling to a total of 2gb memory. You could do this another way by removing the 1gb memory stick and placing 1x2gb memory leaving another slot free in future for an additional 2gb stick. The choice is totally up to you. It is advised to get the biggest amount of memory you can purchase to save you cash in the long term so you do not need to remove and rid of old modules to replace with new ones.

Robert has been writing articles for over 2 years now. Come and visit his latest site over at http://4gbmemorycard.org for more information on the various 4gb memory cards available.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robert_Roderick

How to Upgrade Your Laptop's Hard Drive

2010-05-15T09:37:00.000-07:00

If you have a laptop that's a few years old, you may be running out of hard drive space, or you may have noticed that it's getting slower and slower, especially compared to newer models or desktops. Is it time to get a new laptop? Not necessarily. If you're willing to put a bit of work into it, installing a new hard drive is pretty easy. (You may also want to add more RAM, but that's a different subject).

One thing to consider before replacing it is: will changing the hard drive void the warranty on your laptop? In many cases it will, and even if something else goes wrong with your laptop that does not have anything at all to do with your new drive, the manufacturer will most likely blame it on the fact that you replaced it. Check the manufacturer's website, or call customer service to be sure. However, if you've had your laptop for so long that the warranty has expired anyway, that's obviously not a concern.

Once you have your new drive you are ready to go. Before getting replacing it, you need to do some house cleaning of your current hard drive. Delete all the files and programs you don't use, and backup the rest on disks or an external drive. Then defragment your internal hard drive.

To make the data transfer easy and painless, I recommend getting a data transfer kit. There are several different brands available and they come with a cable, software (that copies all the content from your old drive to your new one) and some includes new hard drive and some only come with a case. Make sure you get one that's compatible with your equipment (and read other peoples' reviews online - some work better with certain laptops than others).

Using one of these kits, pop your new drive in the case that came with the kit, hook it up to your laptop and run the software. It will copy everything from your old drive to the new one. This may take quite a bit of time, so do it when you don't need your laptop for a few hours (or more). Once everything is copied, it's time for the actual replacement. Turn off and unplug your laptop and remove the battery. Laptop hard drives are usually located in an easily accessible place - on some, you need to unscrew only a small cover, and on others you may have to remove the entire back cover (your laptop's manual should tell you where your drive is located).

Remove your old hard drive and carefully install in your new one (no shaking or dropping it!). On some laptops, the drive sits directly in a panel and on some, it's in a caddy. Install your new drive exactly the way the old one was installed. Make sure it's in there snugly and securely (and the right way) before putting the panel back on and closing the laptop up again. Plug the laptop back in and start it up. Since you copied everything from your old disk, it should start without any issues. If it doesn't, put your old hard drive back in and troubleshoot the new one.

What do you do with your old drive? Well, you can keep it as a backup of your system, or put it in the case that came with the kit and use it as an external hard drive.

DeeDee Dobson blogs about pink laptops and all the different peripherals and laptop components.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=DeeDee_Dobson

How to fix a laptop.

2010-05-15T09:23:00.000-07:00

Are you sick and tried of your computer breaking and don't knowing to do? Are you sick and tried of paying the tech guys hundreds of dollars just for a simple problem? Do you want to know how to fix a laptop. If this is the case then keep reading. In this module I am going to teach you how to diagnose the problem and what I use to fix it.

First off there are two kinds of computer problems software and hardware problems. Software problems are programs not responding etc. and they can be easily fixed. For more information on software problems please visit http://www.pcbuyerbeware.co.uk/SoftwareProblems.htm . Now Hardware problems are more complex. The first step is to know were the problem is coming from. Lets say it is a bad hard drive here is some of the symptoms for a bad hard drive. 1, If you hear a clicking sound. 2, Computer keeps restarting. 3, Blue screen of death. For more info please vist http://ask-leo.com/how_do_i_fix_a_bad_sector_on_my_hard_drive.html

I have a hard drive problem how do I fix without having to pay a guy at best buy hundererds of dollars. First off you have to find out what the problem is . Lets say it is a bad hard drive. I go online and find a hard drive to buy. Now I have to know how to install it . What do I do?

Simple I use laptop repair videos to help me out. I have been using this service for years and they are great. The videos are in Hd format and they keep coming out with more videos. They have helped me repair several laptops and earn some money by fixing other people laptops as well. Check them out by clicking here http://www.laptoprepairvideos.com/?hop=akivadude .

