A+ Certification Guide

Chapter 9

Laptop Computers and Portable Devices

Chapter 9Objectives

Options for Expansion in Laptops and Portable Devices– Describe the components of a laptop in contrast to a PC.

Laptop Disassembly – Best Practices– Demonstrate how to remove hard drives, memory, batteries, and so on.

Hardware Device Replacement– Hard drives, memory, batteries, and so on.

Laptop Displays– Resolution, technologies, and components

Laptop Features– Function keys, using projectors/external displays, and docking stations

Portable and Laptop Diagnostics– Demonstrate how to troubleshoot power, displays, and peripherals.

Features of Laptops and Portable Devices

Display—LCD Keyboard—Built in Mouse or pointing device—Touchpad Battery use—Time limited Expansion bus—Docking station capability Hard disk form factor—Smaller; 2.5” or 1.8” PC Card slot—Card reader ExpressCard slot Floppy drive location—Optional peripheral on newer machines Optical drive—Generally included but removable Memory expansion—Small outline modules CPU upgrades—Not generally available Video—Integrated

Expansion Options PCMCIA cards/CardBus:

– Hot swappable—No rebooting to remove and substitute Express Cards:

– Express Card/34 or /54 slot Upgradeable SODIMM memory USB ports :

– For use with USB flash memory or hard drive drives Flash memory card reader slot

PCMCIA Comparison

PC Card Type Thickness Typical Uses Notes

Type I 3.3mm Memory Obsolete

Type II 5.5mm

I/O ports, wired or wireless networking, modems, external drive interfaces, hard drives

Older I/O port cards used dongles for I/O ports.

Type III 10.5mm Hard drives, combo I/O ports

Type III slot also supports two Type II devices .

PCMCIA Installation

ExpressCard Slots

– Replacement for PCMCIA /PC card slot– 2.5 times faster than ExpressCard– As fast or faster than CardBus– Compatible with USB 2.0– Two variations:

• ExpressCard/34 = 34mm wide• ExpressCard/54 = 54mm wide

– /54 is compatible with /34 card.– Communicates with system board

chipset using PCIe or USB subsystem

Figure 9-4

Memory Options/Upgrades

Small Outline Dual Inline Memory Module (SODIMM)

Normal DDR

SODIMM

USB connected flash memory /external drives

Flash memory cards (if reader slot is available)

SODIMM Memory Replacement SODIMM chips are often nonproprietary and available from third-party vendors.

Figure 9-10

Best Practices for Laptop Disassembly

Refer to manufacturer documentation:

– Identify screw types, screw lengths, number of screws.

– Most vendors offer this information online. Use appropriate hand tools for case disassembly/component

removal:

– Repair documentation typically lists the recommended tools for each procedure.

Document and label cable and screw locations:

– Typically use a mixtures of screw lengths and sometimes screw types. Mix them up, and you could damage components or not secure them properly.

Organize parts:

– Small component storage tray

• Tip: Use an egg crate.

Hardware Device Replacement Laptops Versus Desktop

– Integrated: touchpad, wireless antenna, and speakers

– Proprietary components in many cases

– Tighter tolerances for opening case

• Easy to break snaps and plastic retainers

Component Sources– Display, keyboard, network card, and system board must generally be

purchased from the original manufacturer.

– Optical drives and hard driver, memory, and the CPU are available from third-party sources but attention to compatibility is important.

Laptop Power Sources– Internal battery.

– AC adapter that also charges the battery.

– “Universal” replacement AC adapters/batteries are often available.

Laptop Screen Casing Parts

Figure 9-17

Laptop Display Options LCD

– Use CCFL (fluorescent bulbs)– Refresh rate typically limited to 60Hz

LED (Lighted Electrical Diode)– Brighter, crisper color, more even coverage– Less power hungry

OLED– Small screens – cameras/phones

External Displays– Connect to VGA/USB, and so on – Use keyboard toggle to activate

Laptop LCD Resolution XP

Note that most laptops have an optimized default resolution.

Windows Vista/7 Resolution

Figure 9-16

Display Troubleshooting If display is cracked, the entire LCD screen must be replaced.

– It’s sometimes cheaper to buy a new laptop PC.

Use an external monitor plugged into the video input.– This checks to see if the video subsystem works.

– Use Fn key to toggle from external to internal.

• Consult manufacturer’s manual for appropriate F key.

– If external monitor works, but LCD fails

• Check connector between motherboard and LCD.

• With unit running, check the screen display at an angle to see if any of the familiar desktop icons are faintly there.

– If visible, replace bulb or bulb power inverter.

Dead pixels—Pixels that do not change colors.– Lightly tap on screen over a dead pixel; this may or may not work.

– Manufacturer’s warranty applies; see details in warranty.

Laptop/PDA Inputs

Stylus/digitizer:– Popular on PDAs and Tablet PCs

Function (Fn) keys:– Press Fn+F# key to access specific functions.

• Example: Dell: Fn+F3 brings up battery power display.

Touch pad/left- and right-click buttons:– External mouse

Pointing stick/track pointer:– Touch-resistant mini joystick in middle of keyboard

Input Problems Stylus/digitizer issues:

– Check for loose connections. Keypad/keyboard:

– Try a different application, such as notepad.• If characters do not appear, the keyboard controller may

be bad.– Keyboard controllers relate to PS/2 connectors.

