How to fix hardware problems without taking apart the laptop

Here’s how you can fix, or to be precise, work around some hardware problem without taking apart the laptop.

1. Network port failure.

In most laptops the network port (aka RJ-45 port) is soldered directly to the motherboard. If for some reason the network port fails (I’m talking about hardware, not software failure), the whole motherboard has to be replaced.

Instead of replacing the motherboard, you can use a PCMCIAnetwork card (aka LAN PC card). You plug this card into the available PC slot in your laptop and get a network port instead.

Network Card 

2. USB ports failure.

Most laptops have a few USB ports available and if one of them stops working, usually it’s not a big deal because you still have two or three working USB ports left. But what if all of them stopped working at once. Let’s say the USB controller on the motherboard went bad and the laptop stopped recognizing any USB device plugged in any USB port. Again, I’m talking about hardware, not software failure. In order to fix this problem you’ll have to replace the motherboard.

Alternatively, you can use a PCMCIA USB card. You plug this card into the PC slot and get two or four USB ports instead. It depends on the type of your PCMCIA card.

USB Card

3. Internal wireless (Wi-Fi) card failure.

Most newer laptops come with an internal wireless card installed. In some models the wireless card could be easily access through the door on the bottom of the laptop. In other models, the wireless card is buried deep inside the case. What can you do if the internal wireless card fails? You can replace the internal wireless card with another one or use a PCMCIAwireless card instead.

WIFI Card 

4. Internal flash memory card reader failure.

Most newer laptops come with an internal memory card reader installed. You can plug most known flash memory cards into the slot and access the content right away. Usually the card reader is soldered directly to the motherboard and if it fails, you have to replace the whole motherboard or use it as is.

If you don’t want to replace the motherboard you can use an external USB flash memory card reader. All you have to do is plug the card reader into the available USB port in your laptop and it’s ready to go.

San Disk

5. Internal CD/DVD drive failure.

You’ll find an internal CD/DVD optical drive in most laptops. If the optical drive fails and stops reading CDs and DVDs, it has to be replaced with a new one. Internal laptop optical drives are not cheap.

Instead of replacing the internal drive, you can use an external USB optical drive. Simply plug this drive into the USB port, let your laptop detect and install the drive and it’s ready for you. Also, you can use this optical drive with any other computer which is very convenient.

CD/DVD

Samsung's Blazing Fast SATA 3.0 512GB SSD Lands in October

Samsung's Blazing Fast SATA 3.0 512GB SSD

New Samsung internal solid state drives are headed your way in October promising blazing fast data transfer rates of up to 6 gigabits per second thanks to the SSD's Serial ATA (SATA) 3.0 interface.

Samsung's new SSD 830 series will come in 64, 128, 256 and 512GB storage sizes and will be sold as a 2.5-inch drive. The full upgrade package for the SSD 830 also comes with a bracket to fit into 3.5-inch desktop PC slots and Symantec's NortonGhost software. Samsung will also offer a notebook upgrade package that includes a USB to SATA adapter cable. Pricing was not announced.

This is Samsung's second SSD announcement in as many weeks. The company previously announced the PM830 SSD, which appears to be the OEM version of the SSD 830 announced Wednesday. The PM830 is available to computer makers now and comes in 128GB, 256 GB and 512GB sizes.

During the PM830 announcement, Samsung said the drive supports sequential read speeds of up to 500 megabytes per second and write speeds of 350 MB/s. It's not clear if the SSD 830 will support the same read/write speeds or perhaps be even faster. Samsung said the PM830's performance would reduce a computer's boot time to about 10 seconds and let you transfer up to 5 DVD video files in less than a minute. The PM830 also features AES 256-bit data encryption, presumably the SSD 830 will do the same.

Samsung's Blazing Fast SATA 3.0 512GB SSD

Acer Introduces the Aspire S5 as the World's Thinnest Ultra Book

Acer America today announced the U.S. availability of the Acer Aspire S5 Ultra Book. Billed as "the world's thinnest Ultra Book," it measures .044 inches at its thinnest point (.59 inches at the thickest point) and weighs 2.65 lbs ... making it roughly the same thickness and weight as a pad of paper. Acer also took this opportunity to announce that the Aspire S3 (Acer's first Ultra Book) is getting refreshed with a 3rd Generation (Ivy Bridge) Intel processor, solid state drives and a new champagne colour.