About the Author

If you want to find out more please vist http://www.laptoprepairvideos.com/?hop=akivadude

Easy Laptop Repair with Tech Support

2010-05-15T09:06:00.000-07:00

Laptops are complicated computing device as compared to desktop systems. Its compact structure is the main reason why hardware troubleshooting or replacement needs expert's involvement. But always mind the fact that laptop repair may not be as expensive as the tech support companies often lead users to spend. Initially laptop was only the choice of corporate and business users but now it has become a preferred choice of many. The smart structure of a laptop device occupies relatively less space and easy to carry around. The structure and portability is lovely, but at the same time, functionality matters.

Slow computer problem is one of the most common computing issues why system owners look for online technical support assistance. It has been found that laptop computers get slower earlier than desktop PCs. So, let's see how a remote help desk specialist can assist users work on such common and very basic issue through on-call direction or remote chat session.

Most branded laptops come up with warranty for its spares and post service laptop repair services. Ideally you should always go for such services to restore your system functionality. But certain situation arrives when you just need an instant tech support to keep your system alive. An online helpdesk specialist can only retain your sanity the very moment. Therefore, always stay prepared to face the odds- have some basic equipments at home to work on you laptop instead grabbing just anything found nearby. You may not need to access the hardware parts in case of troubleshooting slow computer problem, but what if your tech support vendor ask to upgrade the RAM or do something on the motherboard?

Here we will talk about the easy system speed up procedure commonly suggested by the laptop repair experts. While troubleshooting a laptop do not open the laptop case unless it is barely needed. First thing, a technician suggests is to defrag the disk drivers. When you give a certain command, your system memory jumps from place to place in search of the data. Defragmentation process allows your computer to stream and manage information which speeds up laptop computers in turn to process different programs.

You must eliminate as much startup programs as you can. Tech support experts help users identify the list of unnecessary programs and remove or disable them safely. Anytime you install a new program, it automatically gets started every time you boot. This dramatically slows down the system functionality. You can also think of updating your RAM memory for this matter.

Registry clean up is another important step to improve system functionality. You can get free registry cleaner software from online help desk specialist. Else, you can also do it manually. These are nothing but the ways of proper system optimization. You just need to keep your system well organized. Instead of spending dollars on pricy updates, think of resolving your basic computing errors at your own. Get online and talk to a remote tech support expert. They can actually help you resolve laptop issues for a least expense.

About the Author

Resolve laptop technical issues through tech support assistance. Laptop repair has now become even easier and cheaper than before with online technician's involvement. For more information please visit- www.mytechsupportstore.com.

Laptop LCD Screen Repair

2010-05-15T08:56:00.000-07:00

Have you ever been in a situation where you either damaged or dropped your laptop. This is not an uncommon occurrence today.

With schools allowing digital devices in the classroom more students than ever find that they need laptop LCD screen repair.

This author has even found himself in the precarious position of dropping an expensive laptop, and having another laptop with pixels that became intermittent and faint.

Knowing now that accidents do happen how, might you ask, can you approach this problem? The answer is simply by people can simply become educated.

Have you ever tried to count from one to one million? It is next to impossible without digital assistance. The idea of vast number of items in a very small space is similar to counting to a high number.

You see every square inch of your laptop screen is composed of literally thousands of micro pixels. A simple bump or crack can permanently damage your ability to do school work or play your favorite video game.

Some sites will advise a user to replace an entire laptop because of prohibitive pricing. While prices are high laptop LCD screen repair is a rather simple process.

Auction sites like eBay offer great deals on laptop screens that have been scavenged from useless computers so, a savvy techie might find it useful to check an auction site before spending a fortune to replace a computer.

Another option is to see if the price of a used model on an auction site is close to the replacement cost of a screen. If replacement at a low cost is an option then all the user has to do is remove or transfer hard drive data and you are up and running in minutes.

Laptop LCD repair can become necessary, as stated if viewing a picture on your screen becomes difficult. One note to the discerning reader rental or home insurance will often cover the repair of devices if there is accidental damage.

So, before you have an accident you might consider including your digital devices on your home or rental insurance policy.

