Upgrades And Options

Lenovo Laptop Is Not Turning On | NEW Solutions

2020-06-13T13:03:00.000-05:00

Lenovo laptops normally work great without any issues. Occasionally though, you may find that when you press the power button the laptop does not power-on.
Lenovo has several different models and styles of laptops and each may very slightly as to how to fix issues with the laptop not turning on.

To fix issues with your Lenovo laptop not turning on we'll start with the basics and work our way to more advanced techniques. Follow the 10 step process starting by checking the A/C adapter, the battery as well as the charging port. From there we advance to checking individual components for damage.

10 Step Process To Resolve A Laptop Not Turning On.

Is The Lenovo Laptop Getting Power?

Your laptop is not powering on, but is it even receiving power?
We'll troubleshoot to figure out if the issue is with the laptop, the display screen or A/C adapter and battery.
I've isolated the checks into individual steps to follow to help resolve power on issues.

1) Power Status Indicator

Plug in the A/C adapter and look for a power status indicator light. It might be found on the lower part of the display screen or where you plug in the A/C adapter.
Verify your power outlet is working properly and is not the issue.
If you do see a power status indicator light, try to power on the laptop.

2) No Power With A/C Adapter And No Battery

If you do not see a status light, unplug the A/C adapter and remove the battery if it is external.
Press and hold the power button for about 30 seconds to discharge any static buildup.
Now, plug in the A/C adapter.
Press the power button to see if the laptop powers on.

3) No Power With Battery And No A/C Adapter

If the Lenovo laptop still doesn't power on

Unplug the A/C adapter
Re-Insert the battery.
Press the power button to check if it powers on.

If you are still unable to power on the laptop move onto the next steps.

Also see my article on the Top 4 Laptop Hardware Issues.

4) Emergency Reset Button

Some Lenovo laptops have a CMOS reset button that can be pushed to reset the system. Lenovo calls this the 'Emergency Reset Hole'. This cuts power to the system from any internal or external battery to reset the laptop.

Turn over the laptop and look for a small hole on the back base plate.
If your Lenovo laptop has this reset hole, insert a straight pin into it to press the emergency reset button.
Try to power on your Lenovo laptop.

5) NOVO Button

Some IdeaPad laptops have a NOVO button to reset the system and boot into the recovery BIOS. This button is usually located by the power button or on the side of the laptop. It will be denoted with a upside down looking curved arrow.

The Novo button is a small hole with a backwards arrow next to it that looks like an upside down U.
This allows you to enter the Lenovo recovery mode.
In the NOVO menu, there is an option for system recovery. Select it and then boot the laptop.

6) Check The Display Screen

Make sure the issue is not with a bad display. Sometimes the laptop may power on but the display is blank making it look like the laptop is off.

Power on the system and look for signs it is on.
Look for lights and listen for fan noise.
If it seems the laptop is getting power but the display is not working, you will need to have it serviced.

7) Check The A/C Adapter And Power Port

The A/C power adapter could be bad or damaged as well as the plug in port. Check both.

Check the A/C adapter and cable for any visible damage and purchase a replacement if needed.
Check the laptop port where you plug in the adapter for signs of damage.
Occasionally the port gets worn and doesn't make a good secure connection.
Have the laptop serviced if the port is worn.

8) Check The Battery

A bad battery can cause power issues and prevent the laptop from powering on.
Check the battery for any visible signs of damage and replace as needed.
See the Lenovo Battery Reference Guide for information specific to your Lenovo Laptop model.

9) Why Is My Power Button Blinking Or Flashing?

Normally this flashing means the laptop is in sleep or standby mode, in which case just press any key to wake it up.
In this situation though, when you press the power button it starts blinking but the laptop does not power on.

Press and hold the power button for about 15 seconds to turn it off.
Look for the 'Emergency Reset Hole' shown in step 4 above and follow that step. Then power on the laptop.
If your laptop does not have a reset button, you will need to remove the internal battery. Look at step 10 below on how to remove components.

10) Remove Internals

If the Lenovo laptop still is not turning on, consider opening up the laptop and removing and reseating the hard-drive, memory modules and internal battery. Then put all the components back together and try to power on the laptop.

Parts Removal and Replacement Videos can be found for Lenovo Laptops.
Order Replacement Parts for Lenovo Laptops.
Check your Warranty Status for Lenovo Laptops.
Battery and Power Adapter Finder for Lenovo Laptops.

If all these steps have failed to power on the laptop it is time to call Lenovo support to have the system serviced and repaired.
Locate a Repair Center for Lenovo Laptops.

Conclusion

While Le no vo laptops are reliable sometimes things go wrong such as the laptop is not turning on. The last resort after trying these checks will be to contact Lenovo support. However, the troubleshooting steps shown in this article should resolve the majority of laptop turning on and power issues. As mentioned above there are several different laptop models so not every step will apply to all.

Lenovo S145-15IWL IdeaPad RAM Upgrade (TYPE 81MV)

2020-05-20T12:56:00.000-05:00

Lenovo S145-15IWL Laptop (IdeaPad) RAM Upgrade (TYPE 81MV)

Many people who own a Lenovo S145-15IWL IdeaPad laptop are wondering if they can upgrade the amount of memory it has. These laptops come configured with either 4GB or 8GB or RAM. It's no surprise so many people would like a little more RAM to better run their applications.

Is the Lenovo IdeaPad S145 upgradable?

The answer is yes you can upgrade the memory, but it depends on your specific model. There are several different models of the IdeaPad S145 type 81MV and they vary in their memory configuration.

The Lenovo 15 inch IdeaPad is versatile and fast at a pretty affordable price.

It weights about 4lbs. and has a 15.6" display which I like.

It is large enough to work on, yet easy to put in a carry bag.

I'll also note the IdeaPad S145 has two USB 3.1 ports but does not have any Type-C connections.

As I noted above, there are several configurations and models of the Lenovo IdeaPad S145.
This article will cover the 15 inch model 15IWL and type 81MV00H9US. Other IdeaPad S145 models will be similar but you should check the Lenovo support website to locate it's specific DIMM requirements.

The 15IWL type 81MV00H9US is sold in North America and contains:

Intel Core i3-8145U (2C / 4T, 2.1 / 3.9GHz, 4MB) processor
4GB Soldered DDR4-2400 + 4GB SO-DIMM DDR4-2400
1TB HDD 5400rpm 2.5"

How to find your IdeaPad model number

The product name is printed on the label at the bottom of the machine.
Be sure to check your model because as I said above the memory configuration varies. If you are not sure of the exact model you have, simply go to the Lenovo support website and select auto-detect.

Check the chart below for the specifications of the IdeaPad S145-15IWL type 81MV.

Model	Processor	Memory
81MV0001US	Intel Pentium Gold 5405U (2C / 4T, 2.3GHz, 2MB)	4GB SO-DIMM DDR4-2133
81MV00FFUS	Intel Celeron 4205U (2C / 2T, 1.8GHz, 2MB)	4GB SO-DIMM DDR4-2133
81MV00FGUS	Intel Celeron 4205U (2C / 2T, 1.8GHz, 2MB)	4GB SO-DIMM DDR4-2133
81MV00H6US	Intel Pentium Gold 5405U (2C / 4T, 2.3GHz, 2MB)	8GB SO-DIMM DDR4-2133
81MV00H8CF	Intel Core i3-8145U (2C / 4T, 2.1 / 3.9GHz, 4MB)	4GB Soldered DDR4-2400 + 4GB SO-DIMM DDR4-2400
81MV00H9US	Intel Core i3-8145U (2C / 4T, 2.1 / 3.9GHz, 4MB)	4GB Soldered DDR4-2400 + 4GB SO-DIMM DDR4-2400
81MV00MAUS	Intel Celeron 4205U (2C / 2T, 1.8GHz, 2MB)	4GB SO-DIMM DDR4-2133
81MV00MBUS	Intel Celeron 4205U (2C / 2T, 1.8GHz, 2MB)	4GB SO-DIMM DDR4-2133
81MV00T6US	Intel Core i3-8145U (2C / 4T, 2.1 / 3.9GHz, 4MB)	4GB Soldered DDR4-2400 + 4GB SO-DIMM DDR4-2400
81MV0139US	Intel Core i3-8145U (2C / 4T, 2.1 / 3.9GHz, 4MB)	4GB Soldered DDR4-2400 + 4GB SO-DIMM DDR4-2400

The Lenovo IdeaPad S145-15IWL only has one DIMM socket and 4GB of memory soldered onto the motherboard.

From the chart above you can see my model has a 4GB DIMM already in the socket. The 81MV00H9US model specifications say the maximum amount of memory is 12GB.

However, people are successfully adding up to 20GB of memory to this model. So my options are to replace the 4GB DIMM with either an 8GB or 16GB DIMM of type DDR4-2400 or faster.
Lenovo sells an 8GB SO-DIMM DDR4-2666 ,Hynix with a part number of: 01AG864. But they charge too much.

One of the best ways to locate which exact RAM module to buy is to use the system compatibility checker from the Crucial website.
Using this tool, you either select the model of laptop you have or let the website scan your machine and display the part you need. It will show you the available memory modules as well as storage options.

How do I add RAM to my Lenovo IdeaPad S145?

Adding a new memory module to an IdeaPad S145 is fairly straight forward.

Remove the bottom base cover or plate. Turn over the laptop and unscrew the 10 screws holding the cover in place.
Disconnect and remove the battery. Detach the cable and remove the screw to take out the battery.
Release the latches and remove the memory DIMM.

Cost to upgrade RAM on IdeaPad S145-15IWL

The cost of memory will depend on where you buy and what size DIMM you want to purchase.
I checked the price from the Crucial website for 8GB DIMMs and 16GB DIMMs. Below shows those prices as of this writing.

Crucial 8GB DDR4-2666 SODIMM $34.99
Crucial 16GB DDR4-2666 SODIMM $68.99

And again, be sure to verify your specific model before ordering additional memory.

How much memory does my laptop have?

You might be unsure exactly how much memory your IdeaPad laptop has. There are a couple of ways to find out. The first is to find your model and then look at the table above.
The second way to see how much memory you have is using Windows 10.
Windows 10

Right click the Start Menu and select System.
In the System section, next to Installed Memory, you will see the amount of memory your system has.

How much RAM do I need?

The amount of RAM needed will depend on how you use your laptop. 4GB might be enough for a casual user mostly web browsing. Read my article: Laptop Buying Guide, How To Choose. It goes into detail about what to look for in a laptop and how much memory you may need.

I would say 8GB of RAM is sufficient for most users. You can accomplish a majority of tasks and open spreadsheets, play some games, etc. If you plan on doing heavy data intensive processes such as video editing or serious game play, you should look to 16GB of RAM.

If your laptop seems slower than it used to, takes a long time to boot up, or hangs and freezes, these may be signs you are running low on memory.

In Summary

Upgrading the amount of RAM in a le no vo Lenovo IdeaPad S145-15IWL laptop is pretty simple to do. You do need to make sure to either look-up your model or go to Lenovo's support site to ensure you will purchase the correct memory module. Then decide on how much RAM you would like to add to your laptop. Buy what you need so you can get back to a smooth laptop experience.

Future Trade-Offs Of Remote Work (Adapt Quickly)

2020-05-15T14:19:00.000-05:00

The future of remote work will hold both benefits and costs to an employee. These need to be explored to ensure a right balance can be found for workers.

Corporations over the past half dozen or more years have been trending toward more open office floor plans. Millennial friendly work spaces that allow for greater collaboration between teams.

Part of the concept was to bring in more team members into a smaller size footprint, in relation to traditional office space areas. This was a win for the corporation allowing them to either decrease their total space ownership, or more efficiently use that space they already own.

It can also be looked at as a win for employees, although not all employees like the open office concept, giving them a community feel. Letting them buy into the idea of teamwork, collaboration, flex schedules, etc.

Today however, with the onslaught of a global pandemic, has forced corporations to adapt very quickly to remote workforces and flexible work models. While this may have been a trend for some corporations, not all have been prepared for the sudden shift to remote work by it's employees.

This forced working remotely has also caught many employees off-guard, as they may find themselves unprepared for working at home. For example, struggling with using video collaboration software. If they encounter problems or issues whom do they turn to, they are at home by themselves. This could very easily turn the whole work day into an unproductive waste of time.

Is remote work the future?

As corporations and employees alike resolve these issues, many have seen the future.
Corporations are encouraging their employees to continue remote working. They recognize productivity remains at a high level, if not better.

According to Lenovo’s global research, "77% of employees feel that companies will be more open to or even encourage letting workers work remotely once we get through this period".

Of course there are trade-offs, there is no one size fits all model. Maybe that's the beauty of it all right there, there are options and flexibility for the employee. Work at home, come into the office for a meeting, whatever way works for both parties.

There are options and flexibility for the employee

In any case, for a successful work at home model a corporation will rely heavily on it's IT staff. I think IT departments in every business have been working overtime during the pandemic.

They have a lot on their plate. Just some of the IT staff's duties include revamping or updating the corporation's webpage, ensuring the network is more robust with near 100% uptime, and of course security is essential. On top of that, they have been inundated with support calls from employees.

I mentioned security. At the office, devices are protected behind a corporate firewall. At home, devices log into the corporate network but they are on a potentially unsecured home network. Data breaches and phishing scams are on the rise so employees need to be educated on best security practices put in place by the corporation.

So what does the future of work look like?

Will we be in open office floor plans or working at home from our spare bedroom?

According to a new report from Gartner, "74% of companies plan to permanently shift to more remote work, as they realize a cost savings associated with such a move".

As I mentioned above, flexibility and options are the key. Employees don't have to be in a certain location to get their work done. Access to a robust internet connection and following their corporations security procedures are the requirements for the remote worker.

Hybrid work environment?

I'll label this a hybrid work environment. Many corporate employees will work from home or any remote location for that matter. If and when they need to be in the office, they can do so.

The location will become less important as high speed networks become increasingly available.
This is the type of flexibility employees will desire and probably demand moving forward.
Be sure to read my article on 5 Smart Tips For Traveling With Your Laptop.

What is the cost of remote work?

Think about this shift for a moment.
Traditionally we would go to work and essentially clock-in under the watchful eye of a manager. The corporation had to be sure to know where you were and what project you were working on throughout the day. Metrics were taken to track employee efficiencies etc. It was all very structured and I think rightfully so, for the most part.

Projecting forward, there will be less 'structure' but at what trade-off. Employees are and will be constantly connected by their phones and laptops to the corporate infrastructure. What initially seemed like more freedom of movement to the employee will shift to a constantly tethered employee.

This plays out in other areas of our lives too, where we are always connected and always on-line. Does this shift represent a positive to corporate employees? Perhaps younger workers will adapt quite easily while older workers find themselves resistant.

What initially seemed like more freedom of movement to the employee will shift to a constantly tethered employee.

Working remotely pros and cons

As I've said, employees gain increased flexibility in their work environment.
Corporations also get a win as many are shedding office space which lessens their cost burden. It's reported that productivity increases among remote workers, and management can focus more on project results and less on hours worked.

It would seem both parties reap the benefits to the new work environment. There are always trade-offs to be made while seeking a new balance.

Moving forward

Let's jump ahead a few years to imagine the remote work experience.
5G network availability will be everywhere which provides super-fast and very low latency network communications. This itself will be an important factor in real-time video communications from any location. 5G will be utilized in internet of things(IoT) devices, smart phones, laptops, vehicles, etc.
In other words, we will more than ever be connected to everything all the time.