Acer Aspire S5 Ultra Book
The S5 features a smooth, curved chassis in an "Onyx Black" finish. The LCD cover and palm rest are made of magnesium-aluminum alloy to keep this laptop as slim and sturdy as possible.

The first SKU of the new S5, the Aspire S5-391-9880, is Acer's first Ultra Book to feature a "Magic Flip" I/O port panel concealed just below the hinge. This design feature keeps the edge of the S5 looking as thin as possible while providing enough room for important ports. It's similar to the way that Apple handled ports on the original Mac Book Air back in 2008 ... only a little cooler. When you need the ports you simply press the Magic Flip key and the curved panel opens to reveal HDMI, USB 3.0 and a Thunderbolt port.

Despite the razor thin chassis the AspireS5 includes a 3rd Generation Intel Core i7-35i7U processor, a 256GB solid state drive and the previously mentioned Thunderbolt port. Thunderbolt connection combines high-speed data transfer and high-definition video out in a single cable, enabling up to six Thunderbolt enabled devices, such as hard drives, displays, cameras, docking stations and even other PCs to be daisy chained together.

The S5 features a 13.3-inch widescreen LED-backlit display with a rather unimpressive 1366 x 768 resolution. Of course, you can always connect the Acer S5 Ultra Book to an external monitor, projector or HDTV through a single HDMI cable.  An HDMI to VGA cable adapter dongle is included in the box. The S5 also offers triple independent display support, so images can be shown across multiple screens.

Acer promises the S5 will deliver long battery life thanks to the "Power Smart" battery pack which provides "up to three times longer battery life cycles than traditional batteries (1,000 vs. 300 cycles)." The bottom line for consumers is that the battery inside the S5 should maintain at least 80 percent capacity after the 1,000 cycle count, which means the battery should last longer and you won't have to replace it. Speaking of battery life, the Acer "Hybrid Standby Technology" provides up to 15 days of standby power, or up to 6.5 hours of continuous use.

Acer Aspire S3 Ultra Books
Acer's first generation Ultra Books, the Aspire S3 Series, has been refreshed to include Intel's latest Ivy Bridge Core i3 and Core i7 processors. In addition, you can now configure models with a single 256GB solid state drive.

Acer also decided to update the new S3 with a new champagne colour to help with the sophisticated looks and to help consumers easily identify the new S3. With prices starting at $648, the Aspire S3 is one of the most affordable ultra Books on the market and will likely be a little more popular than the S5 as a result.

Acer Cloud: Acer Gets into Remote Sharing
The Aspire S5 is Acer's first product in the U.S. to ship with Acer Cloud. This new feature provides S5 owners with remote access to the data residing on their Ultra Book via their Android tablet or smart phone. You can access your data and download or share it among other PCs and Android devices even when the S5 is in sleep (standby/hibernation) mode.  As long as the Aspire S5 is in sleep mode, Acer Always Connect technology can wake it up through Wi-Fi, allowing the media to be retrieved via a mobile device.

Acer Cloud also makes it easy to take photos on a smart phone and then view them on their S5 at home or in the office, without manually transferring files. Acer Cloud will be bundled on all Acer consumer PCs starting in Q4 2012. It will support all Android devices, while future support is planned for Windows-based devices (we suspect Acer is talking about Windows 8).

Pricing and Availability
The Aspire S5-391-9880 has a MSRP of $1,399.99 and will be available the last week in June at the Acer website and leading retailers across the U.S.

The new Aspire S3 Series Ultra books will be available beginning next week at leading retailers across the U.S. Prices begin at $648 and range up to $999.99

Laptop Buying Guide

Many factors are important in finding the right laptop. Before starting to pore over system specifications, though, take a moment to decide whether convenience or specs are of primary importance. Often, portability is a key factor, and these systems are more lightweight and easy to transport, but typically have less powerful systems than heavier, less portable laptops.

The pricier laptops are typically either more portable or more powerful than competitor's models. While desktop replacements offer all of the features a standard desktop PC does, these are heavier, and much harder to carry. Likewise, bargain notebooks or thin-and-light notebooks are similar in many ways, but the bargain notebooks are much less expensive.