If you want to increase your laptop Lcd screen life I highly recommend to use Laptop LCD Screen Protectors, for more information please visit Laptop Screen Protector

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sharon_Hunter

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How to Upgrade Your Laptop's Memory.

2010-05-15T08:48:00.000-07:00

Finding out how much memory your computer laptop currently has.

There are 2 ways to check the amount of memory you have installed on your laptop. The quickest way is to check through the bios of your laptop. This is usually accessed when the laptop boots up and requires to press the appropriate key to enter setup. Bios setup menus vary from laptop to laptop so just have a quick browse through the memory settings to get a clear idea on what your system currently has.

Another method to check your memory is via your system menu in the control panel. This can be accessed if you have windows xp or later by clicking on the control panel option in the start menu then locating the system icon. From there you will find other specifications such as processor speed and memory currently installed.

How much memory is needed?

This all depends on your speed requirements. If you find your computer is not running as smooth as you would like then its advised to essentially double the amount of memory by purchasing another of equal amount. This will usually suffice for many and it is often rare to go further than this unless you have an older model of laptop.

Checking if there are additional ram slots available for upgrade & installation.

Underneath your laptop you will find a panel labelled in many cases with a little engraving of a memory module. These panels are usually attached via 1 screw or clip function and can be removed to access the memory bay of your computer. If you are not sure where the ram panel is I advice you consult the manual of your laptop to find it's exact location.

Once you have access to the panel you will be able to tell if there are additional slots available to place your new ram or if you need to replace an existing module with your new memory stick. If there is a lot available then simply install your new memory by diagonally placing the connector side into the appropriate slot and lowering the rest of the ram module.

Choosing the right ram memory for your laptop

The important thing to remember when purchasing any sort of ram is that an upgrade can only be performed in pairs of equal amount or single for 1 slot. As an example if you find you have slot taken by a 1gb memory stick and still have 1 slot available you should install in that free slot a memory module of equal amount not greater or less equaling to a total of 2gb memory. You could do this another way by removing the 1gb memory stick and placing 1x2gb memory leaving another slot free in future for an additional 2gb stick. The choice is totally up to you. It is advised to get the biggest amount of memory you can purchase to save you cash in the long term so you do not need to remove and rid of old modules to replace with new ones.

Robert has been writing articles for over 2 years now. Come and visit his latest site over at http://4gbmemorycard.org for more information on the various 4gb memory cards available.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robert_Roderick

Learn How to Repair a Laptop Screen.

2010-05-15T08:37:00.000-07:00

For a laptop owner, one of the most common issues to handle on the hardware part is a broken or malfunctioned laptop screen. As we know, laptop screens are the important part of a laptop and also the most delicate part of any of the hardware. All in all, these laptop screen problems are unexpectedly easy to repair by oneself even if you know nothing technical about it.

There are a number of usual reasons that contribute to laptop screen problems. Firstly, damaged pixels will cause difficulties to read the words on the screen. Even if there are only a few pixels spoilt in one area, it can disrupt your computing task. When this happens, it is best to remove the problematic screen and then replace it with a functional one.

Secondly, sometimes you will find the laptop screen producing faint images. This occurs when the back light of the screen does not work properly. Therefore, look for the back light switches which are usually located adjacent to the laptop hinges. Check if the switch is active. If is not, then try to open and shut the laptop for a few times, else tap gently or use a small pin to un-stick the switch.

Thirdly, when the laptop screen starts to flicker on and off, it is probably caused by an inverter problem. The inverter is responsible to supply power to the back light of the screen. It can be repair simply by replacing the inverter with a new one. On the other hand, if the screen shows a solid white color, then the root cause might be due to a loose cable connection between the monitor and system board. In that case, ensure that the cables are not damaged and the connections are setup correctly.

Last but not least, images from the screen can get jumbled up at times. Although it looks like it is one of the laptop screen problems, but it can be due to the video card too. Do a short test to confirm on whether the monitor is the reason behind the jumbled screens by connecting a good monitor to your laptop. Then, check the images in the other monitor if they are all jumbled up. If yes, then you can be certain that you will need to replace the video card of your computer.

Author of this article is writing for many websites, He enjoys writing and sharing content on wide range of topics such as laptop screen problems and rent a laptop. Visit to find more information.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Stuart_Michael_M

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My Laptop is Running Extremely Slow - How to Make Your Laptop Run Fast Again in No Time!