Corporations will have the means to keep tabs on employees at all times, see where they go, who they contact, etc.

On the other hand, remote work employees will realize even more flexibility. They will be able to work from home, car, train, cafe, anywhere. And think of this, you could apply for a remote job located anywhere in the world.

I keep trying to stress the trade-offs. Employees will benefit surely and enjoy additional work flexibility, but corporations certainly will implement practices that benefit them. Remote work employees will need to stay vigilant to their cost benefit analysis moving forward.

Summing up

If you or your corporation has decided to stick with a work at home model it pays to be flexible. There are going to be, if there hasn't yet, issues and problems to be resolved before everything runs smoothly. But, once we are all through these trying times the future of work will have been transformed and hopefully for the better.

IdeaPad Flex 14 Camera Not Working (Solved)

2020-05-13T17:03:00.001-05:00

IdeaPad Flex 14 Camera Not Working(Solved)

A lot of us are using webcams more often lately. We're working from home and need to join a video call, or maybe just using Skype with friends. Whatever the case may be, it's no joy when the camera decides it has an issue and won't work properly.

Owner's of the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 14 laptop who's camera won't work can follow a few steps to resolve their camera issue.
These steps are aimed at the Lenovo Flex 14, but can be used by just about any laptop user as well.

Why is my integrated camera not working?

So what is the issue?

Many users with IdeaPad Flex 14 camera issues see this error message:

0xa00f4271<mediacapturefailedevent> (0x80070018)

Or perhaps this error code after turning on the camera:

0xA00F4244 (0xC00D36D5)

And also the camera does not work in Skype or other applications either.

You may or may not be getting these error codes, that's okay. The issue is the camera is not working on your laptop. The steps below will help resolve the problem.

Start with the basics

Make sure the camera slider is open. The IdeaPad Flex 14 has a sliding "TrueBlock Privacy Shutter", so you can physically close the webcam whenever it's not in use. Many laptops have a privacy shutter, be sure to double check that it is open.

Restart the IdeaPad laptop. Sometimes just a simple restart of the laptop and operating system will solve issues, be they hardware or software problems. It is surprising how often this works so don't skip doing it.

Did you make any recent software changes? If the camera was working then you added some software or performed an upgrade, this could be the culprit. Consider backing out any newly installed software and then reboot. Did this fix the camera issue?

Press the F8 function key on the IdeaPad Flex 14. This turns on the camera. This is a very common reason the camera isn't working. Luckily, it is a very easy step to take to resolve the issue. Again, simply pressing the F8 key to turn on the camera fixes or solves a lot of the cases.

More advanced steps(but still easy)

Adjust or disable integrated camera settings with Lenovo Vantage - Windows 10.

Lenovo IdeaPad users have the Lenovo Vantage application installed. Open this application and find My Device Settings. Then select Display & Camera. From there, you can set the Camera Privacy Mode to your preferences.

Also, you should check Windows 10 settings by going to Settings --> Privacy --> Camera where you can choose which apps are allowed to use the camera.

Make sure apps have access to the camera.

Check for Windows updates.

Click on Start button, go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update, and select Check for Updates.

Check if the camera is disabled in Device Manager.

Right click on the start menu, select Device Manager. Look for 'imaging devices' or 'cameras' and see if it's disabled. If so, right click on the disabled device and select Enable.
While you're in Device Manager and if the camera still does not work, right click on the imaging device and select 'update driver'. This will search for any new driver for the device.
Restart the IdeaPad Flex 14 laptop and check if the camera works now.

Read My Article: Turn Laptop Into WiFi Hotspot

Download and install a new driver from Lenovo.

Check the Lenovo support website to obtain an updated camera driver. Follow it's instructions on the installation.
Reboot the laptop to see if the problem has been resolved.

Check the Skype application

Sometimes an application is unable to initialize the camera. Make sure the camera is off first, then start Skype and enable the camera.

Change the Device Driver for the camera

You've updated the integrated EasyCamera driver from Lenovo but still the camera doesn't work, try the following.

Open the Device Manager, open 'imaging devices' and right click.
Select 'update driver'
Select 'Browse my computer for driver software'
Select 'Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer'
Find and select from the box, 'USB Video Device'
This will install the generic camera device for the laptop.

Installing this driver seems to work for some people. I haven't used it myself because the above steps worked for me.

In summary,

The steps listed in this article dealt mainly with updating the device drivers, or just checking the hardware. These steps should fix most Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 14 camera not working issues. If after trying everything in the article your camera still won't work, you might need to contact Lenovo support to have the hardware repaired. However, by far, most issues are software or driver related.

Are Lenovo Legion Gaming Computers Good?(with Specs)

2020-05-09T14:30:00.005-05:00

I've been a fan of Lenovo laptops for a long time, they've shown to be reliable and have a good build quality.

I wanted to know how the Lenovo Legion line of gaming computers, both laptops and desktops, stacked up in the demanding arena of game play.

As I've said, they have a reputation for quality, but can they produce a computer packing enough punch for serious gamers.

Lenovo has studied the gaming market and incorporated what it learned into it's Legion Gaming PCs.
They actually ran a study, asking participants a series of questions to learn the most important needs and wants in a gaming computer.

That's where the Legion Gaming computers come in, Lenovo took what they learned and built the Legion line by drawing on that information.

"Cooler thermals, extended battery life, TrueStrike keyboard upgrades and more immersive displays supercharge play-ability and performance across the latest Lenovo Legion™ lineup" -from Lenovo.

So what are gamers looking for according to their study?

You play a game and you want a good experience. It's no surprise that good graphics are at the top of the list.

They can further break this down into a powerful graphics card, or GPU, a good screen resolution, as well as high refresh rate. Following this was better processors and additional memory.

Gamers in the study also placed emphasis on the keyboard and lighting. The majority, or about 85%, said they had spent time on improving how their gaming computer was set-up.

The chart below shows what features gamers wanted to add to their existing setup to have a better game experience.

Which Lenovo Legion is best for gaming?

Lenovo Legion comes in both laptop and desktop models. I'll look at both of these separately.

Let's look at the models:

Legion Y Series is available in either a 15" or 17" display.

The image below shows the specifications of a 17" model available in the U.S. Notice the graphics are NVIDIA RTX 2080.

These two below are the new Lenovo Legion 7 models. As of this writing they are not yet available in the U.S.

Both of these are 15" laptops and both use the Intel 10 Gen. H-series core processor.

Below is the new Lenovo Legion 5 laptop. Check out the processor on this model. It runs the AMD Ryzen 4000 series processor, and also the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 4GB graphics.

The image below shows the Lenovo Legion Cube C730. It is a pretty cool desktop design and powerful too. I'm not sure Lenovo is continuing to sell these in the future, as they do not appear in any up coming announcements on the Legion line of computers. I'll try to keep up on the news of these to find out for sure.

The C730 specifications include the 9th gen. Intel processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 graphics.

Also to note is Lenovo is changing the Legion line-up naming convention.

To make things simpler, the Legion product names going forward will be 3, 5, and 7.

This is to help identify the entry to high end products.

So essentially, the current Y740 will become the the new 7i model, and the current Y540 will turn into a 5i.

The new Legion 5 and 7 models both will get the latest NVIDIA GeForce RTX graphics cards.

The Legion 5i will have up to the GeForce RTX 2060.

The Legion 7i up to GeForce RTX 2080 Super GPU with Max-Q.

And as shown in the specs, both are offered with latest Intel 10th Gen. H-Series processor, as well as the NVIDIA Advance Optimus to help preserve battery life.

Don't overlook these features in the new Legion laptops:

Lenovo Legion TrueStrike keyboard
Lenovo Legion Coldfront 2.0
Hybrid Mode, NVIDIA® Advanced Optimus
Dolby Vision® and OverDrive Support

Benefits of a Lenovo Legion for PC gaming

Features include:

All-metal exterior and available in a sleek Slate Grey hue.
Legion 7 laptop range from 3.74lbs. to about 4.62 lbs.
Up to 10th Gen Intel Core i9 H-Series overclocked mobile processors.
Storage of up to 1TB PCIe SSD.
Up to 32GB DDR4 memory.
Up to 240Hz refresh rates and response times under 1ms with OverDrive and NVIDIA G-SYNC technology.
Up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER GPU with Max-Q.
Dolby Atmos Speaker System.
The Lenovo Legion TrueStrike keyboard has anti-ghosting and sub-millisecond response times. Also has soft-landing switches that result in hair-trigger accuracy.
Over 16 million color combinations with the Corsair iCUE system lighting, or an optional 4-zone RGB lighting effect.
Lenovo Legion Coldfront 2.0 boosts the performance with dual fans and an integrated Vapor Chamber and updated thermal sensor array.

It is amazing that laptops are competent these days to play serious games. It wasn't that long ago only a big desktop model would be able to carry that kind of load. Not only do the Lenovo Legion laptops have much improved graphics, CPUs and memory capabilities, but they offer RGB and excellent keyboards.

Here's a quick summary chart of the NVIDIA GeForce Performance ratings. It's just a nice reference to look at.

In Summary

Lenovo Legion certainly should be considered when looking for a new gaming computer. They offer really nice innovative technology and features, and you know Lenovo has a reputation for quality.

They offer both powerful laptops and desktop models,making it difficult for me to decide. A laptop is portable but still powerful enough for gaming, but their desktop can also be carried if needed and has room to upgrade or expand. I'm really excited to see the new Legion 7 laptops when they are available here in the U.S.

Data Center and Server Farm Differences (helpful guide)

2020-05-03T16:48:00.001-05:00

Data Center and Server Farm Differences

Data management is a crucial element of a business's strategic goals. How and where data is stored and accessed plays a direct role in a corporation gaining competitive advantage. Many organizations' data storage philosophy have evolved from simple on-site server farms to large scale cloud data center use.

We'll discuss what a server farm is as well as the evolution of data centers. Innovations and advancements in networking have made possible cloud-based solutions. Businesses now have an array of data storage options adaptable to their specific needs.

How Does A Server Farm Work?

A server farm is a collection of several computer servers working together. These servers are all installed in racks and connected to network switches.

A server farm is also called a server cluster since the servers combine to act as one powerful distributed server. They are more productive than singular servers because workloads are distributed among them as needed. For instance, a certain process might employ the processing power of two servers and part of a third. Now, a server farm can be as small as a few servers or a large as thousands of servers, again all connected together across their local network.

The important thing to know is a server farm distributes processing and workloads across multiple servers that have been networked together.

Generally, to create a server farm a corporation would need to invest in several servers, one or more racks for their installation, network switches and possibly a router. They also need to consider lab space with ample electrical capacity and cooling ability. This is somewhat simplistic, but you get the idea. I wrote an article that goes into more detail if you would like to read it. It is titled IT Infrastructure Plan, Design, Deploy.

Software needs to be installed on every server for the management of the server cluster, for example Linux. The servers are then able to connect or cluster together and provide load-balancing across them. Load-balancing, as noted above, provides for the efficient distribution of workloads across all interconnected servers.

What's the beauty of clustered servers?
One advantage is high availability. By design, clustering several servers means built in redundancy.
If one component fails the management software re-balances the load to a free component elsewhere. This not only provides or ensures a high percentage uptime for the cluster, but gives the administrators a level of predictability. Meaning, they can feel secure that if a component fails, the cluster will remain robust and functional. This gives the administrators the time needed to order and replace that failed component.

Another advantage is the improved efficient use of all the combined server components. As mentioned above, all the resources are pooled and distributed as needed by the management software. This is a fluid process and once components are no longer needed, they are freed up and go back into the pool.

How Does A Data Center Work?

A data center is a physical location that was built for the purpose of housing servers and networking equipment. It was designed to provide redundant electrical power, ample cooling ability, and a secure and robust internet connection. Part of the building design focuses on physical security to protect the premises.

Data centers are designed and built specifically to house and support large numbers of computer servers and their operations.

Data centers might be referred to as corporate data centers or enterprise data centers. That is because corporations or large organizations build data centers for their own use. Employees and perhaps customers connect remotely to this virtual infrastructure to access their business applications. They are generally large scale buildings that represent a large investment for the corporation. A building might support thousands of computer servers, each needing electrical power, cooling and network connections. The upfront costs to get this infrastructure in place can be enormous.

Data centers are designed with several requirements in mind. Redundancy is a must in this type of environment. Server availability needs to maintain a high level. Electrical power needs to be consistent and reliable, and networking and internet access have to be stable.

Many organizations are moving away from this type of data center. The upfront expense, maintenance costs, administration, and ongoing upkeep are looking less advantageous when compared to newer types of data center models.

Types Of Data Centers

The type of data center can vary depending on how it is built, how it is used, who owns it, etc. Some even rely on renewable energy sources to make them more 'green' friendly.
I'll discuss three main type of data centers.

Enterprise Data Center:
As mentioned above, a corporate or enterprise data center is owned and operated by an organization for their own use. It can be housed in their existing campus buildings or built as a standalone structure off-site. We noted the downside of their cost, but there is an advantage. The enterprise owns and controls all the equipment and data. They can upgrade hardware as needed and set security controls as they see fit.

Colocation Data Center:
A colocation data center is the next step away from total ownership by a corporation. It is a way for an enterprise to outlay less cash by renting space in an existing data center owned by someone else. The data center owners are responsible for the infrastructure including power, cooling, networking, security. The corporation on the other hand, still owns the servers and is responsible for their maintenance, they just rent the space to house their equipment.

Cloud Data Center:
A cloud data center is the logical next step in the progression of large off-site data centers.
In a cloud data center, the infrastructure and hardware are owned by someone else. Think of Amazon Web Services(AWS) or IBM's cloud offering, both of which have seen explosive growth and demand for their offerings.
Cloud data centers are being built by large businesses as world class structures with best-in-class services and hardware. Enterprises then, just pay for what they need.

This model is attractive to corporations because it mitigates the outlay of expenses to build and operate their own data center. It also allows them to scale to fit their needs. If they require additional space or resources, it is quickly handled by the facility owner. Because of this, the traditional enterprise data center is on the decline.

"Gartner predicts that by 2025, 80% of enterprises will shut down their traditional data centers. In fact, 10% of organizations already have."

The location of the cloud data center is not much of an issue since it's expected to have a very robust internet capacity. A corporation can access their data from anywhere with little latency.
Having said that, an innovation has emerged called Edge Data Centers.

Edge data centers can be thought of as relatively smaller, more specialized cloud data centers.
Edge data centers are built and located close to customer's site, where network speed and latency are critical. They are fast, responsive networks for critical uses such as online game play, streaming services, and the Internet of Things(IoT).
Content is king and getting it to the consumer quickly is a must. Edge data centers are usually networked back to larger facilities to supply additional data.

The whole idea of an edge data center is to reduce the distance, and thus latency, between user and data.

What Is The Difference Between A Data Center And A Server Farm?

A server farm is just the collection of computer servers. It is the server hardware connected together for a purpose. You could have several server farms in the same building.

A data center is the physical infrastructure, including the building, electricity, cooling, networking.
A data center facility can and does house server farms. The data center assures reliability and 24x7 'up' time of server farm hardware.

In Summary

Most people think the internet is in the 'cloud' somewhere. It seems that everything is wireless and they envision some ethereal process to transmit data. The reality is that by far, about 98%, the majority of internet traffic is transmitted across fiber optic cables. Data centers rely heavily on robust fiber optic connections. In fact, companies such as Google have deployed their own under sea fiber optic cables to meet the current and future demands of their customers.
As data usage and needs continue to evolve, so too will data center technology.