Used Laptops 

People who are concerned about cost and want a model with good features often opt for bargain notebooks. Those who are concerned most about portability may select either ultraportable or thin-and-light models. Typically, ultraportable models weigh less than 4 pounds, while thin-and-light models weigh between 4 and 6 pounds. In contrast, a bargain notebook weighs between 6 and 8 pounds, while a desktop replacement may weigh over 7 pounds.

In addition to the weight of the laptop, factor in the weight of the carrying case in addition to all necessary accessories. Some accessories might include power cords, extra batteries, USB cables, and flash or external drives.

One of the most important considerations when purchasing a laptop is evaluating what purpose the new computer is expected to serve. Home users may want a laptop that's portable enough to carry into another room or upstairs. They typically want many of the features of a standard desktop PC, but are concerned about price. A bargain laptop is often the best choice, and many people today prefer models that feature internal Wi-Fi capabilities for accessing the Internet.

Used Laptops

Students may want a lighter weight laptop that is portable enough to take to the library after class. Some colleges are more particular about specification requirements than others, so check with the university to determine what systems or user platforms are supported through the institution's network system.

If the university doesn't have particular requirements, a thin-and-light or ultraportable laptop may be the ideal choice. Many students prefer to purchase models with software packages like Microsoft Office. Internal Wi-Fi is probably essential, and a minimum of 1GB of ram, as well as either a CD or DVD burner, are also highly important features.

For those who are frequently on the go, traveling for work-related reasons, a lightweight computer is almost certainly the way to go. Think thin-and-light or ultraportable. Internal Wi-Fi, a software package like Microsoft Office, and a minimum of 1GB of RAM are essentials.

Business users require laptops that are travel-friendly, but will help them to create the presentations and spreadsheets essential for their work. Network connections are also a prime factor. Thin-and-light or desktop replacement laptops that offer software applications like Microsoft Office, as well as internal Wi-Fi or an external Wi-Fi card, as well as a larger hard drive and at least 1GB of RAM will generally help business professionals meet their computing needs. Those with minimal travel requirements will probably find that a desktop replacement best meets their needs.

Gamers will want laptops that feature high-speed processors, superior graphics resolution, and at least 2GB of RAM. Desktop replacement laptop with a large display screen and a 512 MB 3D card for graphics will probably be the best option for gaming.

Brand New Laptops 

Multimedia buffs will probably be best served with a desktop replacement model that offers at least 2GB of RAM, as well as a hard drive offering at least 80GB of free space, and a monitor screen at least 15 inches in size. Select a model with multiple USB ports for downloading via digital camera, uploading to an MP3 player, or connecting via other media devices. Movie buffs will probably enjoy the features of a DVD RW drive, which will allow them to burn movies.

Choosing the Right Laptop Processor

Many of the processors used in laptops are made by AMD or Intel. Some offer optimization of batter capacity, while others maximize CPU performance. Generally, mobile processors require less power than desktop processors do. Persons who are not purchasing a desktop replacement model should strongly consider a mobile processor. This will also help reduce the risk that the laptop will overheat. Some of the processors available include:

• Celeron: Made by Intel, this processor is budget friendly, but offers speeds of up to 2.5 GHz. They are faster than the Pentium M chip, but slower than the Pentium processor.
• Celeron M: One of the most budget friendly processors on the market. This processor can achieve speeds of up to 1.5 GHz, and is ideal for basic web surfing, word processing, and email.
• Pentium M: This processor is designed to maximize battery life, but offers processing speeds up to 2.1 GHz.
• Pentium 4: These are primarily used for desktops, and can cause overheating. In addition, they wear down the battery quickly. The trade? Processor speeds of up to 3.33 GHz.
• Intel Duo Core: These feature multiple processors in a single chip, and are helpful for persons who use simultaneous applications that require higher processor speeds.
• AMD Sempron: AMD's most budget friendly option, this processor is best for those who don't have heavy computing needs.
• AMD Athlon 4: Ideal for gamers, this processor is typically used with desktop replacement laptops.
• AMD Athlon 64X: This is a popular chip for those who favor over clocking, and is very similar to other processors in the Athlon 64 line.