2010-05-15T04:36:00.000-07:00

With long use, I'm sure that you have experienced the laptop slow running problem. If you do not get these problems resolved, they can result in some serious errors with your laptop and leaving you looking for an answer about how to make your laptop run fast again instantly.

Now you can get all of these problems fixed to speed up your laptop and be free from system slow running.

#1. Install a security program to protect your computer from Virus, Trojan, Adware and spyware. The infected files work in the background silently consuming your computer resources. Sometimes, they can be the main causes of computer slow performance. Therefore, you had better clean up your system with a professional security program timely for speeding up your machine.

#2. Take the old software you rarely use out of your hard disk to free resources. We usually do not realize that there are countless programs that silently eat up system resource thus lead to laptop running slow. Removing these superfluous programs will help to make laptop run fast massively.

#3. Add more RAM to guarantee PC running smoothly especially for those low configuration computers, as it is known to all, enough space will promptly help with increasing the speed of your computer and keep your laptop away from running slow.

#4. Run a free scan to detect and fix the errors of your windows registry regularly. Actually, the redundant registry entries, if cannot be deleted in time, will result in your laptop running slow and cause many serious annoying consequences. A registry cleaner will find all the problems inside windows registry and then work to fix them all for you.

If your laptop is running extremely slow and you still wonder how to make laptop run fast again, CLICK HERE you can scan your registry errors for free and speed up your favorite laptop in no time.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jimmie_S_Meng

How to Clean Your Laptop Computer

2010-05-15T04:16:00.000-07:00

Do you know how to clean your laptop computer? If you're purchased a good laptop, it only makes sense to keep it clean and dust-free.

Not cleaning your laptop can lead to a lot of problems. Dust can build up in your laptop cooling vents and cause your system to overheat. Dirt may also get trapped on your screen or keyboard and cause problems.

In this article, we will learn how to keep your laptop spick and span in a few a simple steps.

1. Read the User Manual

Before you start cleaning your laptop, I'd recommend that you take a look at any special instructions in the laptop user manual. Manuals will usually highlight to you any special precautions you need to take, e.g. not to use any harsh cleaning agents or rough material on any part of the laptop. Once you understand the special precautions to take, you can get started on the cleaning process.

2. Equipment Needed

You'll usually need the following to clean your laptop computer:

* Compressed air

* Some cotton swabs

* Cleaning solution

* A soft cleaning cloth (e.g. cotton t-shirt)

You can also find some good laptop cleaning kits available in the market, such as the one below.

3. Cleaning the Exterior

The first step is to clean the exterior of your laptop. What you do here is to use a soft damp cloth to clean the casing of the laptop. Never, ever use an abrasive cleaning cloth or use harsh cleaning products. If you do that, any glossy finish on your new laptop will get eroded very, very quickly (ouch).

4. Cleaning the Display

To me, one of the most irritating areas where dust and grime accumulate is the laptop screen. This is because the screen is where you view the output of your work, your movies, etc. So any dust on the screen is very noticeable.

When cleaning the display, first you need to turn off the laptop. Again, don ever use abrasive cloth or paper towels to clean your display. You will scratch it and leave more than dust and grime on the screen.

You can try to use monitor cleaning solutions which come in spray form. Spray some on a cloth first, then wipe the screen conscientiously from left to right, and top to bottom.

5. Cleaning the Keyboard

I also get very frustrated when dirt gets into my laptop keyboard. One key thing to remember is to keep food and drinks away from your laptop! Even if you don't spill something directly on the laptop keyboard, you just might dirty the laptop with the food and grime on your fingers. Try to get some cotton swabs to clean in and around keys.

6. Cleaning the Cooling Vents

The cooling vents on a laptop tend to trap a lot of dust and grime. What you can do is to use a can of compressed air to spray and clean those cooling vents. One thing to be careful is to avoid spraying so much that you get liquid on the fan blades.

Conclusion

Make sure you regularly set aside time to clean your laptop. Laptops which have not been cleaned in a long time are not only more unattractive, they are also potentially more prone to problems. Take care of your laptop and it will serve you faithfully for many years to come.

Gary Hendricks runs a website about laptops. Visit his website at Best-Laptop-Guide.com to learn more about selecting the best laptops and accessories to suit your needs.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gary_Hendricks