Easily Turn Your Laptop Into WiFi Hotspot (5 steps)

2020-05-01T18:28:00.002-05:00

You may ask, Can I make my laptop a WiFi hotspot Windows 10? It is possible to easily share your internet connection with your other devices by turning your laptop running Windows 10 into a Wi-Fi hotspot.

The best practice is to connect all your devices to your main Wi-Fi router for internet connectivity. Ideally this would ensure proper security and provide the best possible connection speeds.

There may be some circumstances though that facilitate creating your own hotspot. These being for example, a hotel or airplane that might charge you per device connection. In such a case, having the ability to connect as many devices as you would like by sharing the internet becomes very useful and important.

What is a hotspot anyway?

For our purposes, a hotspot is simply a physical device that provides internet access.

A hotspot can be either public or private. An example of a public hotspot can be demonstrated in a fast food restaurant or library. Many of these establishments offer free internet by way of a Wi-Fi hotspot that you connect to.
The hardware behind the hotspot is generally a Wireless Access Point(AP), for the home it might be your router or modem.

Can you turn a laptop into WiFi hotspot?

This article will explain how to use a laptop running the Windows 10 operating system as a Wi-Fi hotspot.
To start, make sure you are running the latest version of Windows as it has the hotspot feature installed. To check your version of Windows 10 that is currently running, select Start , then select Settings, then System, and About. This will display the version, you may need to apply an upgrade.

How-To

To turn your Windows 10 laptop into a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot, you will enable sharing it's internet connection with your other devices. Note that you can share your laptop's Wi-Fi or LAN Ethernet connection, either will work.

Right click on the Start button, then select Network Connections.
Find and select Mobile Hotspot.
Turn on or enable > Share my internet connection with other devices.
For Share my Internet connection from, choose the Internet connection you want to share.
Select Edit and make sure to enter a Network Name and Network Password. Note: It's good practice to create a strong password. It is required to use at least 8 characters.

To connect your other devices to your newly setup hotspot, go to the Wi-Fi settings on those devices and locate your network name. Select it, then enter the password.

Now you're all set, that's all there is to enabling a Wi-Fi hotspot on your laptop.
You will probably experience a slower internet on the connected devices since they are having to 'share' a connection from the laptop machine. But for the average user this might not be an issue, I wouldn't want to try playing online games though.

Ways to boost your home Wi-Fi signal

Your Wi-Fi at home may not be as robust as you would like. There are some simple things you can do to help remedy this problem.
As noted above, it is best to connect all your devices to your home Wi-Fi modem. You'll get the best connection speed and network security this way.
If you find you have 'dead zones' or areas of the house that have poor connectivity then you will need to make some adjustments.

1)Router/Modem Placement
It makes sense that where you place the home router will affect it's coverage. If possible, place the Wi-Fi router in a central location of the house so the signal will reach throughout. Also, the less walls in the way the better for the signal transmission.

2)Change the router channel
By default, most home Wi-Fi routers use the same channel. If you are able to log into the router, change the channel it uses to something else. The recommended channel's are 1, 6 and 11.

3)Change the router frequency
Newer home Wi-Fi routers use dual-band frequencies, both 2.4GHz and 5GHz. You will get a better range with the 2.4GHz band, it also is more effective passing through walls. On the downside, it is not as fast as 5GHz.
5GHz has faster throughput, but has a shorter range, and doesn't pass through walls as well as 2.4GHz.
If your device has a strong signal, you might as well try the 5GHz connection to see if it works adequately.
Again, if you can log into your home router, enable both frequencies to take advantage of both.

4)You may need an upgrade
If you've made the adjustments above but still see poor wireless performance, it may be time to upgrade your network equipment.
Upgrade your Wi-Fi router if it is old and outdated. Check with your internet provider and ask for new equipment. If they decline, you can always purchase a new wireless router yourself, but notify your service provider first.
The second option is to invest in a mesh-based wireless system. A mesh Wi-Fi consists of several satellite nodes spread throughout the house. They work together to provide a single wireless home network. They provide great coverage but may be pricey.

Network tools for Windows 10

If you need to check your network, there are some tools available to provide helpful information

1)Wireless network report
Windows 10 has a built in wireless network report tool. It will gather recent Wi-Fi events and output them to a HTML file for you to access.

In the search box on the taskbar, type Command prompt, press and hold (or right-click) Command prompt, and then select Run as administrator > Yes.
At the command prompt, type netsh wlan show wlanreport.

This will run and display the location of the outputted file.

2)Speed Test

Run a speed test on your network connection to get an indication of the speed or throughput your internet is getting.

Open a web browser to Google.com.
Type in: speed test and run a test from one of the results.

The results page should provide useful information about your current connection and speed. You'll know if you are receiving about the same speed as you are paying for from the internet provider.
Note: If several devices are all connected at the same time, performance on the test machine will be slower.

In Summary

If you would like to create your own Wi-Fi hotspot, you'll find it is very easy to do under Windows 10. A few simple steps allow you to enable your laptop to provide internet access to other devices.

Are you looking to buy a new laptop? Check out my Laptop Buying Guide.

How Do I Add Memory To My Lenovo T470? (easy steps)

2020-04-28T16:17:00.001-05:00

Is the amount of memory your Thinkpad T470 has not enough to satisfy your application's voracious appetite? If so, this article will help you to feed that beast with instructions on upgrading by adding additional memory.

The good news is adding additional memory to your Thinkpad T470 is an easy process for most users. The quick answer is to remove the back cover, insert the new RAM, and re-install the cover.
Continue reading the article for a more detailed step by step set of instructions.
You can do this.

How Many Memory Slots Does A Lenovo T470 Have?

The Thinkpad T470 has two memory slots and most configurations contain one 8GB DIMM, leaving one slot open for an additional DIMM.
The information below will help you:

Determine your particular model.
Select the memory DIMM you need.
How to install that DIMM.

Thinkpad T470 Model Types

This guide will cover the T470 Type 20HD, which will pertain to most of the one's sold in the United States. That being said, other types or models of the T470 will be similar and these instructions will apply.
The T470 is built on an Intel Core either 6th or 7th generation chipset processor. It has a 14 inch display and the storage is either SATA or PCIe depending on the model.
The 20HD000WUS type comes with a 256GB SSD M.2 2280 PCIe NVMe storage drive.
Read about the different types of hard-drive technology in my other article.
It is in the range of 3.5 lbs. to 4.0 lbs. again, depending on model.

The Thinkpad T470 also has two memory DIMM slots, one of which is populated with an 8GB memory DIMM.

Lenovo Thinkpad T470 Specs:

Thinkpad T470 14" Laptop
8GB Memory + Additional Open Slot For Upgrade
Uses DDR4 SDRAM - SO-DIMM 2133 MHZ
Maximum Memory is 32 GB

Check your model and serial number before purchasing an additional memory module. They can be found on the sticker on the back of the Thinkpad.
If you are not confident as to the exact model you have, check the Lenovo support website to help verify or identify.

Lenovo Thinkpad T470 RAM Modules

The memory technology is DDR4 SDRAM. The form factor is SO-DIMM 260-pin. The memory speed is 2133 MHZ.
So to add 8GB for example, you would look for a DIMM of 8GB SO-DIMM DDR4-2133. It may be easier to find a DIMM of DDR4-2400 which is fine to use.

As stated earlier, make sure you know your model and type of Lenovo laptop you have before purchasing additional RAM.
Crucial has a website with an on-line system compatibility checker that makes it easy to locate the needed parts such as RAM.

The Lenovo Thinkpad T470 is equipped with two DIMM memory sockets. For the 20HD type, 8GB of RAM is installed which leaves an open slot. You can either add a memory module to the open memory socket, or remove the current 8GB DIMM and install two new DIMMs of the size of your choice.
Remember though, the total amount of memory this Thinkpad can hold is 32GB.

How Do I Add Memory to a T470 Laptop?

The steps to add additional memory are pretty easy. You will need to remove the back cover to gain access, then find the open slot and insert your new memory module.

Power on the system and press F1 to enter the BIOS.
Select the Config Tab and then enter the Power menu. From there disable the built in battery.
Turn over the T470 and remove the battery.
Loosen the 6 screws holding the back case in place. Press forward on the back case and lift it up and out. See the illustration below.
Locate the empty memory socket and insert the new module.

Note: Insert the notched end of the memory module into the memory slot. Press the memory module in firmly, and pivot it downward until it snaps into place. Ensure that the memory module is firmly installed in the slot and does not move easily.

How Much Is Memory For The Lenovo Thinkpad T470?

The cost of adding RAM to your laptop will depend on the amount of memory to decide to buy.
Most likely you will either purchase an 8GB or 16GB memory module.
I have added below a rough price for both these RAM modules. You will find its more expensive to buy directly from Lenovo, but make sure you select a reputable outlet when shopping around for price.

Crucial 8GB DDR4-2666 SODIMM $34.99

Crucial 16GB DDR4-2666 SODIMM $68.99

I also wondered how much a storage upgrade would cost. My Thinkpad T470 model has a 256GB SSD M.2 2280 PCIe NVMe storage drive, which is plenty for my uses, but how much would it cost to double that size to 500GB?

Crucial P1 500GB 3D NAND NVMe PCIe M.2 SSD $59.99

I was surprised a 500GB NVMe drive was only about $60 US dollars. I might have to think about making that purchase in the future.

How much RAM does my laptop have now?

If you own a laptop and are curious how much memory it has, it is easy to find out.
If your operating system is Windows 10, follow the steps below

Right click the Start Menu and select System.
In the System section, next to Installed Memory, you will see the amount of memory your system has.

How much memory does my laptop need?

The answer to that question depends on how you use your laptop.
With the T470 model 20HD it comes with 8GB of memory. That is pretty sufficient for most users. By that I mean performing typical work or tasks that a daily user would do. If you are a gamer or plan on doing high intensity video editing or such, you would expect to want about 16GB of memory.
If your laptop is using up the available memory, you might see the following issues.

The laptop takes a long time to boot
Opening programs or applications are taking too long
Perhaps the OS hangs or freezes
Lastly, it just seems slower than it used to

If you need some tips on your next laptop purchase but don't know where to start, consider my article - Laptop Buying Guide, How to Choose A Laptop. It has useful information on memory, CPU, OS and graphics.

In Summary,

You may want or even need additional memory for your Thinkpad. Buying a memory module doesn't have to be too expensive and is an easy upgrade to make. Double check your model and type to ensure you are purchasing the correct RAM module, then follow the steps above to install it and start enjoying a speedier Thinkpad T470.

How Do I Use A Laptop As A Monitor For A Xbox One? (2 options)

2020-04-23T16:03:00.001-05:00

upgrades-and-options.com

Introduction

It’s great to have your Xbox connected to a large-screen TV, but sometimes it would be nice to have some portability and be able to play in other parts of the house. We’ll talk about the options you have to connect your Xbox to a laptop to maximize that portability.

There are two ways to connect an Xbox to a laptop. The first is the easiest, but requires your laptop to have an HDMI IN port. The second option relies on connecting both devices to your home internet.

Connect Xbox To Laptop’s HDMI IN Port

I mentioned this is the easier of the two ways to connect an Xbox One to a laptop. It is also most likely not going to work for most people, sorry to say. That is because by far, the majority of laptops do not have an HDMI IN port. I’m not saying your laptop doesn’t have an HDMI port, I’m saying it is probably an HDMI OUT port.

Check your laptop’s specifications or visit the manufacturer’s support site to find out which type of HDMI port you have.

I’ve included a list of laptops with HDMI IN. This is not comprehensive, but the only one’s I’m aware of. They are older Alienware laptops.

Not surprisingly they are gaming laptops:
Alienware

M17xR3
M17xR4
17 R1
M18x
M18xR2
18

So, if you have verified your laptop has an HDMI IN port, refer to the following instructions on how to make the connections.

Shutdown the Xbox One.
Connect your HDMI cable to both the Xbox and your laptop’s HDMI IN port.
Power on the Xbox. The laptop should detect the new connection. You may need to press the FN+F8 (External HDMI Input Toggle - to switch between external HDMI input source).
Configure the Xbox display in ‘system settings’ if needed to adjust the resolution.

How To Use Game Streaming In Xbox One And A Laptop

Game streaming is an option that allows you to play Xbox One games remotely on your Windows 10 laptop, using your home network.

Using this feature, the Xbox One console still manages the game, while your laptop becomes a remote second screen. This allows you to play anywhere as long as the laptop is in range of and connected to your home network.
This is important, both the Xbox and the laptop need to connect to the same home network to maintain play. Obviously, a faster network will provide a better experience with less lag time. With a good connection, you should see very little lag and the game play won’t suffer.

This method requires that your laptop is running Windows 10 and you have a WIFI connection for both the Xbox and the laptop. You can also use a wired connection if you wish. Make sure both devices are actively connected to the network.

Enable game streaming on the Xbox through ‘settings’. Under ‘Xbox app connectivity’ select ‘Allow game streaming to other devices’.
Download and install the Xbox Console Companion app from the Microsoft store onto your laptop if you don’t have it. Sign in to your account.
Select ‘connection’ from this app and then find and select your console.
Click ‘stream’ to begin the streaming connection, and select the game to start.

Options
Set or adjust the streaming quality by selecting ‘Settings’, then ‘Xbox One’. If you experience some lag during game-play, adjust the quality down to a lower setting.

If you see a message that says “ This PC is not connected to an Xbox controller. Attach one and try again.” Just select ‘continue’ to bypass the message. You will still be able to play.

Connecting Xbox To Your Network
For a wired connection, plug an Ethernet cable into the Xbox and your network’s router. The Xbox One will detect the connection and configure itself with an IP address.

For a wireless connection, access the ‘Settings” menu, then select “Network”.

Select ‘Set up wireless network’ and pick your network, then enter the password.

5 Cool Things You Can Do On Xbox One

1) Download and set achievement art as background:
From your profile, select ‘My Achievements’, find the game you want then find ‘Unlocked Achievements’. From there choose ‘Set As Background’.

2) Connect External Storage:
Plug in a USB3.0 external drive to your Xbox to create additional storage. This also allows you to keep data and installs portable.

3) Control Xbox One From Phone App:
Download the iOS or Android app for Xbox. This app allows you to control your Xbox, join groups to communicate with.

4) Stream Gameplay To Twitch:
Download the Twitch app, sign in and start broadcasting.

5) Watch TV Through Your Xbox One:
Using the OneGuide app lets you set up Netflix, but also TV. It will guide you what to do, but basically you connect a HDMI cable to your cable box and Xbox.

The Next Generation Console: Project Scarlett

Reduced load time was a big issue when developing this next generation console.

These are quotes from the developers-

“It’s all about choice.”

“This console will enable resolution and frame rates never seen before.”

“Next gen ray-tracing in real time, because it’s hardware accelerated.”

“We’re using SSD as virtual RAM to see over 40 times performance increases.”

“This is the most immersive console experience ever.”

Project Scarlett is the code-name for the next generation Xbox, called the Xbox Series X.

It looks more like a gaming PC than a standard console, and with it’s advanced hardware it might just be unrivaled in the gaming world. It offers 12 teraflops of power, true 4K gaming and 8K ready, 120frames per second(FPS) and 1TB of custom SSD.

In Summary

Connecting your Xbox One to your laptop can be accomplished in two ways. Although most users will find they do not have an HDMI IN port, they can still use the second option and connect both devices to their home network. This gives users the freedom of movement to play Xbox games in any room of their house as long as they are connected to their network. So try it out, get connected and start playing your favorite game.