Laptop Batteries

Laptop Batteries


One of the main problems and concerns of laptops is their battery life. They work great at first and the laptops can last for 4 or 5 hours, but then over the passing months and years, you're lucky if your laptop can last half an hour without the AC adapter plugged in.

Laptop Battery 

How do I make my laptop battery last longer?


When you first get your laptop or new laptop battery, make sure to fully charge your laptop before using it. This will allow a full charge for the battery and insure it lasts longer.
Don't use your laptop with the AC adapter frequently. In the long run, this will cause the laptop battery to have a chemical memory, which will basically make the laptop have a life-span of about 3 seconds without the AC adapter plugged in.
Keep your laptop stored at room temperature. Low or high temperatures can reduce the life span of the batteries.
Allow your battery to get to a low charge level before charging again. The lower your battery is when you start to charge it again the longer it will last. So allowing your laptop to die before charging it will insure the longest life span.


Where can I get a replacement battery for my laptop?


When it comes to purchasing laptop batteries, you have two options.


Option 1


First, you can call the manufacturer of the laptop or battery and purchase a new replacement battery. This is always the safest decision you can make when purchasing a replacement battery for your laptop. You may have the guarentee of the company in that they may send you a replacement battery free of charge if you purchased a defective replacement battery. But while it may be the safest choice, there is a downside to it, and that is the manufacturer's overprice the laptop replacement batteries by way more than the actual cost of a replacement battery, which is around $30.


Option 2

Laptop Battery

If you prefer another option, then there are many companies today that sell replacement rechargeable batteries for your laptop that can often last longer than the original battery. Some small scale companies will tend to sell defective batteries for cheap. If you end up buying batteries from a site such as this, prepare for the worst. There have been many customer complaints that have purchased batteries from sites such as these, that will sell batteries for half the price to get people to buy them. Some of the complaints were the battery overheated, the battery life had a very short life-span, and even the battery catching on fire.


So for the safety of yourself and your laptop, make sure to do a little research on the company you are going to be purchasing from before you actually proceed. And if you don't want to take the risk then the manufacturer's site is always a safe way to to purchasing a replacement battery, but at the expense of paying more. But you may end up spending as much as $150 for a replacement battery.


Making the most out of your laptop battery


Laptop batteries are the most important part of your laptop. Without them your laptop is basically a miniture desktop computer, and they are no longer portable. So here are some tips and advice that will allow you to care for your laptop battery and get the most out of them.


Most laptop batteries today are Li-Ion/Lithium Ion batteries. They are great as they have great energy capacity and they don't have memory effect, meaning you don't have to or should let the battery die down all the way before charging it again. You may have heard that is better to let your laptop die all the way before charging it, but that is quite the opposite if your battery is a Lithium Ion battery, in fact it causes your laptop battery to get worse faster, so make sure to not allow your Lithium Ion battery to completely discharge, or die. But for the first 2 or 3 times charging your Lithium Ion battery, you SHOULD let it die all the way, but after that you do not need to or should do so.


Tips and Advice


Defrag your computer regularly. This will allow your hard drive to not work as hard which won't drain your battery more.
Lower the brightnest of your screen. The brighter your screen, the more power being used.
Try to keep the amount of programs to a minimum. Every program open helps drain the battery a little bit more.
Cut down on external devices, such as USB devices, like a mouse. Also WiFi will drain your battery so turn it off when you aren't using it to save power.
Clean the battery contacts. Every 6 months are so you should take out your battery and clean the contacts that connect to the laptop. You can use a cloth with rubbing alcohol to achieve this.
If you ever put your computer on standy, you should try to switch to hibernate, as hibernate fully shuts down your computer, but it allows you to quickly resume your work when you turn it back on.
Go to “Power Options” on your laptop and change it's setting to Max Battery, Super Energy Saver, or one of the other many different forms of it. But it all means the same thing, switch to the setting that is set for saving the most amount of energy.

Laptop Battery

While most laptop batteries today are Lithium Ion batteries, that does not mean all, as there are NiCad/Nickel Cadmium and NiMAH/Nickel Metal Hydride batteries, both having the memory effect. You will usually find these batteries in older laptops, low budget laptops, or small corporation laptops. So for these battery types, as they have the memory effect, you should allow the battery to completely die before charging it, as this will prolong the overall battery lifespan.