• If characters do appear, the problem is in the keyboard.– Restart the system.– Try updating/reinstalling the keyboard driver software.

» Uninstall, and then reboot and let PnP discover the hardware.

• Try an external keyboard from a USB connector. Mouse/track pointer—Same basic procedure as for a keyboard

– Clean the mouse ball.

Mouse/Track Pad Pointer

External Docking Stations

Replicates Ports to enable instant access toExternal speakers, VGA /HDMI/Component Display,Additional USB Connections, Network Connection

Power Sources Power sources:

– AC adapter:• Verify compatibility for wattage and connector sizing.

– 12v external power (for use with 12v automobile power):• Verify wattage capacity.

– Onboard battery:• Lithium-ion (Li-ion)—Most efficient, lightest weight.

– Look for highest mAh available for best runtime.• Nickel-metal hydride (NiMH)—Replacement for NiCd.• Nickel Cadmium (NiCd)—Legacy type.

– Still used for motherboard CMOS in some models.

Power Management Features Processor throttling:

– Enabled through BIOS

Peripheral power management:– Low power sleep when idle—Device Properties Power

ACPI (Advanced Power Configuration Interface):• APM was the older power management application.

– Allows Windows to manage power usage.

– Accessed in Control Panel (power options).

– Disable power management in BIOS to avoid ACPI conflicts.

– Power Schemes tab:

• Triggers Standby or Hibernate based on idle time

– Advanced tab:

• Closed lid triggers standby or hibernate.

– Alarms tab:

• Alerts user when battery is low

Suspend, Standby, and Hibernate Modes ACPI supports modes S0 (working)—S5 (system off). Standby modes:

• S1: Standby or POS (power on standby).– Computer is on at reduced power.

» Power to the CPU(s) and RAM is maintained.– Processor caches flushed. CPU(s) stop executing instructions.– Devices not needed may be powered down.

• S2: In addition to S1, the CPU is powered off.• S3: Commonly referred to as Sleep, or Suspend to RAM (STR).

– RAM is still powered. – Quick recovery time to wake up and resume working.– Suspend (supported by some manufacturers/models).

– Hibernate mode:

• S4: RAM contents saved to nonvolatile memory, such as a hard drive.

– Hiberfil.sys file on hard drive stores copies of all open programs, data, and settings.

– All power is turned off.– Takes time to recover data to a fully operational state.

– Standby and Hibernate are supported by Windows 2000, XP, and Vista.

Power Options Properties(Accessed from Control Panel)

Troubleshooting Power Issues

No power– Plugged in?– Wall outlet supplied with power?– Check output with voltmeter.

Battery charging problems– Check to see if installed properly.– Clean contacts.– Is battery too old to hold a charge?– Battery hot after charging? Replace it.

Laptop Security

Physical security against theft Logical security against data breach

– If hard drive stolen, is it encrypted? Figure 9-25

LAN/WAN Connections

Communications Options Cellular WAN:

– Can use USB, ExpressCard, and CardBus.– Connects to cellular phone providers.– Device is found in Device Manager/modems.

Ethernet:– Uses an RJ-45 port.– Can be integrated or mounted on a peripheral card.– Can be wireless—Check documentation for 802 type.

Phone modem—Not as common on modern laptops. Bluetooth:

– Mostly for connecting wireless keyboard/mouse.

Network Problems

Wi-Fi– Check signal strength.– Check for presence of Wi-Fi networks.– Check to see if Wi-Fi adapter is enabled.

• Try disabling and re-enabling.– Check Device Manager for Wi-Fi adapter.

• Scan for hardware changes/driver updates. Bluetooth

– Press Fn key that enables Bluetooth.– Verify that Bluetooth is enabled.– Verify that any Bluetooth external adapters are fully plugged

in.– Check Bluetooth settings.

Preventative Maintenance Cooling devices:

– Make sure all fans work.

– Verify that air intakes are clear and clean.

– Verify that the processor heat sink is properly attached. Display screens:

– Clean with antistatic cleaners designed for LCD screens. Use PC in an appropriate atmosphere:

– Temperature range of 50–95 degrees.

– Condensation can form on cold PCs transferred into warm environments, causing internal shorts.

– Air can be compromised by

• Smoking, dusty conditions, and small particulate

• Salty air If storing the unit for long periods, remove the CMOS battery to prevent

leakage.

What Have You Learned?

– What is processor throttling?– How is standby different from hibernate?– What is a common cause of a mouse pointer not

moving smoothly across a screen?– What is wireless zero configuration?– What type of memory module is used in a laptop

PC?– Which key is normally found on a laptop PC that

might not be found on a desktop PC?

Chapter 9Summary

Options for expansion in Laptops and Portable Devices– Describe the components of a laptop in contrast to a PC.

Laptop Disassembly – Best Practices– Demonstrate how to remove hard drives, memory, batteries, and so on.

Hardware Device Replacement– Hard drives, memory, batteries, and so on

Laptop Displays– Resolution, technologies, and components

Laptop Features– Function keys, using projectors/external displays and docking stations

Portable and Laptop Diagnostics.– Demonstrate how to troubleshoot power, displays, and peripherals.

Next Lesson: Chapter 10