READ NEXT: Why Does My Laptop Overheat?

Lenovo Laptop Drive | Does A NVMe SSD Make A Difference?

2020-04-18T16:07:00.002-05:00

It's easy to feel overwhelmed in the world of hard drive technology available today.
If you are looking to upgrade your computer's storage you probably have questions on just what type of drive to purchase.
This guide will explore SSD drive technology and help determine if it is worth getting the latest and greatest in terms of cost and performance. This will apply to Lenovo Laptop Drives as well as any computer.

Does A NVMe SSD Make A Difference?

NVMe really does make a difference. NVMe drives are the new standard and are faster than SATA drives. But wait, there's more to know.

Common Storage Types In Computers

The most common drives are HardDisks(HDD) and Solid-State Drives(SSD).
HDDs are the older type of drive with spinning platters and moving parts.
SSDs are a newer type of drive with no moving parts and are commonly thought of as similar to USB thumb drives. That is, they are flash memory storage devices, which make them faster than the older HDDs.

What Is An SSD?

SSD stands for solid-state drive. It stores data on flash memory and as such is nonvolatile storage media. They have no moving parts are are very stable, giving SSDs a definite performance advantage over HDDs.
A computer will see performance improvements with a SSD because of it's low read-access and faster throughput times.

What Are The Different Types Of SSDs?

You've decided it makes sense to buy a SSD, but there are many types.
You need to know how to attach a new SSD drive to your computer.
The hard drive is the slowest part of a computer.
SSDs as stated earlier are storage types and are available in several form factors to allow them to connect to your computer.
These form factors are:

2.5 inch - Traditional and a common size.
mSATA - Uses SATA bus.
M.2 - Replaces mSATA. Uses PCIe and SATA buses.
U.2 - Uses PCIe and SATA buses. Used with 2.5inch drives and are hot-swappable.
HHHL - Half Height Half Length physical PCIe card. A card that plugs into a PCIe slot.

How Is Data Transferred?

Data is transferred using data buses - either SATA or PCIe.
The operating system uses communications interfaces to communicate to storage devices - either AHCI or NVMe.

Serial Advanced Technology Attachment(SATA):

An older data bus used to transfer data of up to 600MB per second.
Traditional HDDs used a SATA data bus for transferring data.
SSDs came along to replace HDDs but still used the SATA data bus.
SATA is being phased out by faster PCIe data bus.

PCI express(PCIe):

Used to connect high speed SSDs directly to the CPU.
Transfer speeds of around 4000MB per second, depending on the PCIe standard.
SSDs can use the PCIe bus but older HDDs cannot.

Advanced Host Controller Interface(AHCI):

Designed for the older HDDs with spinning platters.
Communicates with the SATA controller.

Non-Volatile Memory Express(NVMe):

NVMe allows SSDs to connect to the PCIe interface and communicate directly to the CPU.
Designed for SSD drives to enable faster data transfers via PCIe.
Communicates with the CPU.

Putting It All Together

Storage is the slowest part of your computer and the bottleneck for data transfer. SSD drive technology greatly improved data transfer speeds over the previous HDD technology with spinning platters.
And now SSDs that use NVMe and the PCIe interface have faster transfer data speeds over a SATA SSD.
PCIe sockets can transfer data at about 25 times faster than SATA.
SSD drives that use NVMe are more expensive than SATA SSD drives so deciding if it's worth buying comes down to how you plan on using the drive.

In normal day to day computer use you won't see a great performance increase. If you work with large files or data transfers though, you should notice the benefits of the performance boost.
Upgrading an older HDD to a SSD will provide a very noticeable performance boost and is worth the upgrade.
Upgrading from a SATA SSD to a new NVMe SSD will not result in the same perceived performance boost as that from HDD to SSD.

If you do decide to upgrade your Lenovo laptop drive or any computer, make sure your computer motherboard supports the latest PCIe standard to take advantage of the increase in performance. Check the connector types of the motherboard as well so the SSD is compatible.
Also, buy a quality SSD. It's worth the money to invest in a product that performs as expected.

Ask these questions:

Can the Lenovo laptop drive be upgraded?
Many Lenovo laptops have bottom panels that can be removed to upgrade the drive. Not all of them have this ability though. Check the Lenovo support site and double check your model can be upgraded.
What is the current size of the Lenovo laptop drive?
Make sure to know what size you currently have and what size you will need.
What bus does my Lenovo laptop use?
Make sure to know and check what type the current drive uses. You need to make sure the replacement you buy will be the same and compatible.
Do you need to make a backup before replacing the drive?
Make sure to do a complete backup if you deem it necessary.

READ NEXT: What Are The Different Versions Of USB?

What Is The Easiest Laptop For Seniors? (info steps)

2020-03-12T12:18:00.002-05:00

To choose a laptop we'll start with a few questions to understand your needs. From there, we can compile a select list to ease the selection process.

Older adults and seniors may face challenges when wanting to use new technology. They might think it will be too difficult, or not realize the benefit that could be gained.
But that shouldn't stop anyone wishing to utilize a new computer or laptop.

In fact, technology adoption among older adults has grown significantly. According to pewresearch.org: "Today, 67% of seniors use the internet – a 55-percentage-point increase in just under two decades".

Anyone can learn and find enjoyment using the latest technology. This article is intended for those senior citizens who are unsure, but want some clarity, about laptop computers.

How can a laptop help senior citizens?

A laptop computer simply helps seniors connect.
Helps them connect to friends and family, connect to email, online banking, and social networking sites. They can also use a program like Skype to make video calls to loved ones. There are on-line games to play, news to read, and of course search Google.

What to look for when buying a laptop for seniors?

Before you go out to buy a new laptop let's begin by narrowing down all the choices.
We'll start with defining your personal requirements and wants. Next, we'll discuss the options in laptop computers today. This should arm you with enough information to purchase the right laptop for you.

It might be helpful to start a list to keep track of your decisions as we progress through the selection process.

The Basics

Let's first ask a few questions so we know where our starting point is.

We can then begin to know the scope of our available laptop selections.

We'll start with looking at your price range, how you wish to use a new laptop, the available sizes and what operating system may be the best fit for you.

Price Range -
Laptops are available in various sizes and configurations and therefore their price's range wildly.
If you already know or have a budget in mind, that is a good starting point to dive into all the offerings. An average price for a decent laptop is roughly $400 - $600 US.
Add your budget to the top of the list you're creating.

Laptop Use -
How you intend to use a new laptop will partially determine it's cost.
I would venture a guess to say most senior citizens are not looking for a top of the line gaming system. I'm going to break this down into just two categories: Everyday Use and Work Use.
Everyday Use:
It's likely a modest laptop capable of day to day tasks, such as email, word processing, and perhaps Skype video conferencing will be sufficient. This will be a mid-range laptop.
Work Use:
For work, a business laptop with more processing power may be right for you. This will be a higher end laptop.
You will need to decide, and add to your list, what you want to do with a laptop.

Size and Portability -
A smaller laptop is more portable but it also has a smaller screen.
Think about an LCD screen size in the range of 13" to 15". This will be large enough to be read easily for seniors. A 15' screen is a great size, but may be a little to large of a laptop to carry around.
Think about how often and where you will carry this laptop, then choose an appropriate size, and add it to the list.

Operating System -
The operating system (OS) is the software that runs the laptop. The most common and widely used OSes today are Microsoft Windows, Apple MacOS, and Google's Chrome OS.

Are you familiar with any operating system now?
If so, perhaps stick with what you know and purchase a new laptop with the same OS.
If not, there are a few questions we can ask.
- Do you use a smartphone?
Smartphones run an OS. Common one's are Apple iOS for iPhones, and Android for most others.

If you use and are comfortable with an iPhone, then consider an Apple Mac laptop.
If you use an Android based phone, perhaps Google's Chrome OS would feel right.
Microsoft Windows is hugely popular and a great choice as well.

If you already know your preference for an OS add it to the list.
If you don't know yet which OS is right for you, that's okay. We'll move on and look at other options.

Laptop Components

Laptops are made up of many components. We'll talk about them here so you will understand what's important to you.
Again, I will define these in terms of an everyday laptop vs. work laptop for simplicity.

Computer Specs -
Laptops contain the CPU or processor, memory, hard drive storage, battery, onboard camera, keyboard, display, and ports among other things.
Instead of going into a deep dive about each of these components, it will be easier illustrate what to look for in an everyday laptop and a more powerful work laptop.

An everyday laptop will be powerful enough and capable of performing your day-to-day tasks. It will handle word processing, emails, Skype video calls, online banking, visiting social networking sites, surfing the web, etc.

Work laptops are generally more robust, have a more powerful processor and probably more memory, and better battery life. These might be used for video editing, running several programs at the same time, etc.

What to look for in everyday laptop
Processor: Any Intel or AMD chip will be fine. The least powerful are the Atom and Celeron series.
Memory: 4 to 8 GB, while 8GB is preferred.
Storage Space: Around 240GB HDD. If you intend to store a lot of data and pictures, think about 500GB to 1TB.

What to look for in work laptop
Processor: Look for a newer Intel or AMD chip. Intel i5 and above will be sufficient.
Memory: 8 to 16 GB, if you plan performing intensive applications buy 16GB of memory.
Storage Space: At least 500GB, maybe 1TB. for plenty of storage.

Additional Considerations
Display size: as mentioned above 13" to 15" screen is recommended. A 15" screen is easier to read and you can increase the font size.
Keyboard: Look for a large enough keyboard that will be easy to type on.
Ports: Newer laptops have plenty of side ports and should be enough for your uses. One of the newest ports is the USB-C, and more devices will incorporate this in the future. If interested, you can read all about the different versions of USB ports in a previous article.
Weight: Pay attention to the weight of the laptop if you intend to travel or carry it often. Also consider purchasing a backpack for this purpose.
Camera: Most laptops have onboard cameras for video conferencing and Skype. And most cameras are not very good, but a few laptops are Skype certified, meaning their audio and camera are up to speed.

Standard Laptop Or A 2-in-1 Laptop?
You are familiar with a standard design laptop, the type where the display opens and closes. Well, a 2-in-1 laptop is one where the display can open up almost 360 degrees, and is also a touchscreen.
This allows it to act as a laptop and also a tablet, so it's worth a consideration if you have an interest in this.

OS Differences
Chromebook Laptops:

Run Google's Chrome OS
Generally cost less than the others
Automatically download and install updates
Rely on an active internet connection more than the others

Windows OS Laptops:

Run Microsoft Windows 10 OS
Generally priced less than MacBooks but more than Chromebooks
Very widely used OS, supported on a wide range of laptops

MacOS Laptops:

Run Apple's MacOS only on Apple's hardware
Priced higher than the others
A very stable OS

In Summary

Choosing a new laptop as a senior or older adult can be overwhelming. But seniors have shown to be eager to adopt new technology and thrive with it. There are many factors to consider when trying to find the easiest laptop for seniors. Start a list with your basic requirements and filter out the options that don't fit. Any senior citizen can find a laptop that will be the best fit for them.

5 Smart Tips For Traveling With A Laptop (plus Bonus)

2020-03-09T16:57:00.002-05:00

Laptops mean portability, and the result is many users want to take their laptop with them as they travel.
Whether it's a short trip to the office for work, or longer trips out of town, these 5 smart tips for traveling with a laptop will ensure a safe and successful outcome.

My 5 Smart Tips For Traveling With A Laptop

1. Bios Password/HDD Password
2. Backpack Bag
3. Security Cable Lock
4. Software Firewall and Antivirus Protection
5. Backup Drives

1. Bios Password And HDD Password

Setting a secure power-on or BIOS password is an absolute must. The laptop will prompt for this password before it allows entry into the system or boots the operating system. This will prevent unauthorized use if the laptop gets lost or stolen.

Usually there are a couple of options in the BIOS for power-on passwords: User level and Supervisor level.

User level passwords can be reset by just about anyone and don't provide enough protection.
The supervisor level power-on password is much more secure and cannot be bypassed and reset, so this is the one you want to setup. But don't forget this password, because if you do, the laptop becomes useless.

Don't forget to set a hard drive password also. This protects the data on the drive from being accessed if it is removed from the laptop.

Refer to your specific laptop's manual on how to setup a power-on password, but generally you press 'F1' or the 'Del' key as it first powers on.

Once in the BIOS or UEFI screen, find the security and password selections.

2. Carry Bag/Backpack

A good carry bag or backpack not only stores and protects you laptop, but other accessories as well. Backpacks are very popular and a wide variety are available to choose from.
They come in different sizes, capacities and even colors. Of course, they offer a lot of space but pay attention to the internal padding that will protect the laptop itself.

3. Security Cable Lock

You may not be able to keep your eyes on your laptop at all times, this is why a good cable lock is essential. A cable lock provides a way to secure the laptop to some immovable object, such as a desk. The common cable lock attaches to the secure port or 'hole' located on the case of the laptop, and the other end wraps around that large object you found.
Although cable locks provide good security, someone with a good set of cutters can cut through the cable and walk away with your laptop. So be mindful of this and possibly take the computer with you if needed.

4. Software Firewall and Antivirus Protection

Operating systems have built in software enabled firewalls. Windows 10 is on by default, but whichever OS you use, be sure to examine the settings and make changes where necessary. For example, you may want tighter controls when using a public network.
The same goes for running an antivirus program. You want to be protected when on a public network, so make sure your antivirus is active and running scans.

Similar to an antivirus program is a malware checking program. A malware scanning program can detect and find malware that antivirus programs may not catch. There are numerous free and good malware checking programs available, a popular one is called Malwarebytes.

5. Backup Drives

The fifth item in my smart tips for traveling with a laptop is to use a backup drive. By backup drives I mean a USB thumb drive or a USB hard drive. It's good practice to backup any and all data or files that are important to you. In addition, backing up OS files will make it easier to restore and rebuild if your laptop crashes.

Select a USB drive with a USB connection and version that matches your laptop. For example, a laptop might have USB 3.2 ports that use the Type-A connector, or it might use the newer Type-C connector. Just make sure to buy a compatible connection.

Bonus Tips

The above 5 smart tips for traveling with a laptop are what I think of as the essentials. You would not want to leave off or not utilize any of these items.

There are some other options though many find useful.

One of these is to encrypt your data. You laptop OS may have this as an option by default. If so, think about encrypting you drive if it contains sensitive or personal information that has to stay secure.
Accessories- A spare battery or charger might come in handy, as well as an Ethernet cable if your in a situation where you can plug in.

How can I get my laptop through airport security?

When taking your laptop through airport security, keep it in a small backpack or your carry-on bag. You will need to remove it from the bag and place it in a scanning bin by itself to go through the X-ray machine.

Label your laptop with a business card or other identification on the bottom of your laptop to avoid loss or accidental exchange by travelers.

How to connect to internet when traveling with laptop?

Many wireless carriers and internet service providers offer free hotspots across the country. Check with your provider to locate these hotspots and find out if they are in your travel location. You are probably aware of the free Wi-Fi available in many stores, such as McDonald's and Starbucks. Also look into libraries and public parks, as large cities are making these more available.

Download a free app to help locate these free Wi-Fi spots, they are available for Android and iOS.

In Summary

Anyone traveling with their laptop wants to make the trip safer and easier. With these 5 smart tips for traveling with a laptop, users can ensure they have the essentials covered. Hopefully, you can relax a little and enjoy your travel more.

READ NEXT: What Are The Different Versions Of USB?

What Are The Different Versions Of USB? (visuals)

2020-03-09T11:53:00.002-05:00

USB ports are part of many devices today. It can be confusing deciphering the varied types of cables and connectors. We'll break down the versions of USB as well as some common connector types you are likely to see on your device.

What does USB stand for?

USB is an industry standard maintained by the USB Implementers Forum, Inc. (USB-IF) that establishes specifications. USB stands for Universal Serial Bus. The USB ecosystem continues to grow and includes connectors, cables, protocols and power capabilities.

Originally, USB was implemented to standardize computer peripherals. Many devices now connect using USB instead of the older serial ports and parallel ports.
A large benefit to using USB is the ease of use. It is considered plug-and-play and is hot-pluggable. This means the user can just plug in a device and the operating system automatically recognizes it.

What are the different versions of USB?

The table below details the available versions of the USB specification. The current naming convention was meant as a way to update and standardize the names for simplicity.

Release Date	Capability	Marketing Name	Name	Renamed To	Current Naming Convention
1996	1.5 Mbit/s and 12 Mbit/s		USB 1.0		USB 1.1
2000	480 Mbit/s		USB 2.0		USB 2.0
2008	5 Gbit/s	SuperSpeed USB	USB 3.0	USB 3.1 Gen1 (2013)	USB 3.2 Gen1 (2017)
2017	10 Gbit/s	SuperSpeed USB 10 Gbps	USB 3.1 Gen2	USB 3.2 Gen2 (2017)	USB 3.2 Gen2 (2017)
2017	20 Gbit/s	SuperSpeed USB 20 Gbps	USB 3.2 Gen2x2		USB 3.2 Gen2x2 (2017)
2019	40 Gbit/s		USB4		USB4

Created By: https://www.Upgrades-And-Options.com

What are the common USB connectors?

There are many types of USB connectors. The picture below displays three widely used connectors and displays the difference among them. The original connector was the Type-A that is distinguishable by it's rectangle shape. It was and is the most common connector type but as always, things change.

The USB Type-C^®connector will be the one to supplant the others going forward. It has been widely adopted and promises to be versatile and easy to use. You cannot plug it in wrong due to it's flat oval shape, unlike the Type A connector. Note also that the Type C is backward compatible with previous USB protocols, meaning, it can be used with a USB 2.x device.

The Type C connector has 24 pins, allowing it to replace various other cables such as, HDMI and DisplayPort. When buying USB Type-C cables, it's important to recognize the capabilities and buy a cable that can meet your requirements. Make sure it can handle the speed or power you need.

The USB-IF offers the following:

USB Type-C^® Key Messages

Slim and sleek connector tailored to fit mobile device product designs, yet robust enough for laptops and tablets
Features reversible plug orientation and cable direction
Supports scalable power and performance to future-proof your solution

USB Type-C^® and USB-C^® are registered trademarks of USB Implementers Forum.

What USB ports do I have?

You may be wondering what type of USB port your device has. Newer computers and laptops have USB 3.x and possibly USB C, depending on their manufacturer. The USB Type C connector is elongated oval that can be plugged into the device any way. That is, it is not oriented to fit only one way into the plug.
In Windows 10 right click on the Start Menu, then select Device Manager, then select Universal Serial Bus controllers. If you see Enhanced it is USB 2.0, if it says USB 3.0 then it is 3.0.

Alternatively you can look at the physical ports.The USB 2.0 Connectors is colored white or black inside, while the USB 3.0 is usually blue on the inside as shown in the picture above.

The Type C plug is round as shown in the picture above.

What USB ports does PS4 have?

The PlayStation 4 Slim has 2 USB 3.1 Gen 1 (same as USB 3.0) ports, on the front panel of the unit.
The PlayStation 4 Pro has 3 USB 3.1 Gen 1 (same as USB 3.0) ports, 2 on the front panel, 1 on the back.

What USB to charge my Nintendo Switch?

When charging your Nintendo Switch, make sure you are using a good quality charger and cable.
Nintendo does not recognize or endorse third party devices or accessories as these may harm or 'brick' your switch. They recommend using the included cable or one that is a USB-C to USB-A cable with a 56k Ohm resistor. Make sure any USB-C cable is USB-IF certified.

What USB does my Mac have?

Apple Mac's have Type-A or Type-C USB connections. Type USB-C ports are either the standard USB-C or Thunderbolt 3 that also support USB-C connections. Both of these look the same, and the connector plugs into the port in either orientation. Check you specs to see if your Mac supports just USB-C or both.
To view your specs: Choose Apple menu > About This Mac, click Support, then click Specifications.

What USB for external hard drives?

To connect an external hard drive to your computer, you'll want the fastest speeds available. First, find out what USB ports your computer has. Newer computers are at least USB 3.x capable and some may have the USB-C port. Buy the fastest external drive that is compatible with your fastest port. Reference the USB version chart above to learn about the various speeds.

In Summary

The USB standard has changed and been updated considerably over the years, and can be very confusing to the casual user. These revisions though have been designed to achieve a more unified and easier industry standard. The USB world has expanded to allow the ports and connectors to replace other types of connections so device manufacturers can design and build around a common connection.

READ NEXT: Is It Harmful To Keep Laptop Plugged In?

Is It Harmful To Keep Laptop Plugged In? (plus tools)

2020-03-05T16:31:00.004-06:00

The advent of lithium-ion batteries has revolutionized the area of laptop design. Smaller more compact batteries, in concert with innovations in semiconductors and microprocessors, contribute to more compact and lighter-weight laptops.
Lithium-ion batteries have improved energy density, power capacity, and better cycle life.

But is it bad to keep your laptop plugged in all the time? What is the proper way to charge your laptop's battery? This article will plug you in to the lithium-ion technology in modern batteries today.

Is It Bad To Leave Your Laptop Plugged In All The Time?

We have to take into account several factors and there are best practices to know to achieve optimal battery life.
The short answer is 'no' it's not bad to leave your laptop plugged in all the time.
But there is more to the story when discussing lithium-ion batteries.

First, let's talk about:

What type of battery is in a laptop?

Most recent models of laptop use battery chemistry known as lithium-ion.

Li-ion batteries when compared with older chemistry is lighter in weight, have a higher energy density, and last longer or have better cycle life.
Unlike the older nickel based battery cells, lithium-ion batteries do not have a 'memory-effect'. This means over their lifespan, they can be partially discharged and then recharged without losing capacity.
Typically, Li-ion batteries have a lifespan of about 300 to 500 charge cycles, which is generally about 2 to 3 years. After this point the capacity drops to under 80%.
Batteries normally self discharge even with no power draw. Lithium-ion cells typically discharge about 1.5% to 2% per month.
Lithium-ion is very sensitive to overcharging, over-discharging, as well as overheating. Most battery packs have a circuit to monitor the voltage and the current, as well as a temperature sensor, to keep it in the safe range.
Li‑ion batteries charged in a temperature range of 5 to 45 °C (41 to 113 °F) have shown to be more efficient.
Lithium ions flow inside the cells. Gradually, in very simple terms, these ions get 'clogged' in internal anode structures as part of normal operations. After some buildup, there is increased resistance to the flowing ions and this results in decreased battery capacity.

Does It Matter if Your Laptop Is Always Plugged In?

Once the battery of your laptop is fully charged it will stop. Keeping it plugged in to a charger will not cause an issue.
Having said that, best practices for Li-ion battery longevity say a partial charge is better than a full charge. To optimize you battery:

Keep it as close to a 50% charge as possible. Every time the battery is cycled it wears down, so avoid deep-cycling and keep it topped off as needed.
Cycling the lithium-ion battery from fully discharged to fully charged routinely will reduce it's life.
Heat is harmful to battery cells so keep or store in moderate temperatures as stated above.

The table below shows that the smaller the discharge, or lower DoD, results in a longer battery life.

To maximize Li-ion battery capacity, partially discharge and partially charge, and keep the battery at a moderate temperature range.

Source: BatteryUniversity.com

Depth Of Discharge	Discharge	Cycles
	NMC	LiPO4
100% DoD	~300	~600
80% DoD	~400	~900
60% DoD	~600	~1500
40% DoD	~1000	~3000
20% DoD	~2000	~9000
10% DoD	~6000	~15000

Note: 100% DoD is a full cycle; 10% is very brief. Cycling in mid-state-of-charge would have best longevity.

How do I maximize my laptop battery life?

Laptops affect battery life in many ways, such as, LCD brightness, power management settings and running programs. In the real world you use your laptop and plug it in to charge when needed. Usually, you leave it plugged in until the battery is at 100 percent.

While convenient, this is less than optimal for the lithium-ion battery.
If you're curious about best practices to maximize battery life, there are several steps to follow.

As stated above, a partial charge and discharge is better than a full charge and full discharge.
Temperature plays a role in lithium-ion battery longevity. A moderate temperature is best, too cold or too hot impairs the battery performance.
If you are going to store the lithium-ion battery for some reason, make sure to charge to about 50% and don't let it fully discharge.

Occasionally, the battery percent gauge or 'fuel gauge' might be inaccurate or show the wrong percentage of battery left. This sometimes happens in older batteries.
In this case, to reset and re-calibrate the gauge:

Run the laptop until it displays 'low battery' to fully discharge the Li-ion battery.
Then fully charge the battery to 100%. This will reset some flags that assist in accurate readings. This process might be occasionally needed but will affect the longevity of the battery.

Lithium-ion batteries with age will degrade in performance and take longer to charge. Taking the steps above will prolong the useful life of the battery, so you can get the most out of it.

Some laptop manufacturers such as Lenovo have a safeguard chip which authenticates with Lenovo systems. This means if you need to buy a replacement battery, make sure it is compatible and authorized to work in your Lenovo laptop.

How can I improve my laptop's battery life in Windows 10?

Windows 10 has a battery saving power mode called Battery Saver.
By default the Battery saver will automatically turn on when the battery power falls below 20%. Some background applications and push notifications will be limited in this state.
To see or adjust this setting, go to Settings > System > Battery saver.
From the battery saver screen, you can also see what applications are using the most power. Find and select the Battery Use link. You can adjust the battery use screen to display selected time frames.

How do I check the health of my laptop battery?

Some laptop manufacturers, like Lenovo, have applications that will check the health of the laptop's battery. For Lenovo, the application is called: Lenovo Vantage.
If your looking for additional Lenovo Diagnostic tools see this article.
If you are running Windows 10, there is a battery status check you can run.
It is called Battery Check and is run under Command Prompt.

Right click on the start menu
Select Windows PowerShell(Admin)
In the window type in: powercfg /batteryreport
This will generate a report detailing the laptop's battery.

What's the takeaway?

Lithium-ion batteries have been a great advantage for laptops. Both in performance over older batteries but also in smaller size and capacity. Laptop users normally just plug in their computers when low on power and don't ever think about lithium-ion chemistry and battery life. That's okay, but to achieve peak performance and longevity from your battery, follow a few simple steps listed above. You may not always be able to follow the best practices but try to find a workable balance so you can get the most out of lithium-ion battery technology.

READ NEXT: Why Does My Laptop Overheat?

Laptop Security Configuration For Small Business

2020-03-03T16:16:00.000-06:00

Laptops are increasingly important tools to any business today. Employees are more mobile than ever and need access to mobile devices constantly. Small businesses often find it difficult to maintain strong security protection such as protecting confidential data on laptops.
Often, it's difficult for the small business to understand the scope of security measures. In fact, it has been reported that up to 47% of small to medium size businesses do not back-up their data.

If attention is given to creating and implementing strong policies for laptop security, small businesses will position themselves to protect their company and their employees.

Create a laptop security management system

Laptop security is one part of a larger and more complex security posture for small businesses. Procedures and policies need to be designed and enforced to cover all aspects of business security.

Generally, best practices across the industry are adopted and customized for each particular business use. For example, you can customize an asset management procedure so it covers mobile devices in your business environment.
This guide will deal in the area of laptop security for the user to adapt into their business model. It's important that all employees understand and buy into the security plan. Repeatable processes should be well documented and explained to all employees. In addition, routine training for all are critical elements of any security policy.

I will break laptop security down into individual policy segments. Again, these should be subsets of broader policies in regard to your business security.
Small businesses may not realize that written procedures and policies are just as important as in larger corporations. The FCC convened a round-table and came up with security tips for small businesses. This is an umbrella approach covering start to finish, meaning initial laptop rollout to end of life asset disposal.
Create these go-to documents and ensure every employee reads and acknowledges them.

Information Management

- Laptop security starts with the employees.
Information Management generally deals with the ownership and distribution of data or information from start to finish. In tailoring this to laptop specific, we'll define it as laptop data and information. Create a written policy that sets expectations for all employees to know and follow in regard to laptop security.
In your Information Management Laptop Policy, describe the actions required to protect the types of data your organization deems sensitive, such as personal information.

Encrypt laptop hard-drives for personal sensitive data or higher. Some OS's have built-in encryption programs. Make sure to enable these and use them if available, if not, consider investing in one for your business.
Install virus protection software and malware removal tools. Set the same schedule for every laptop to run virus protection and malware programs.
Apply OS updates on a set schedule, monthly for example. Updating your software with the latest patches protects it from vulnerabilities.
Unsolicited E-Mails and Phishing attempts. Opening suspicious emails or clicking improper links is one of the most widely used tools hackers use to gain access. Teach and remind employees that when in doubt, do not open or click such emails. Employ 2-Step authentication wherever it is available and possible.
Apply firmware updates as needed, such as twice yearly. An IT person in the business is a good point person to handle this task. This person can check and install BIOS and firmware updates on all laptops. Keep a spreadsheet of laptop serial numbers and date of updates. See below for more on the importance of updating firmware.
Use strong WIFI passwords. At the WiFi router, enable the highest level of security available, and use a strong password.
Enable and use the OS firewall. Windows OS has it's firewall enabled by default. Check the settings and set to Home, Office, Public network.
Make backup copies of laptop data to store securely. If a laptop is lost or stolen, having backed up data to restore on a replacement will come in handy. You will need to decide on the solution that works in your situation. Perhaps USB drives will be enough or external drives. Either way, protect these devices and store them securely. Best practice says to keep multiple backups and ensure one of these backups is off-line at all times.
Erase all data from laptops before disposing of them. It's easy to download a data erasing program to run on all laptops before getting rid of them. This just makes sense to use.

Access Control Management

- Minimize the risk to employee laptops.
Access Control Management's overall scope covers Authentication, Authorization and Accountability. We'll tailor these for our purposes to be laptop specific. We'll define this policy to include user verification for laptop access, what the user is authorized to access, and how the company expects the user to behave while accessing the laptop and data.
It's good practice to include in this policy your audit procedure. State when and how audits will be performed, such as periodic checks for password rules. Access Control should be taken seriously as more bad actors are on the internet trying to steal your company's data and information.

Require every laptop to have strong passwords, including power-on and OS passwords. Passwords should be at least 8 characters long, a mixture of upper and lower case letters, and make use of a special character or number.
Administrative passwords should not be used. They allow full access to everything which is dangerous on mobile laptops that could get lost or stolen.
Require password changes. State in your laptop security policy that passwords must be changed every 90 days. Do not allow re-using of old passwords.
No unauthorized software. Do not allow unauthorized software to be installed on business laptops. This potentially allows exposure to your network and data.
Set expectations early. Create policy documentation detailing expected behaviors in regard to secure laptop use and set reasonable penalties for failure to follow.

Asset Management

- Protect Laptops.

Asset management for laptops will help your business efficiently track the life cycle of every laptop you own, from purchase to disposal. This doesn't just let you know who has what, but can also track OS level, firmware release, and the age of their laptop.
This policy should direct the asset management person to maintain current up-to-date records for proper laptop security.

Record the purchase date and specs. Your small business needs to know when it bought, what it bought, and the details of each laptop.
Track the laptop serial number to the employee currently in possession of laptop. Data is king, stay ahead of the curve with complete record management.
Record operation system levels. So you know what operating system level each laptop is currently running and what patches and updates might b needed.
Record firmware levels. So you know what updates are needed to be included in the scheduled update policy.
Create a refresh and disposal schedule. Set an age limit for laptops. Prepare by ordering new laptops and refreshing old and outdated ones. Erase the hard-drives of all data prior to disposing the old laptops.

Security Incident Management

- Laptop security failures.
Security incident management concerns itself with identifying and managing threats and or failures. As well as then analyzing these security incidents to help improve the overall security posture going forward. Your small business laptop security incident policy should allow you to respond quickly to mitigate and protect your data.
SophosLabs reports seeing more than 100,000 unique malicious software samples every single day.

Report every security breach and incident. Each employee is responsible for following the policies of your small business. Any deviation or security incident has to be reported to management. Remediation steps should be outlined in this policy. For example, if a laptop is lost or stolen, determine if you have a data exposure. Is it appropriate to remove that user's access or change network password for them, etc.
Develop a post-incident analysis. You simply need to learn from the incident and put your small business in a better position in the future.
Determine possible impact and severity. How does the loss of the employee's laptop impact the business? Was there a failure in following the written policies?

The Importance of Applying Firmware Updates

Traveling employees, especially those that travel overseas, are potential targets of hackers, scammers and thieves. The opportunity to access an organization's private data has bad actors coming out of the wood work. Firmware attacks are on the rise and pose a difficult to detect risk.

According to Eclypsium.com

"2019 had the most firmware vulnerabilities ever discovered, marking a 43% rise over the previous record in 2018, and a staggering growth of 750% since 2016."

If your company is concerned with the potential theft of trade secrets or any of it's data, follow these best practices:

Apply all firmware updates on laptops, as well as OS updates
Provide loaner laptops to overseas traveling employees
Limit the types of data on traveling laptops
Encrypt the hard drives of these laptops
Wipe/Erase the data and reinstall an OS on these laptops

These steps cannot guarantee data protection but they do help mitigate any attack.

In Summary

Use these laptop security policies you've newly created to have security awareness training for all employees. The goal is for everyone to have the same understanding and knowledge about what is required of them in regard to laptop security for your small business.

You want to motivate them toward a common goal with doable, repeatable processes and policies. In addition, it's also important to periodically have reviews of these policies, update them as needed, and have refresher meetings for employees. Here is where audits come in to play. Perform laptop security checks to insure compliance with your written policies.

As employees become more mobile, developing written laptop security configuration policies for your small business have become increasingly important. Taking the time to develop and maintain a strong posture for laptop security will prove beneficial now and in the future.

READ NEXT: What Is IT Infrastructure Design?

Why Does My Laptop Overheat? (Causes and Prevention)

2020-03-01T14:35:00.002-06:00

If you use your laptop regularly you're probably used to the fact that it gets hot while running. What's not normal or desired is the laptop to get too hot and overheat. Overheating is a concern and should be addressed sooner rather than later to prevent permanent damage. This article will discuss the issue of overheating and steps to be taken to resolve this unwanted occurrence.

Overheating laptops may be caused by clogged vents and fans, programs consuming too much power and memory, and possibly malware or virus infections.

Why does a laptop get hot?

Dust
You laptop getting too hot or overheating can be caused by several factors. One of the first diagnostics procedures should be to look for and remove a build up of dust.
The laptop's fan collects dust due to it's running so much of the time. The fan speed is controlled by a temperature control system, which adjusts the speed of the fan according to the temperature of the laptop.

Refer to your specific laptop's manual to learn how to gain access to the fan. You either remove the back cover or keyboard. Only do so it it can be done safely and won't void any warranty.

Once you open up the laptop and can see the fan, blow out the dust collected in and around the fan with a can of compressed air. Optionally, try blowing out the dust with your lung power if you don't have access to compressed air. Make sure to clear the fan and the vents around the fan.

You want to make sure the fan can move freely and is not obstructed.

Applications
Some programs such as games, video editors or other processor intensive applications place a high demand on the laptop's components. These demands draw power and therefore result in a hot computer. Eventually, this heat could build up until the laptop overheats.
Open the Task Manager in Windows then select Processes to view all the running processes. Identify which programs/processes are using the most CPU, and close these if possible.

Firmware
A BIOS or firmware upgrade might be in order. Again, check the manufacturer's website for any new and available BIOS updates to your laptop. Follow the recommendations on how and when to apply this update. Sometimes these updates have improvements that specifically apply to power usage.

Malware
Malware and/or viruses are also something to consider when diagnosing overheating issues. Some of these unwanted programs run in the background and may stress hardware as well. Search for and install a malware removal tool or run a virus scan on your operating system.

How can I prevent my laptop from overheating?

When you experience overheating on your laptop there are a few steps to take to remedy the situation.

First is to let the machine sit and powered off for awhile just to get it back to normal operating temperatures
Check the vents and clean the fans. Visit the manufacturer's website and look up you model. Next, find a reference or manual on how to access the fan. This should tell you how to safely remove the case and not void any warranty
After that, make sure you always place the machine on a flat hard surface where it receives good airflow
Also think about investing in a cooling pad. This is a device that the laptop sits on to help dispel hot air
Run a malware and virus scan. Malware runs in the background and can cause issues with your laptop
Check the current hard-drive, if it's getting too hot consider upgrading it to a solid state drive(SSD). SSD's don't have moving parts and run cooler than traditional drives
Look at how and what programs you run. High intensity programs such as games will naturally demand more power and resources, and therefore cause the laptop to run hotter

According to TechAdvisor

Best CPU temperatures

At idle: expect temperatures between 35 and 50°C (95-122F)

Playing games: expect temps. to rise to 60-85°C (140-185F)

What happens if my laptop overheats?

When your laptop gets extremely hot and overheats a common result is it to shutdown or just turn off. It's best to wait several minutes for it to cool down before attempting to power it back up. Permanent damage could occur to the hardware if you continually exceed their limitations and specifications.

You might also experience the following issues when the computer overheats:

The fan runs at it's highest speed
Basic OS programs or applications respond slowly or take more time to complete than normal
The screen can flash or pixelate
Errors pop up on the screen from the operating system
Games appear slow or stop responding when playing
The laptops exterior is very hot to the touch

What's the takeaway?

Nobody wants their laptop to overheat. Take the necessary steps as described above to remedy such issues. With good care and maintenance of your computer it should not only last for a long time, but also run smoothly without issue. Remember to power off, check the vents and fans, and close any excessive open programs.

READ NEXT: Lenovo Diagnostics Tools

What Is The Difference Between Lenovo's Pens? (with Part Numbers)

2020-02-25T16:30:00.000-06:00

Do you ever find yourself writing with an old school pen or even worse a pencil? As you pry your fingers off that last century writing device, ask yourself if there isn't a better way.

Well ask no more, there is a whole world of digital pens out there just waiting for you to discover.
I went through this same process and wanted to find out about the digital pens from Lenovo. In this article I've compiled their offerings for you to peruse.

What is the difference between Lenovo's Pens?

There are two types of stylus pens: active and passive.

An active stylus pen has internal components such as electronics and batteries. These electronic components allow you to customize the pen to your needs. Generally these pens have memory and buttons that act similar to mouse buttons.

In addition, they have electronic erasers and pressure sensitive tips to allow lighter or heavier lines when drawing. You can see these types of pens would be popular with artists. Note that these pens are usually larger than the traditional passive pens because they house internal electronics.

A passive stylus pen does not have internal electronic components and therefore doesn’t have touch sensitivity. Neither does it have buttons or memory. It is just a capacitive stylus that works with an electrical charge from your fingers to the screen. This is the same as using a touch screen with your finger, but with finer control with the stylus.

What is the list of Lenovo pens?

Lenovo has several active and passive pens for their assortment of laptops and tablets.
It is important that you look up your device model number to find the correct pen for it.
An easy way for you to do that is to go to Lenovo’s Accessory Lookup webpage.

Below I listed a few of Lenovo’s pens to give you an idea on what’s available. Past that however is a table listing the pen, it’s part number and compatibility.

List of Lenovo pens(partial list)
Digitizer Pen

Passive pen
Usually housed within device cover

ThinkPad Tablet Pen

Passive pen
Housed within device cover
Larger in size than the Digitizer Pen

ThinkPad Helix Digitizer Pen

Passive pen
Housed within device cover
A variation of the Lenovo Digitizer Pen

ThinkPad Pen Pro (also known as Active Pen)

Active pen
Requires one AAAA battery
The largest size pen available
Always housed externally of the system
Can be stored with an external holder accessory that attaches to the USB port
Mouse-click input

ThinkPad Pen Pro 2

Active capacitive pen
Rechargeable
Housed within device cover
Mouse-click input

Lenovo Active Pen

Active pen
Powered by one AAAA battery
2,048 levels of pressure sensitivity
Palm rejection
Two quick access side buttons
USB pen holder and three replacement tips
Streamlined metal body design

Lenovo Active Pen 2

Active Pen
Up to 4096 levels of pressure sensitivity
Bluetooth Connectivity
Paper Like Writing
2000 Hours Battery Life
Metallic and Diamond Cutting
Anti-Accident Clicks
Configurable Button

ThinkPad Pen Pro 3

Active capacitive pen
Rechargeable
Housed within device cover
Mouse-click input

This table below will help you find the part number associated with the corresponding pen as well as which hardware it is compatible with.
From Lenovo:
Notebook Pens and Pen Accessories

Notebook or Tablet Pens	Part Numbers	Hardware Requirements
Lenovo 500e Chrome Pen	4X80R08264	Lenovo 500e Chromebook
Lenovo Tablet 10 Active Pen	4X80R03232	Lenovo Tablet 10
Lenovo Active Pen	GX80K32882	Lenovo Miix 510-12IKB, Miix 510-12ISK, Miix 700-12ISK, Miix 720-12IKB, Yoga 900s-12ISK
Lenovo Active Pen 2	4X80N95873, 4X80N95874, 4X80Q75521, 4X80Q75522, 4X80Q75523, 4X80Q75524, GX80N07824, GX80N07825, GX80N07827, GX80N20629, GX80Q75525, GX80Q75526, GX80Q75527, GX80Q75528	ThinkPad X1 Tablet Gen2 (20JB, 20JC), Miix 720-12IKB,Lenovo Miix 510-12IKB, Miix 510-12ISK, Miix 520-12IKB (Type 20M3, 20M4), Miix 520-12IKB (Type 81CG), Yoga 920-13IKB, Yoga 720-12IKB, Yoga 720-13IKB (Type 80X6), Yoga 720-13IKB (Type 81C3), Yoga 720-15IKB
ThinkPad Tablet Pen	0A33887, 0A33888, 0A33889	ThinkPad Tablet
ThinkPad Tablet 2 Pen	0A33899	ThinkPad Tablet 2
ThinkPad Helix Digitizer Pen	0A33910	ThinkPad Helix 1st Gen (3697, 3698, 3701, 3702)
ThinkPad Pen Pro	4X80K32538	Yoga 260, Yoga 370, X380 Yoga
ThinkPad Pen Pro	4X80H34887, 4X80H34888	Yoga 11e (Type 20D9, 20DA), Yoga 11e (Type 20E5, 20E7), Helix (Type 20CG, 20CH), Helix (Type 3xxx), ThinkPad 10 2nd, ThinkPad S1 Yoga 12, ThinkPad S3 Yoga 14 (Type 20DM, 20DN)
ThinkPad Pen Pro 3	4X80K32539	ThinkPad X1 Yoga 1st Gen, X1 Yoga 2nd Gen, 11e 4th Gen Chrome
ThinkPad Pen Pro-1	4X80K32537	ThinkPad Yoga 460, Yoga 14
ThinkPad Pen Pro for ThinkPad 11e Yoga	4X80R38451	ThinkPad 11e Yoga
ThinkPad Pen Pro for L380 Yoga	4X80R07945	ThinkPad L380 Yoga
ThinkPad Yoga Pen	4X80F22110	ThinkPad S1 Yoga, ThinkPad S1 Yoga 12
Lenovo Pen Pro	4X80R02889, 4X80Q97739, 4X80Q97740, 4X80Q97741, 4X80T37573	ThinkPad P52, ThinkPad X1 Extreme (20MF, 20MG), ThinkPad X1 Tablet Gen 3 (20KJ, 20KK)
Lenovo Integrated Pen for Yoga C930	GX80T09108, GX80T09109, GX80T24710, GX80T24711
Lenovo Integrated Pen for 300e Windows 2nd Gen	4X80T77999	300e Windows 2nd Gen (81M9)
Pen Accessories	Part Numbers	Hardware Requirements
ThinkPad Active Pen Holder	4X80J67430	ThinkPad Pen Pro (4X80H34887, 4X80H3488, 00HN890, 00JT921)
ThinkPad X1 Tablet Thin Keyboard Pen Holder Kit	4XF0L68927	ThinkPad X1 Tablet Thin Keyboard
Lenovo Pen Tip Kit	4XH0R14769	Lenovo Active Pen, ThinkPad Pen Pro

Additional information on Lenovo pens

Lenovo Pen Pro

The Lenovo Pen Pro (4X80R02889, 4X80Q97739, 4X80Q97740, 4X80Q97741, 4X80T37573).
Industry-leading 4096 levels of pressure sensitivity for natural writing and sketching.
156-hour continual use battery life and three configurable short-cut button to enhance productivity. Recognizes degrees of tilt for lifelike shading for drawings and paintings.
Modern digital convenience meets classic look and feel in the Lenovo Pen Pro.
Three replacement pen tips are included when original tip is dull.

How to use the buttons from your Lenovo Digital Pen

These are the default Pen Button Functions although you can change then to suit you. The end of the pen holds the Top button. The two buttons along the side are barrel buttons.

Hold the top barrel button and tap the screen: Right-click
Hold the bottom barrel button to erase the object in supported applications: Erase
Top button (for Pen with top button only after paired to your PC): Hold the bottom barrel button to erase the object in supported applications: Erase
Click once: Open the home page of Windows Ink Workspace
Double click: Send screenshot to OneNote

Change pen settings

In Windows 10 you can change the pen under: Settings: Devices: Pen and Windows Ink.
Also available to configure more functions is a downloadable app from the Microsoft Store. Search for 'Lenovo Pen Settings'.

READ NEXT: 5 Rugged Laptops For Students

5 Rugged Laptops For Students (affordable)

2020-02-21T18:57:00.003-06:00

There are many articles about the best laptops for college students. I wanted to find out what are some of the most rugged and affordable laptops for college students. That's what this article is about, I researched and put together a list of laptops capable of standing up to the rigors of college life.

Many manufacturers make rugged laptops but these can get expensive, I wanted to focus on affordable and rugged. A laptop students could afford as well as one that would last. My picks are compact, lightweight and capable. They range from 11inch to 14inch displays and from around $400US to under $1000US.

Which laptop brands are the most durable?
I chose 5 laptops from Lenovo since I am most familiar with these already. Lenovo Thinkpads are tested against 12 military-grade requirements and more than 200 quality checks. These are all Thinkpad branded except for the Lenovo 300e which is still military-grade rated. Check out the Lenovo stress test video and the end of this article.

My Top 5 Rugged Laptops For Students

1) Thinkpad Yoga 11e Gen 5 (11") laptop

I think the Yoga 11e is the best all around pick from my list of durable student laptops.
The display is built with Corning Gorilla Glass to protect against scratches. It's a Yoga which means the display opens 360 degrees. It's lightweight, portable and very affordable.

From Lenovo:
A class act, in and out of the classroom

Extra-durable design, this 11.6" convertible Windows laptop
A flexible 360-degree hinge to use like a tablet
The 10-point multi-touch display
Lightweight and portable at less than 3.5 pounds
Battery life that lasts all day
Perfect for on-the-go learning in school and at home

Lenovo Thinkpad Yoga 11e

Performance

Processor Intel Core m3 or i5, Celeron or Pentium Silver

Graphics Intel Integrates Graphics

Memory 4GB or 8GB

Storage 128GB eMMC or 128GB M.2 SSD, 256GB SSD

Design

Display 11.6” IPS HD Touch Display(1366x768) Gorilla Glass

Dimensions 11.81” x 8.27” x 0.89”

Weight 3.4 lbs.

Keyboard Water-resistant

Durability Features Reinforced ports and hinges, rubberized bumpers,

Ports 1xUSB-C Gen 1, 2xUSB 3.1 Gen 1 1xHDMI Bluetooth5.0

2) ThinkPad 11e Gen 5 (11") laptop

The Thinkpad 11e is available in two styles: Yoga and the standard laptop.
This laptop was built for education as it is both lightweight and durable.
It starts at 2.99lbs. and has rubber bumbers for protection. This is a nice upgrade from previous models and has a touch screen. For the size, I think the Yoga version is a better option.

From Lenovo:

Rugged yet lightweight for on-the-go learning.

Extra-durable design, this 11.6" Windows laptop
Engineered to withstand the rigors of the classroom
A 10-point multi-touch display option
Lightweight and portable at less than 3 pounds
Battery life that lasts all day
Perfect for on-the-go learning in school and at home

Lenovo Thinkpad 11e

Performance

Processor Intel Core m3 or i5, Celeron or Pentium Silver

Graphics Intel Integrates Graphics

Memory 4GB or 8GB

Storage 128GB eMMC or 128GB M.2 SSD, 256GB SSD

Design

Display 11.6” IPS HD Touch Display(1366x768)

Dimensions 11.81” x 8.27” x 0.86”

Weight 2.99 lbs.

Keyboard Water-resistant

Durability Features Reinforced ports and hinges, rubberized bumpers,

Ports 1xUSB-C Gen 1, 2xUSB 3.1 Gen 1 1xHDMI Bluetooth5.0

3) Lenovo 300e (2nd Gen) (11.6") Laptop

This laptop was built for the classroom. It comes with a pen that stores inside, but you can also use a regular no.2 pencil. That's right, a pencil won't scratch the screen. It is water-resistant, durable and drop tested. The 2-in-1 design is clever and would prove to be useful in many ways inside the classroom. It has rubber bumpers and reinforced hinges and ports.

From Lenovo:
At the head of the class

A 360-degree hinge that accommodates 4 learning modes and Pencil Touch technology
2nd generation 11.6" Windows version of the Lenovo 300e (2nd Gen)
2-in-1 laptop delivers a premium classroom experience
Durable features like a sealed keyboard, mechanically anchored keys, and drop-resistance

Lenovo 300e 2-in-1

Performance

Processor Up to 3.1Ghz Intel Silver

Graphics Intel Integrates Graphics

Memory 4GB or 8GB

Storage 64GB, 128GB eMMC or 128GB M.2 SSD

Design

Display 11.6” IPS HD Touch Display(1366x768)

Dimensions 11.41” x 8” x 0.8”

Weight 2.9 lbs.

Keyboard Water-resistant

Durability Features Reinforced ports and hinges

Ports 1xUSB-C Gen 1, 2xUSB 3.1 Gen 1 1xHDMI Bluetooth5.0

4) ThinkPad E495 (14") Laptop

Right away you notice the E495 is lightweight and compact size even though it has a 14" display. The screen is bright and as usual the lenovo keyboard is easy to use. This is more inline with the Thinkpads I am used to. I prefer this larger display over the 11" screens of some of the others, but then again it's not a touch or a 2-in-1. The E495 might be the best pick if you are looking for a larger display and need a lot of memory.

From Lenovo:

Engineered for effortless productivity, anywhere

14” Business laptop gives you intelligent, powerful AMD processing
Legendary durability and Discrete Trusted Platform Module (dTPM) safeguards your data
Multiple ports for multitasking
Options of dual-drive storage, FHD display, and integrated AMD Radeon™ graphics
Smart choice for business professionals on the move

Lenovo Thinkpad E495

Performance

Processor Up to AMD Ryzen 7 3700U

Graphics AMD Integrates Graphics

Memory Up to 32GB (2 DIMM)

Storage Up to 512GB SSD, Up to 2TB SATA HDD

Design

Display 14” IPS(1920x1080) or HD(1366x768)

Dimensions 12.96” x 9.53” x 0.78”

Weight 3.87 lbs.

Keyboard Water-resistant

Durability Features Reinforced ports and hinges, rubberized bumpers,

Ports 1xUSB-C Gen 1, 2xUSB 3.1 Gen 1 1xHDMI Bluetooth5.0

5) ThinkPad L13 (13”) Laptop

This L13 model is supposedly aimed at the business market but it has everything a student might want for school. The 13" touch screen is a nice size while allowing a still compact fit. Here's why I like it: It is thin, has i7 Core processor, can be configured with 16GB memory, plenty of storage, and it's tough as nails. I think you could carry this in a backpack quite nicely.

From Lenovo:

Powerful laptop, cost-conscious pricing

Powerful 10^th Gen Intel^® Core™ processing
Thin and light-13.3" display
Solid-state drive (SSD) and DDR4 memory
Super-fast commuting
Robust security and privacy features
A rapid charging battery
Extremely portable for work or play

Lenovo Thinkpad L13

Performance

Processor Up to 10^th. Gen. Intel Core i7

Graphics Intel Integrated UHD Graphics

Memory Up to 16GB

Storage Up to 1TB SSD

Design

Display 13” FHD IPS Touch

Dimensions 12.26” x 8.62” x 0.69”

Weight 3.06 lbs.

Keyboard Standard and backlit

Durability Features Military Grade Tested

Ports 2xUSB-C Gen 1, 2xUSB 3.1 Gen 1 1xHDMI

What should I look for when buying a laptop for college?
I previously wrote an article on choosing the right laptop. You can read that article here.

First things to consider are your needs and your budget.

What are you looking for in a laptop for college? Do you also want to play games? If so, this will influence the power and performance you will be looking for and accordingly the price will be higher.

A casual user might only need a small lightweight laptop, while a gamer would most likely need a fairly powerful system with good graphics and memory.

What is the best size laptop for college?
This is entirely up to your preference. There are several choices these days including 2-in-1 laptops. For me, I like a larger screen, something around a 14" display is right. But don't overlook smaller convertable laptops, these also act as a tablet with pen abilities.

Bonus For Students

From Lenovo.com:
Lenovo has partnered with ID.me to offer Students and Teachers an extra 5% off sitewide.

College students who are over 18 years old and are actively enrolled as a college student, university student, community college or technical college student are eligible for the ID.ME discount.

Thinkpad Stress Test Video

Lenovo IdeaPad S340-14IIL memory upgrade (Do This)

2020-02-16T15:38:00.000-06:00

Do you want to upgrade the memory on your Lenovo IdeaPad S340?
You may be wondering if you can add additional memory? That's what we're here for. This article will detail the steps you can follow to make your laptop run better.

The good news is the S340 is capable of upgrading the memory.
This guide will be specifically for the Lenovo IdeaPad S340-14IIL. Other S340 models will be similar but might come with different amounts of memory. That is, the process will be the same but the specs might be slightly different.

Let's look at the specifications on the S340-14IIL. It is a 14" laptop that comes with 8GB memory and a 256GB SSD drive. It also has the 10th generation Intel Core Processor.
It is an affordably priced powerful laptop that weighs about 3.5 pounds. It's newly released and so it comes with 3 USB 3.1 ports, one of which is Type-C. The model you own might have more or less memory, but we can access and upgrade them the same way.

Lenovo IdeaPad S340-14IIL SPECS:

IdeaPad S340 14" laptop
4GB Soldered + 4GB DIMM DDR4-2666
Max 20GB memory

Lenovo support website

Which memory module do I need?

to know the model of your IdeaPad because they don't all use the same memory module.

I've found the easiest way to know which exact module to buy is to use the system compatibility checker from the Crucial website. Using this tool, you either select the model of laptop you have or let the website scan your machine and display the part you need.

The Lenovo S340 comes with 4GB memory soldered onto the motherboard and one memory socket. This socket might already have a 4GB memory DIMM installed, which provides a total of 8GB of memory. To upgrade, replace the 4GB DIMM with an 8Gb or 16GB DIMM.

The table below displays the specs for the S340-14IIL only. It may not be the same for your model.

The steps to access the memory are pretty easy.

Turn over the laptop and remove the screws holding the back case in place.
Remove the back case, then unplug the battery from main board.
In the middle of the mainboard you will see a metal cover.
Remove this cover to access the memory module as shown in the illustration below.
Simply remove the memory module and insert the new larger capacity one.
Lastly, replace cover and back case, re-install the screws.

If you would like to see Lenovo's video of this memory upgrade follow this link: IdeaPad S340 memory upgrade

How much does it cost to upgrade my IdeaPad's memory?

The cost of laptop memory these days is not too bad. You will probably buy either a 8GB or 16GB memory module.
I priced each of these modules from the Crucial website and have listed them in the table below. They are current as of this writing.

8GB Memory SODIMM $33.99

16GB Memory SODIMM $61.99

Again, remember to find the correct module that matches your module.

As a side note, while on the Crucial website I priced a replacement 500GB SSD for the IdeaPad at about $69.99. Not too bad to just about double the size of the current drive..

Do You Have Other Laptop Questions?

IdeaPad S145-15IWL RAM Upgrade OR Laptop Not Turning On?

How much RAM do I have now?

Before buying additional memory, you of course need to know how much your laptop currently has. This is easy to look-up, I'll show you how in Windows 10.
Windows 10

Right click the Start Menu and select System.
In the System section, next to Installed Memory, you will see the amount of memory your system has.

How much memory do I need in my laptop?

That's hard to say definitively since every user is different. 8GB of memory might be just the right amount for the casual laptop user. Some signs to look for to help you determine if you could benefit from more RAM are:

The laptop takes a long time to boot
Opening programs or applications are taking too long
Perhaps the OS hangs or freezes
Lastly, it just seems slower than it used to

What's the takeaway:
Replacing or upgrading the memory on most laptops is usually pretty easy. Knowing what to look for and what you'll see when you open up the machine is always helpful before starting the process. The S340 is a nice affordable laptop with a powerful processor but some users might find they require just a little bit more memory for their work.

Have you upgraded memory yet? Let me know how it went..

READ NEXT: Laptop Buying Guide, How To Choose

What is IT infrastructure design? (info guide)

2020-02-10T13:29:00.001-06:00

IT Infrastructure refers to all the related equipment that is used support the information technology needs and services of an organization.

This article will detail the necessary equipment needed in a server room to allow users the ability to develop and test smoothly without issue. Ideally, we want the lab to be a transparent component to these end users.

What is needed for a computer lab?
Setting up or outfitting a new computer lab is a large task and much planning will be required by the IT team. In a previous article I wrote about the IT Infrastructure Plan, Design and Deploy process. Refer to that guide for those steps.

This article will focus more on the actualities of moving in and setting up the new lab space.

By now you should have planned and designed the current and future requirements for the server room.

Common server rooms have raised floors, a Computer Room A/C (CRAC) Unit, return plenums back to the CRAC unit and cable trays along the ceiling. Not to mention electrical runs under the floor tiles of either 110v or 220v(208v).

How to build a computer lab step by step

So now you have a fresh clean computer lab space, servers ready to install, racks, network gear, cables galore. Let's get started.

Hot Aisle, Cold Aisle:

Think about creating hot aisles and cold aisles for the equipment. Energy efficiency has become a growing concern as businesses look to be more green.

Place perforated floor tiles on the rows in front of where the server racks will be placed. If you have return plenums or ceiling perforated tiles you would place those behind the server racks.

You can imagine cold air coming from the CRAC unit under the floor, up through those perforated tiles. The servers will pull in that cold air and exhaust heated air out the back, which will go up into the plenum or ceiling to be returned back to the CRAC unit.

Server Rack Space:

Place the server racks in their designated locations. These should be side by side in rows as shown in the diagram above.

Next, install the servers themselves with the larger heavier ones at the bottom. If you ordered network switches for these racks, install them at the top or possibly along the sides if space has been allocated there.

Most likely you will have power distribution units(PDU) also installed in these racks. Connect the power from the servers here and the PDU to the under floor electrical cable run.

Connect the network cables to the network switches, then connect these switches back to the lab's router or main lab switch; whichever is appropriate in your setting.

If using a keyboard, video(KVM) tray, connect it up as needed. Frequently these days administrators remotely connect to the lab's equipment.

Network Design:

How do you build a network system?

Building your lab network should have been thought out and designed in the initial Plan, Design, Deploy stage.

Normally network switches are installed in each server rack. Either Catx or Fiber cables are run from these switches up into a cable run along the ceiling and fed back to a central point.

Namely, this point is either a lab router or main switch. The connection from the main switch or router will connect back to the site's network gear, which should be handled by the site's personnel.

Complete Cabling Connectivity:

To finish out the computer lab fit-up complete all the needed connections.

Check the network connections from each server to the switch.

Make sure each server has been connected to the electrical PDU and double check the power requirements placed on each PDU.

You don't want to overload and place to much demand on each electrical supply run.

Power up the network gear first and then power on each rack one at a time.

From this point you'll start working on the software side as you will need to configure all the lab equipment to fit your requirements.

TIP:

When cabling behind the server racks, keep the network cabling as clean and neat as possible. It is all to easy to let this get away from you and become a big clump of mess. It will provide better air flow but also won't become a headache in the future when you need to track down an individual cable.

Bonus:
Utilize Lenovo's Capacity Planner tool. This tool helps IT admins. calculate the power consumption of different server setups. It allows you to configure racks, servers and other equipment, then compute the total power this particular setup will use.
Knowing this information before deployment can increase efficiency of both lab space but also in location of rack installations.
This is a very useful tool to use. Find it here: Lenovo Capacity Planner

What's the takeaway?

Outfitting a new server lab space is a time consuming process. Taking the necessary time in the planning phase will pay dividends later on. Once all the servers, racks, network gear have arrived work the steps in your plan to create a successful lab space that is functional and also allows room for future growth.

What are your experiences in server lab spaces? Let me know..

Why is my Lenovo laptop keyboard not working? (Steps To Fix)

2020-02-09T15:34:00.000-06:00

Do you have a laptop with keyboard issues?

I see many keyboard issues on laptops. Either the keyboard stops work entirely or it's just a few keys. There are a few steps to follow to help diagnose the issue.
We'll need to isolate the issue to either software or hardware and then repair from there.

Are you asking one of these questions?
How do you open the keyboard on a Lenovo laptop?
Why is my Lenovo laptop keyboard not working?
Can laptop keyboard be repaired?
How do you fix an unresponsive laptop keyboard?
Why do some keys on my keyboard not work?
How much does it cost to replace Lenovo laptop keyboard?

Discovering your laptop keyboard has stopped working puts an end to your productivity.
Knowing what to do when this happens can save you time and money. If you can either fix the issue or repair and replace the keyboard yourself, you won't have to contact support, send the unit off for repair and pay top dollar.

We'll walk through the discovery process to find the solution.

Is the problem hardware or software?
We need to isolate the problem to know where it is coming from.

Software:

Can you boot into the OS and use the keyboard at all?

If there is no response then try booting into the BIOS/UEFI to see if the keyboard works here.

Another test is to use a bootable CD/DVD that will enable you to use the keyboard.

What you're trying to do is find an alternate way of using the keyboard outside of the OS.

If the issue is with the operating system you'll need to enable accessibility settings from the login screen by using the mouse. From there look at the device settings for issues. You might need to reinstall a driver.

Hardware:
If it looks like the keyboard issue is hardware follow the step below.

Turn off and unplug laptop. Turn the laptop over and gently shake to loosen and remove any dirt particles that might be stuck in the keys. Try blowing into and under each key or using a can of compressed air for this.

If you have no response from the keyboard, it might be time for a replacement.

If your laptop is under warranty the replacement keyboard should be free of charge and either you send in the laptop or they ship the keyboard to you. Normally you will need to send the laptop to them. See warranty lookup below.

Purchasing a new keyboard can run from about $60 to $100 US.

Remove keyboard:
Most laptop keyboards can be removed and will vary depending on model.
Lookup your model from the manufacturer for specific directions.
Several models of Lenovo laptops have replaceable keyboards some older models had screws on back, newer have screws on front. See the hardware maintenance manual for your model.

In general you remove the necessary screws and slide the keyboard up and out, but know there is a cable connected to the laptop itself. You will need to disconnect/unplug this cable after lifting the keyboard out.

TIP:
A previous article I wrote explains how to check your warranty status as well as finding the right part number for your Lenovo laptop. You can read that article here.

What's the takeaway?

It's usually worth investigating an issue with your keyboard to at least get an idea of the cause. If you do need to call the support number you can clearly identify and provide clear information to them as to what you need.

On the other hand, you might discover you are capable of the repair or fix yourself.

Replacing a laptop keyboard is in most cases not difficult. Review the manual for the specific laptop, remove some screws and then the keyboard. Remember to remove the battery and unplug the unit first. You can learn this DIY skill and save yourself time and money.

What are your experiences with laptop keyboard failures? Let me know..

READ NEXT: Read my Laptop Repair Primer

2 Lenovo Trade-In Programs

2020-01-25T15:08:00.000-06:00

Did you know Lenovo has a Trade-In Program? Instead of throwing away old devices, Lenovo will either reuse or recycle them.

Any Lenovo device or PC laptop, or Apple device may be eligible for the program.

Quickly discover if your device is eligible from the website by searching for it or looking at the list.
If it is not on the list does not qualify.
If your product qualifies for reuse - meaning it has monetary value - you'll receive payment equivalent to its fair market value as determined by Lenovo's partner, PowerON Services, Inc. If your product does not have monetary value, they'll recycle it at no cost to you.

Check your device here:
https://www.lenovo.com/us/en/trade-in-program

From Lenovo:

How is the value of my equipment determined?
The value depends on a variety of factors, including the demand for your specific item in the secondary electronics market and its condition. When you visit the PowerON Trade in tool on the Lenovo website, you'll answer a few simple questions about your device and describe its condition. Based on the information you provide, PowerON determines the estimated fair market value of your device and a quote is displayed instantly.

Alternatively, Best Buy also has a trade-in/recycling program.
Best Buy is the nation's largest recycler of used electronics. Check their site to see if your device has value, if so you will receive a Best Buy gift card. If the device has no value they will take it and recycle it. Their program works similar to Lenovo's but with so many Best Buy stores around, all you have to to is take the device to a store.

Check the Best Buy recycle website.

Format Blog Text in Gray Boxes

2020-01-24T13:36:00.000-06:00

Do you want to add some style or a point of interest to your blog? Or maybe desire to highlight some text by putting it inside a colored box?

I was looking to highlight certain text inside my blog posts by placing it in gray boxes.
After searching for the best way to accomplish this I found a solution that works for me. This is not the only way to make certain text stand out.
You could use Blockquote or create a content box, but I like the simplicity and the look of the simple gray box.

How to create a gray text box

This example is simple HTML code to be placed inside your blog posts.

Start by editing your blog post and then select the HTML view. This will of course display the whole post in HTML. If you are not familiar with editing this it's okay, you are only going to copy and paste.

Locate the place or text you want to be highlighted.

Copy and paste the code below into your post.

Insert your custom text to replace the line that says 'Insert Text Here'.

That's all there is to creating a gray text box.

Below is the code to copy and paste.

 <div style="background-color: #f0f0f0; border: 1px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); padding: 1.2em;">  
   
 Insert Text Here >  
   
 <br />  
   
 </div>

How to adjust the background color and size

You can change the gray text box to suit your needs. Make the box larger or smaller, change the color, etc.
To change color locate this code: background-color: #f0f0f0
The f0f0f0 is the Hex color code. Changing this will change the background color.
Either play around with different color codes or lookup hex color codes to locate the one you want.
To change the border size: padding: 1.2em
The 1.2em is a ratio size. Making the number smaller makes the box smaller, and vice versa.

Bonus
If you ever are in need of a solid horizontal line across a blog post, copy the code below.

 <hr align="center" width="80%" />

This code will draw a solid line 80% across the page. Adjust that number to suit your needs.

I hope you found this useful, I like to use both these in my blog articles from time to time.

Lenovo Yoga 5G New and Hot

2020-01-23T00:30:00.000-06:00

World’s First 5G PC¹ is Here

It seems as if we've been waiting to get our hands on some new hardware with 5G capabilities. By we I mean everyone who likes to learn about new innovations. 5G is of course the latest offering in cellular communications. It is not just a step beyond 4G, it's a giant leap. The biggest increase will be in speed, it should deliver close to broadband like speed.

But this article is not going into depth on 5G, it's talking about the introduction of the new Lenovo Yoga 5G laptop. See below on it's specs and size and screen..

All very lightweight which makes sense. With 5G on-board you would think this laptop would keep as much in the cloud as possible and/or stream what is needed.

The following is from Lenovo Press Release:

People use technology to bring about change or make their lives easier, whether you’re helping to save the world or simply saving an email for later. These different user needs and customer insights are what power the new experiences we create. At Lenovo, we believe in faster, better, simpler, safer, and smarter technology for all, and at this year’s CES, we’re introducing a number of new consumer innovations including the Yoga™ 5G 2-in-1 convertible laptop, the Yoga Slim 7 laptop, the 2-in-1 IdeaPad™ Duet Chromebook®, and the IdeaPad Flex 5 Chromebook.

The Lenovo Yoga 5G is an ultra-portable 2-in-1 laptop and the first-ever PC powered by the Qualcomm® Snapdragon® 8cx 5G Compute Platform. It delivers high-speed 5G network connectivity, that’s up to 10 times faster than 4G, through a 5G service provider²when on the move and reliable WiFi access at home.
² Requires 5G network service and separately purchased cellular data plan that may vary by location. Additional terms, conditions and/or charges apply. Connection speeds will vary due to location, environment, network conditions and other factors.

Go Faster with World’s First Lenovo Yoga 5G PC¹
The Lenovo Yoga 5G is the world’s first 5G PC¹. Supporting both millimeter wave full-band and sub-6GHz 5G networks, this ground-breaking device is capable of satisfying your need for speed with ultra-fast connectivity, reduced latency, and wider bandwidth. Download large files instantly or stream a high-resolution video with true Full HD clarity even in highly populated areas like airports with 5G.²

First previewed at COMPUTEX as Project Limitless, this ultra-portable 2-in-1 laptop is the first-ever PC powered by the Qualcomm® Snapdragon® 8cx 5G Compute Platform, bringing you high-speed 5G network connectivity that’s up to 10 times faster than 4G through a 5G service provider²when on the move and reliable WiFi access at home.

Need to edit video footage in real-time on set and then upload the finished film? Or how about faster screen refreshes for smoother mobile gaming? Or downloading a movie before a trip? It’s all possible with lightning-fast download speeds of around 4Gb/s³ supported by nine built-in antennas for a stronger signal.

At 2.86lbs (1.3kg), the Yoga 5G is effortlessly portable. Mobile multi-taskers and digital natives will enjoy the mobility of a smartphone without a WiFi connection or a hotspot² as they fly through tasks thanks to the familiarity of their PC’s productivity features. Once you log in with a hands-free infrared (IR) camera or integrated fingerprint reader, you’re good to go for up to 24 hours (a full day!) of battery life.⁴

The 14-inch Full HD IPS touch display offers 400 nits brightness with narrow bezels on all sides.

The 14-inch Full HD IPS touch display offers 400 nits brightness with narrow bezels on all sides, enabling expansive views of all your favorite streaming shows which you’ll enjoy in stunning clarity from anywhere.

Powerful Qualcomm Adreno® 680 graphics and user-facing stereo speakers powered by Dolby Atmos® complete your entertainment experience. Offering twice the performance of the previous generation compute platform, the Snapdragon 8cx 5G Compute Platform lets you create, edit and multitask on the Yoga 5G at a fraction of the power consumption. Paired with a digital pen and Windows 10, the Yoga 5G is designed to supercharge your productivity. Additionally, the Yoga 5G’s software-enabled intelligent temperature control feature adjusts performance depending on your activities, keeping your laptop cool and eliminating the need for a noisy fan.

5G technology will change entire industries as we know them, disrupting some while helping to launch others. Expect Lenovo PCs like the Yoga 5G to continue delivering more robust support for productivity and collaboration applications.

The Yoga 5G will be available in Spring 2020, starting around US$1,499 – find out more here.

See the complete Press Release here.

Another impressive laptop innovation from Lenovo with Qualcomm. It's a nice laptop on it's own but with 5G I think buyers will give this a serious consideration.

I like the Yoga line of laptops, even with limited experience with them. Their 2-in-1 configuration, touch screen and ultra-portability are compelling reasons to have one. I'll have to wait and see how they sell once they are released. 5G technology is going to change just about everything in regard to our day to day lives. Of course, most of us will have to wait a little while longer until 5G continues to be rolled out.

¹ Based on research conducted by Lenovo in November 2019 of laptops sold by major PC manufacturers shipping > 1 million units worldwide annually.
³ Download speeds vary by region and service provider, e.g. Verizon in US offers up to 4Gbs/second. Network strength also varies by 5G service provider.
⁴Up to 24-hours based on local video playback conditions and requires unit configured with Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx 5G Compute Platform. All battery life claims are approximate. Actual battery performance will vary and depend on numerous factors including product configuration and usage, software, operating conditions, wireless functionality, power management settings, screen brightness and other factors. The maximum capacity of the battery will naturally decrease with time and usage.
LENOVO, YOGA and IDEAPAD are trademarks of Lenovo. CES is a trademark of the Consumer Technology Association. CHROME OS, CHROMEBOOK, GOOGLE PLAY, YOUTUBE and GOOGLE ASSISTANT are trademarks of Google LLC. Qualcomm, Snapdragon and Adreno are trademarks of Qualcomm Incorporated, registered in the United States and other countries. Qualcomm Snapdragon and Qualcomm Adreno are products of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries

Lenovo Ducati 5

2020-01-22T15:25:00.005-06:00

WHAT IS THIS -- Lenovo Ducati 5!!

This is from Lenovo news:
High-speed Performance and Design with Special Limited-edition Lenovo Ducati 5

For this laptop, we harnessed that same passion for Ducati design, considering all the details, to deliver fans a PC they could love as much as their bike.

With wrap-around racing stripes, colorful gift box and companion carrying sleeve with an emblazoned Ducati shield, there’s no other PC quite like it in the world.

It’s more than simply making a new computer, we wanted Lenovo Ducati 5 to be sought-after; a collectible intended for fans to show off their deep-rooted passion for Ducati.

This premium 14-inch Windows 10 Lenovo laptop has a lot of get-up-and-go and up to 12 hours of battery life¹with Rapid Charge² for speedy battery pit-stops. Under the hood users will discover fast responsiveness with up to 10^th Generation Intel® Core™ i5 processors, Intel integrated graphics, and upward-facing speakers and Dolby Audio™ for clearer sound without distortion.

Impress your buddies when streaming races with lightning-fast WiFi 6 connectivity and the immersive clarity of the Lenovo Ducati 5’s 14-inch Full HD (1920 x 1080) display with razor-thin bezels for wide-angled viewing and in-plane switching (IPS) up to 300 nits bright.

Check out the cutting-edge USB-C port capable of fast transfer speeds up to 10 Gbps.³ Get optional white backlit keyboard and even more winning features including an integrated fingerprint reader in the power button supported by Windows Hello for faster log in, HD webcam with an integrated privacy shutter, and supercharged memory (with 8 GB DDR4) and storage (1TB SSD PCIe).

With the Lenovo Ducati 5's sleek lines, premium metallic chassis components, and standout Ducati design, the new Lenovo Ducati 5 is a fun device to race around town with weighing just 3.48lbs (1.58kg) and 0.66 inches (16.9mm) thin.

The special edition 14-inch Lenovo Ducati 5 will start at €899.00 (including VAT)⁴ and will be available in select markets starting in April 2020.⁴

Visit the Lenovo CES 2020 press kit for photos and full specs.

_________________________

Well that press release certainly made a splash. Looks like a cool laptop. With it's design and limited release they might become a collector's item. They should sell racing gloves to match..

¹ All battery life claims are approximate and based on test results using the MobileMark® 2014 at 150 nits screen brightness ver 1.5 battery life benchmark test. Actual results will vary and depend on numerous factors including product configuration and usage, software, operating conditions, wireless functionality, power management settings, screen brightness and other factors. The maximum capacity of the battery will naturally decrease with time and usage. See https://bapcocom/ products/mobilemark-2014/ for additional details. ²Requires upgraded 95W adapter (sold separately). Power-up with Rapid Charge, 15-minutes of charge offers up to 3 hours of battery life, 30 minutes of charge offers up to 50 percent battery life capacity. The maximum capacity of the battery will naturally decrease with time and usage. ³The actual transfer speed of the USB 3.1 Gen 1 will vary, and depending on many factors, such as the processing capability of host and peripheral devices, file attributes and other factors related to system configuration and your operating environments, will be slower than a speed of 5 Gbit/s. ⁴ Prices may not include tax, shipping or options and are subject to change without notice; additional terms and conditions apply. Reseller prices may vary. On-shelf dates may vary by geography and products may only be available in select markets. All offers subject to availability. Lenovo reserves the right to alter product offerings, features and specifications at any time without notice.
LENOVO is a trademark of Lenovo. CES is a trademark of the Consumer Technology Association. DUCATI is a trademark of Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A. MOTOGP is a trademark of Dorna Sports, S.L. Intel and Intel Core are trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the U.S. and/or other countries. DOLBY AUDIO is an un-registered trademark of Dolby Laboratories, Inc. Windows and Windows Hello are trademarks of Microsoft Corp. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. ©2020, Lenovo Group Limited.